What do fans think about the Indianapolis Colts-Jonathan Taylor dispute?

INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor wants to get paid.

He has made that clear throughout the Colts’ preseason, requesting a trade from Indianapolis after multiple talks with owner Jim Irsay and general manager Chris Ballard. Colts fans shared a wide range of opinions on Taylor prior to Sunday's season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“It’s unfortunate because back in the day I used to be a running back, so I understand the value of the position and how much load that we carry,” Colts fan Corey Brown said. “When there’s money and everything, sometimes with the times and how stuff has played out how successful the team is, running backs aren’t looked at the same as they used to be. So, I get his frustration, but I also understand the game has changed.”

Taylor is out for the first four games of the season on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from offseason ankle injury, leaving Zack Moss, Deon Jackson, and Evan Hull to hold down the backfield.

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IndyStar asked fans if the Colts should give him an extension, trade him, or wait to do something until the end of the season.

Taylor’s best season with the Colts came in 2021, as he rushed for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns on 332 carries, earning All-Pro honors. His numbers dropped in 2022 as he played just 11 games, rushing for 861 yards and four touchdowns on 192 carries.

Coming into the 2023 season, the Colts put Taylor on injured reserve as he continues to recover from an ankle surgery he had back in January. That surgery, however, is supposed to take just two to four weeks to recover from.

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“I get where he’s coming from, but I kind of think he maybe should have proven himself after the injury before he started making a big deal,” Colts fan Shelly Hudson said. “At this point, I’m just kind of over it. It’s like, OK, if he wants to leave so bad, just let him go.”

New reports on Sunday ahead of the opener indicated that Taylor could pass a physical and have the minimum stay on the PUP list, returning in Week 5. Taylor could refuse to play at that point, but he would face fines from the league.

More: Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is reportedly healthy, targeting Week 5 return

Some fans, though, think the Colts and Taylor can still repair their relationship.

"I think the running backs in the National Football league don't get paid enough, so that's one part of the issue," Randy Lafa, from Frankfort, Indiana, said. "But when they did the contracts, the money is there for him, so I think he will play for us, and after Week 4, he will be on our football team.

“I actually did get to meet him a month and a half ago at a car dealership, and I asked him about his contract then,” Lafa added. “He said they were working on it and that he wants to stay in Indianapolis and wants to retire here.”

If the Colts and Taylor do come to an agreement, how much should Taylor get paid? Currently, the San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffery is the highest-paid running back in the NFL at $16 million per year on a four-year contract. The New Orleans Saints’ Alvin Kamara is close behind at $15 million per year for five years.

In the last year of his rookie contract, Taylor is due to be paid $4.3 million for the 2023-24 season.

NFL's highest-paid RBs: See full list of 2023 running back salary rankings

“Chris Ballard wants to keep everybody around, and I think that the two sides just did not get off on the right foot,” Colts fan Uri Decko, from Michigan, said. “I think some things were misconstrued, and it kind of just snowballed from there. Money talks, you know, and it sucks that you couldn’t just say, ‘Hey, here’s a five-year, $60 million deal.’”

Decko’s proposed deal would put Taylor at $12 million per season, which would rank fifth in running back salaries.

Say, however, the Colts and Taylor do not come to a deal before the end of the season. Indianapolis has the option to franchise tag him for 2024, and he would play for the Colts under an approximate $11 million deal for one season.

“He might not be happy with it,” Brown said of a possible franchise tag for Taylor. “I don’t think you’ll get the best out of your player if he’s unhappy, so I don’t know. I think I would just try to keep him, but it’s a hard decision. Maybe, maybe not, I’m not sure. It just depends on his attitude.”

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts: What do fans think about the Jonathan Taylor contract dispute?