A conversation with coach Shane Steichen and the potential of rookie QB Anthony Richardson helped pave the way to a resolution.
Stephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and NFL at large. Stephen finished first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition, and he is a previous top-10 winner in explanatory journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has chronicled the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2013 and the Colts since 2013.
Six weeks ago, Colts general manager Chris Ballard described Taylor's messy contract dispute with the team with rare transparency, saying,"I'm not going to sit here and give you some rosy picture like, 'Oh, everything's OK.' It sucks for the Colts. It sucks for Jonathan Taylor. And it sucks for our fans.
That proved very true in recent months. A situation touched off by the Colts' decision to deny Taylor's request for a contract extension in the spring evolved into a full-blown public spate after Taylor reported for training camp in July. Taylor made a trade demand the day he arrived. Later, Irsay and Taylor's agent, Malki Kawa, exchanged unfriendly words on social media. Taylor even left camp on two separate occasions.
Still, Taylor was not truly integrated into the team at this point. He was undergoing rehab at the team facility before daily practices, then would depart without attending offensive meetings . He wasn't even attending the Colts' home games. Taylor's conversations with Steichen were refreshing for the 2021 NFL rushing leader. His contract situation had dictated the state of his relationship with the team for months, but his talks with Steichen allowed him to temporarily put the business aspect aside. Ballard noticed a change in Taylor's demeanor."With all of the business stuff going on, just to be able to sit down and really be able to just connect with someone in the building was a big thing," Taylor said.
The following week, Taylor was designated for return from the PUP list and began practicing on Oct. 4. The next day, he appeared at a news conference that felt awkward at the time but makes sense in retrospect. The deal was being negotiated, and no deal is ever done until it's done. That might explain why Taylor showed a reluctance to make declarative statements. Among his replies when asked about his future, he said,"I'm here right now.
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