Colts’ RB Jonathan Taylor Reacts To Saquon Barkley & Josh Jacobs Failed Contract Extensions

The franchise-tag deadline for players passed on Monday without any of the three tagged running backs — Saquon Barkley of the Giants, Josh Jacobs of the Raiders, and Tony Pollard of the Cowboys — agreeing to long-term contracts.

Colts’ RB Jonathan Taylor Reacts To Saquon Barkley & Josh Jacobs Failed Contract Extensions

Since Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs failed to agree to terms on franchise tenders with their respective clubs by Monday’s deadline of 4 p.m. ET, the running back position has been the subject of the most discussion throughout the NFL offseason this year.

In team history, behind Hall-of-Famer Marcus Allen’s outstanding 1985, Jacobs’ league-leading 1,653 running yards and 2,053 yards from scrimmage from the previous season rank second and third, respectively. In Raiders history, Jacobs is already third in career running touchdowns and sixth overall in lifetime rushing yards.

According to several sources, neither player is anticipated to come to training camp when it opens later this month, and it’s not known if either will report to their respective squads at all.

Barkley, coming off an outstanding 1,650-yard, 10-touchdown season in which he also tied for the team lead in receptions (57) seemed frustrated Monday when it became clear no deal was coming.

The talented running back duo of Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs would have to play this season under a franchise tag or sit out as the 4 p.m. deadline passed.

Running back Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts may have encapsulated how every back in the league has felt while witnessing this offseason’s events.

Taylor’s single-word tweet said, “Wow.”

“You definitely have to pay attention, just so you know, ‘OK, what type of space are you entering into?’” Taylor told ESPN in June. “And you just hope from the track record here [in Indianapolis] that things are being evaluated the right way.”

He added later: “You see why guys request trades. They just want to feel valued by not only their coaches, their teammates, but the organization as well.”

Over the course of his three seasons with the Colts, Taylor carried for 3,841 yards and 33 running touchdowns. In 2021, he also established a team record with 1,811 rushing yards.

Additionally, a number of running backs from throughout the NFL expressed their displeasure with how players in their position have lately been treated in the current game on social media on Monday.

Backs from all throughout the league responded to this, including Derrick Henry of Tennessee and Christian McCaffrey of San Francisco.

 

 

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