Colts owner Jim Irsay: Running back comment not aimed at Jonathan Taylor - ESPN

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay attempted to clarify his comments Thursday, saying a statement he made on Twitter this week regarding the pay structure for NFL running backs was not aimed at his team's dismayed All-Pro back, Jonathan Taylor.

But Irsay also made a surprising revelation about the team's approach to Taylor's future. Irsay disclosed that the team has not made an official contract offer to the 24-year-old star, who is entering the final season of his four-year rookie contract and seeking a new deal.

Irsay on Wednesday took aim at statements made by Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris, who said the league's top running backs were discussing, among other things, the idea of altering the way salaries of franchise-tagged players are determined so that elite backs earn more money. Irsay balked at the idea, saying «some agents are selling 'bad faith.'»

But the ill-timed comment was made in the midst of Taylor's increasingly impatient search for a new deal, prompting an angry reply from Taylor's agent.

«The comment wasn't really directed at Jonathan,» Irsay said in a phone interview with ESPN. «We haven't exchanged any contract numbers with each other or anything like that. So, it's not like we're in the midst of that. I think we had a tough season last year. Didn't win a lot of games. This is a year about coming back together and having a great year and we're really depending on Jonathan to team up with [quarterback] Anthony Richardson to try and pull together to have a great year.»

Irsay's unequivocal comments left no doubt the Colts currently have no intention of extending Taylor before he plays out his deal.

«We love Jonathan, we need Jonathan,» Irsay said. «Our hope is Jonathan has an outstanding