Cowboys Trade for Jonathan Taylor Proposed By ‘ESPN Ignorance'

The Indianapolis Colts are at war with running back Jonathan Taylor, who has requested a trade, in part because he wants a new contract and maybe in part because Colts owner Jim Irsay has issued a series of mind-numbing quotes about "death'' and this situation.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys have had their recent running back issues, between releasing Ezekiel Elliott and Ronald Jones getting suspended for two games. Tony Pollard is more than capable of shouldering the load, but we saw what Dallas' ground game was capable of when it had a talented tandem carrying the ball, ranking second and eighth, respectively, in rushing touchdowns and yards.

So on the surface, certainly the Cowboys - and every other team - should spent a minute contemplating how to steal Taylor from Irsay.

But then, as our Mike Fisher steps into the conversation, should come Minute No. 2, at which point logic steps in. ... unless you are an ESPN hot-take talking head.

"If I was the Cowboys, I would call Dalvin Cook and I would call Jonathan Taylor, even if Jonathan was a one-year rental if the Colts are going to trade him," ESPN's Dan Orlovsky said on "The Pat McAfee Show" Wednesday.

Orlovsky plowed forward, saying, "It's $4 million for this year, and I know Dallas has got money issues, but if you're the Cowboys and you're sitting there going, 'We're going all-in this year,' indifferent of what might be in the future, you could do the one-year rental. I don't know what the pick would be and all that stuff. That's not my expertise, but I would call."

And this, again, is where our Mike Fisher enters the fray. We'll hand over yhe baton to him as he is labeling Orlovsky's work here another example of "ESPN Ignorance.'' To wit ...

*Orlovsky did not and does not seem to understand that if Taylor is unhappy making $4.3 million for 2022 with the Colts ... he will be unhappy making $4.3 million, period.

*Orlovsky does not understand that Dallas does not "have money problems.'' The Cowboys, even after having signed Trevon Diggs to a five-year, $97 million extension, have almost $20 million of room - and if they extend Dak Prescott, figure to have $40 million of room. Much of that is earmarked for the re-signing of other stars. But cap-wise, the Cowboys can sign whomever they wish to sign.

*However ... they don't want to pay $10 million to two running backs. That's what Pollard makes, and that's what Cook wants. (Yes, the Cowboys already did their Dalvin homework.) Taylor is rumored to want $15 million APY. It's not just Dallas here; no team in the NFL is going to employ a $10 to $15 million backup/sidekick running back. And it's laughable to think otherwise.

*Orlovsky seems convinced the Colts are trading Taylor. That is a dubious claim. But in the next breath, he notes that the trade cost (which we're pretty sure would be a premium draft pick for starters) is "not my area of expertise.'' To which we reply ... "Obviously not.''

Taylor has been a rushing champ and a first-team All-Pro. At age 24, Taylor might be the best running back in football, and on the surface, every team, Cowboys and beyond, would love to employ him.

Too bad ESPN's hot-take talking heads seem so incapable of researching, thinking and communicating even an inch below said surface.

Follow Casey Smith on Twitter @casey_smith2419

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