Miami Dolphins News: Where Do Things Really Stand With Jonathan Taylor?

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on Thursday had a forum and an opportunity to shoot down the multiple reports that his team has made a trade offer to the Indianapolis Colts for Jonathan Taylor.

He passed on the opportunity.

But what he did say suggests that any talks the two teams have had about the NFL’s 2021 rushing leader are still in the preliminary stages.

Miami Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel on Jonathan Taylor

Here’s McDaniel’s answer to PFN’s question — Are those trade reports accurate? — in its entirety.

“So I feel, I feel like we’re — here’s the thing with reports. First of all, you know, I think my 2 1/2 year old daughter just tweeted a report. Credence to that. Like, you know, I think, as far as that goes, it seems like …”

Q: What did her report say?

“That every player in the National Football League is coming to the Dolphins because I feel like that’s kind of on trend. So, whatever that is, you know, me. … I’ve said this before, I’m not gonna speak about other players.

Most of Mike McDaniel’s answer on Jonathan Taylor (blame Elon for it getting cut off) pic.twitter.com/TW4XzG8Fqw

— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) August 24, 2023

“And then, you know, I mean, how many times do I have to explain? Like Chris Grier’s 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 a kind of a consistent pattern where we’ve talked about all sorts of players. So reports, whatever, that’s kind of the noise that is around the business.

“Let’s just say I would be doing a terrible job as a head coach. I got 90 players. That collection of players, this will be the last practice that they have together in its entirety.

“That’s a journey that starts, you know, and for players, you know, being, being in shape and whatever.

“But as a team, [beginning] April 17th, this is the 45th time that we’ve had something on the field together, and this is the last one, and 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.

“And I’m excited to coach today. It’s a big practice for a lot of guys and something that we see as an opportunity to get better, not worse, and there’s only one direction, it’s either A or B, better or worse. So, hopefully, my daughter stops tweeting.”

The Dolphins and Colts have five days until the roster cutdown deadline, which is also the reported Jonathan Taylor trade deadline.

Reading between the lines, if a trade happens, a divide between the two sides over compensation still needs to be bridged.