Ex-Badgers star Jonathan Taylor reportedly asks Colts for trade

Former University of Wisconsin star Jonathan Taylor has formally asked the Indianapolis Colts for a trade, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
Taylor met with Colts owner Jim Irsay on Saturday. The running back is entering his fourth NFL season, the last on his rookie contract. He led the league in rushing in 2021 and earned first-team All Pro, then saw his numbers backslide in 2022, when he appeared in 11 games and rushed for 861 yards, an average of 78.3 per game, after 106.5 the year before.
The revelation comes against the backdrop of tension between the league and its running backs, many of whom haven't been seeing the massive contacts they've desired. The league seemingly has adopted the position that running backs don't have the same level of value as previously assessed, resulting in star players commanding less money than anticipated.
Irsay himself said Wednesday it was inappropriate for running backs trying to renegotiate the collective bargaining agreement to address their devaluation and that agents are selling "bad faith."
Taylor and several other running backs expressed dismay two weeks ago when the league's deadline to franchise tag players came and went without the New York Giants' Saquon Barkley and the Las Vegas Raiders' Josh Jacobs getting new contracts.
Taylor's agent subsequently made comments suggesting the relationship between the running back and the franchise had soured. Taylor has opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list, and it was unclear if his dissatisfaction played a part.
athletes receiving bad advice
Irsay said the Colts have no intention of trading Taylor.
"We're looking forward to a great season and hoping Jonathan's a part of that," Irsay said.
"If I die tonight and Jonathan Taylor's out of the league, nobody's going to miss us," Irsay added. "The league goes on. We all 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."
Current Badgers running back Braelon Allen certainly took notice of the situation, tweeting, "This is actually crazy," in observing Irsay's comments.
This is actually crazy https://t.co/7z18jybb4s
— Braelon Allen (@BraelonAllen) July 30, 2023