07 October 2023 , 20:12
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The owner of the Indianapolis Colts has been embarrassed following his comments about Jonathan Taylor.
The running back was involved in a contract dispute during the offseason, with owner Jim Irsay saying he did not believe the player was worth a long-term extension and he would not be missed if he were no longer in the league. As the 24-year-old and the Colts failed to come to an agreement, he was allowed to find teams who would be willing to acquire his services.
But Irsay’s words are now futile as the NFL Network reported this afternoon that Taylor has now come to an agreement on a three-year contract extension with the Colts. The deal is worth £34.3 million ($42 million) and includes £21.65 million ($26.5 million) guaranteed and Taylor is now one of the league's highest-paid running backs.
He joins the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb, who are each making at least £9.96 million ($12.2 million) annually. The new deal makes Taylor the first running back to secure a long-term contract worth more than $10 million a year since Chubb in 2021.
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"I greatly appreciate the support of my teammates and Colts fans," Taylor said in a statement. "I can't wait to get back on the field and do everything I can to help bring this city the championship it deserves. I'm proud to be an Indianapolis Colt." In response to the deal Irsay, who has completely changed his perspective on Taylor, said in a statement: “Jonathan is a special player and signing him to this extension is important knowing the impact he'll make as the team develops under Shane Steichen.
"I have no doubt he'll continue to create highlight plays and memories for Colts fans as he's done in his three seasons thus far. Jonathan deserves this deal and I'm happy for him." Irsay’s previous comments about Taylor came at a time when the microscope was on the difficulty for running backs to get paid what they’re worth.
He said calls for 'another negotiation of pay' for players in that position are 'inappropriate', but then backtracked by claiming the comments were not aimed at Taylor. However, he did make some other comments which certainly were aimed at the 2021 NFL rushing yards leader.
Taylor signed a three-year extension with the Colts after a long contract dispute (Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)"If I die tonight and Jonathan Taylor is out of the league, no one's gonna miss us," Irsay said earlier this offseason, via The Athletic. "The league goes on. We know that. The National Football [League] rolls on. It doesn't matter who comes and who goes, and it's a privilege to be a part of it."
Irsay and Taylor’s relationship is now set to continue for another three years and the player is available to play in Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans. The Colts took him off the ‘Physically Unable to Perform’ list and he needed just two days of practice to show he was ready to play.
Coach Shane Steichen praised Taylor's performance and conditioning after evaluating him. "He looked good," Steichen said Friday. "Conditioning-wise, he looked good. Again, it's been a while since he's been out there, but he looked good the last couple days."