Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel responds to Jonathan Taylor trade rumours

24 August 2023 , 20:06

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Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts has been linked with a trade to the Miami Dolphins (Image: Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has refused to comment on speculation linking the franchise with a trade for Jonathan Taylor.

The Indianapolis Colts running back has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks as the 2023 NFL regular season nears. Taylor requested a trade from the AFC South franchise last month, as his contract situation in Indiana goes on. Taylor is about to enter the fourth and final year of his rookie contract with the Colts. In his three seasons so far the running back has gone on to become one of the key members of Shane Steichen’s offense.

It was recently reported the Colts had granted Taylor permission to seek a trade. However, it was later claimed that the franchise had set a deadline of Tuesday, August 29 for a deal to be completed. August 29 is a significant date in the NFL, with this being the deadline for teams to confirm the 53-man rosters going into the regular season. The Colts will want to know for certain what the future holds regarding Taylor and will want a decision made as soon as possible.

Reports have claimed that as many as six teams have expressed an interest in trading for Taylor. The Philadelphia Eagles are one to have been mentioned, while the Dolphins are another. McDaniel was speaking to reporters on Thursday when he was asked about the possibility of signing Taylor. And the Dolphins head coach showed his respect to the player and the Colts by not giving much away.

“I’ve said this before: I’m not going to speak about other players,” McDaniel told reporters. “And how many times do I have to explain, Chris Grier’s (Dolphins general manager) job is to work. He works at it a lot and keeps me abreast when they’re real. Generally when things are real, I don’t have questions about them. There’s been kind of a consistent pattern where we’ve talked about all sorts of players. So reports, whatever, that’s kind of the — it seems like the noise that is around the business.”

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McDaniel also went on to talk about the players he already has at his disposal in Miami. The Dolphins head coach says he is not allowing himself to get distracted by players who are not currently in the Florida franchise’s roster. “I’m very much just concerned about all those guys and anything less — if I’m worried about whatever hasn’t come to my desk yet, I think that’s an opportunity cost that I’m not willing to pay for all those players that I’m excited to go coach today,” he said.

Mark Wakefield