It's not unusual to see professional athletes use other people to air their concerns/plans. Even legendary coach Phil Jackson used his friends in the media to send his players messages now and then.
That's why it's hard to believe Jonathan Taylor was entirely innocent/oblivious of his wife's recent social media activity. His beloved Ayanna created plenty of turmoil by analyzing Taylor's situation and potential future outside of the Indianapolis Colts after Chris Ballard's departure.
If anything, Taylor's response shows that he might feel the same way. And while it's not like anyone should've expected him to throw his wife under the bus, it sounds more like resignation than like a player who knows he won't be traded.
There's a strong case for the Indianapolis Colts to trade Jonathan Taylor
“I think it’s been out there already, so I think her adding (to it) doesn’t really change anything,” Taylor said. “You know everybody’s on TikTok these days. So, you just have to come into work and stay focused.”
Jonathan Taylor is much more than one of the best running backs in the game — he was also Chris Ballard's poster boy. He traded up to get him, gave him an extension after a long standoff, and even signed him to another deal this offseason. Clearly, Ballard saw him as the most integral piece of the offense.
Of course, just because Ballard isn't there anymore doesn't mean Taylor won't have fans in the building. But maybe whoever takes the reins of the team, or those calling the shots now, sees him a little differently.
Unlike Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, Taylor is signed through the 2028 season. The Colts don't have a first-round pick because of the now-infamous Sauce Gardner trade, and starting a new regime without a first-round selection is even more challenging.
Running backs don't usually gon for that much, and maybe Nelson is their best bet for landing a first-rounder. That said, Taylor is one of the best players at the position, and multiple teams will most definitely be interested in engaging in a bidding war for his services.
We also have to address the elephant in the room. Taylor is still outstanding - elite, even - but he's averaging a career-low 4.2 yards per carry, and while that's also on the offensive line, running backs usually decline once they reach a certain age.
This doesn't mean that the Colts should be actively shopping him, but it's easy to understand where the buzz is coming from. Of course, having the player and/or his environment add fuel to the fire is the last thing this team needs right now, and they probably already addressed the situation with them.
It's hard to know what the future holds for this organization. They clearly don't want to give up without a fight, but with the November 10 trade deadline zooming in and Shane Steichen's team struggling to close out games, all bets are off.
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