The tweets happen to coincide with the rift between feature RB Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Jags’ owner, Shahid Khan. First, Khan made a comment about how “the train is leaving the station. [MJD] needs to run or be left behind.”

The 27 year old running back didn’t take too kindly to it to say the least and lashed out, saying he wanted a trade. Today, cooler heads seem to be prevailing as Jones-Drew backed off and said he’d prefer to stay in Jacksonville.

Usually, you can trust the things Irsay tweets. Over time, he’s been one of the few straight-shooters about such things, but notice not what his tweets said, but more what they did NOT say.

“Trade winds are blowing!”

“We’re talking of giving up a high pick for a SERIOUS vet/starter”

“Colts Fans..Your GM Mr Grigson isn’t afraid to roll the dice n aggressively improve YOUR Indianapolis Colts..n my check book stands ready”

“9 times out of 10 these deals fizzle out like a faulty Roman Candle;any other info at this time is proprietary,must move behind the curtain!”

Get the drift yet?

Not once did he mention MJD, the Jags, or even a position. He gave broad, vague statements…which would be prudent if in trade talks, but then again if in trade talks it’s best to shut up in the first place.

Secondly, the Colts have multiple holes that need to be filled and RB is only one of them. MLB Pat Angerer will miss a lot of time due to injury. The Colts have one starting-quality cornerback and a bunch of nickel or dime backs. And then poor WR Austin Collie is suffering yet another concussion. They could use some help on the interior DL.

I really don’t understand what Irsay is trying to do here. If he’s NOT seeking MJD, why get the fans’ hopes up for no reason? Same thing if he is, and no deal is forthcoming?

More importantly, why trade a high draft pick for a running back that has a lot of mileage on him already? The Colts aren’t going to the Super Bowl for at least two or three years as they’re right at the beginning of the biggest off-season roster overhaul of any NFL team. By the time they get to be playoff contenders again, they’ll probably be replacing Reggie Wayne, and MJD will be pushing 30 (whether or not they trade for him).

I don’t see a young team giving up what is likely to be a top-12 pick for any running back in the league. If he really wants a franchise-type back, wait until 2013 and draft a Marcus Lattimore from South Carolina perhaps. Otherwise, trading for MJD would net them a running back that’s 5 or 6 years older with much more wear on his body in return for a year’s worth of production on a mediocre team.

Bad move in the long run.

Khan said today that “the train is leaving the station. Run, get on it,” alluding to the holdout running back. He has 2 years left on a deal that pays him $4.5 million this year and $5 million the next. “Pocket Hercules” knows that running backs are generally considered washed-up at age 30, and he’s already 27 with a lot of tread-wear on him. He may never get a chance at a more lucrative deal and everyone knows it.

It’s generally thought that he will have little choice but to report to camp eventually since he’s got two years remaining on it. With another great season under his belt, he’ll have more leverage next offseason.

While it’s questionable to think that Khan would be open to a trade, it might be possible that some team out there may believe a running back of his caliber may be what they need to put them into the playoffs and/or into the Super Bowl. The Jags are rebuilding and still need talent at a lot of positions, and pride being what it is, a trade might not be such an impossibility.

A few come to mind immediately.

With Ryan Matthews being an injury risk and losing FB Mike Tolbert to the Carolina Panthers, the San Diego Chargers might be willing to make a deal if the price is right, but that price would be pretty steep…a first-rounder in the 2013 draft at the very least.

The Atlanta Falcons were willing to jump up and grab Julio Jones a couple of years ago and that appears to be paying off. With RB Michael Turner having a lot of wear himself, they could conceivably make such a trade. Turner and MJD are interchangeable and Jones-Drew has a broader skill-set. They’d have to give up probably a first, a third, and probably a fifth-round pick straight up or trade Turner plus a 3rd for MJD.

The New Orleans Saints will have their full complement of picks for 2013 after Bountygate. Depending on their perception of Mark Ingram’s durability, the could package Ingram, sell him as a much younger back with fresh legs, and bundle a 3rd or 4th round pick with him in exchange for an outstandingly consistent runner that won’t be called upon to carry the already high-octane Saints offense.

The Denver Broncos running game has struggled, and with a small window in Peyton Manning’s waning years, Johns Elway and Fox are probably secretly salivating at the idea of adding a guy like Pocket Hercules. Imagine he and Manning in the same offense! John Fox does love the running game and adding him would give them balance.

With the animosity between Khan and Maurice Jones-Drew, I suspect there are some “secret” phone calls outbound from Jacksonville as I type this…just to put the feelers out and let the brass do some due diligence.