Colts Owner Jim Irsay: 'Inappropriate' for NFL RBs to Want to Renegotiate CBA

Count Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay among the NFL owners not interested in renegotiating the collective bargaining agreement amid dissatisfaction from running backs over the state of the market for the position.

Irsay tweeted Wednesday that it would be "inappropriate" to renegotiate the CBA after it "took years of effort and hard work and compromise in good faith by both sides" to come to terms on the current agreement:

Irsay's comments couldn't have come at a worse time with his star running back, Jonathan Taylor, due for a big pay day as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.

In fact, Taylor's agent had a quick response for Irsay:

Taylor has played an integral role in the Indianapolis offense since being selected in the second round of the 2020 draft, posting back-to-back 1,000-plus yard rushing seasons to begin his career.

Additionally, he's coming off a 2022 campaign in which he rushed for 861 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games. He was hampered by an ankle ailment throughout the season and underwent surgery during the offseason.

Once Taylor is fully healthy, he's expected to play an even larger role for the Colts in 2023 with the offense expected to be headed by rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson.

None of the success will likely matter in terms of a contract, though, as the Colts can franchise tag Taylor after the 2023 campaign to avoid paying him a large deal or avoid losing him as a free agent.

The running back market has depreciated over the last several years with the thought process that teams can always draft a running back who is effective instead of signing a veteran to a large deal.

The situation burst into the spotlight this offseason with elite running backs such as New York Giants' Saquon Barkley, Las Vegas Raiders' Josh Jacobs and Dallas Cowboys' Tony Pollard receiving the $10.1 million franchise tag.

Barkley, Jacobs and Pollard couldn't come to terms with their respective clubs on long-term extensions by the July 17 deadline, forcing the trio to decide whether they want to play the 2023 season on the franchise tag or hold out.

Barkley is expected to play the 2023 campaign after he and the Giants settled on a one-year, $11 million contract. Pollard is also expected to play for the Cowboys, though it'll be under the franchise tag.

Jacobs, meanwhile, hasn't reported to training camp nor has he put pen-to-paper on the franchise tag. It's unclear if he will hold out during the 2023 season, though he has acknowledged that it is an option.

Additionally, Dalvin Cook remains a free agent this summer after being released by the Minnesota Vikings, which opted to part ways the veteran running back due to his $14.1 million cap hit for 2023.

A number of running backs from around the NFL, including Cook, participated in a private Zoom call on Saturday to discuss "the depressed market for players at their position," according to ESPN.

While "no major plans emerged from the meeting," per ESPN, Cook provided some details on the discussions during an appearance on Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday, noting that the players just want to make the market better for future generations.

"My little brother is in the NFL. He's only 23 years old. So it's like I'm trying to, we're trying to get this thing going for the near future," Cook said (3:23 mark). "We got backs in the league that's only 22 or 23 years old that deserve a better future than what they trying to give to us right now."

The market is only going to get more difficult as the years go on, and next offseason could serve as a turning point with Barkley, Jacobs, Pollard, Derrick Henry, Austin Ekeler and D'Andre Swift among the running backs headed for free agency following the 2023 campaign.