Packers GM has witty response to Jonathan Taylor trade report
On Wednesday, it was reported by ESPN's Stephen Holder that the Green Bay Packers had "legitimate interest" in trading for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. After listening to Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst's Wednesday presser, it sounds like the team was just doing its typical due diligence that Gutekunst has routinely touched on in […]
On Wednesday, it was reported by ESPN's Stephen Holder that the Green Bay Packers had "legitimate interest" in trading for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.
After listening to Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst's Wednesday presser, it sounds like the team was just doing its typical due diligence that Gutekunst has routinely touched on in the past.
"Well, let's get the checklist out. First of all, I can't talk about players on other teams. We've tried to be in every conversation," Gutekunst told reporters as they laughed. "So you know, anytime we have good players available to us we'd like to make the Green Bay Packers better – and we'll look at those opportunities. So that's what I got to say about that."
The idea of the Packers a) being interested in the trade and b) actually pulling it off was pretty surprising to those who follow the team closely. The offense already has two good backs in Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon and they have preseason darling Emanuel Wilson, so, it's hard to envision Taylor joining the crowded room, to begin with.
Unless, one of those guys were included in the potential trade. And, natural speculation pointed toward Dillon, the lesser-accomplished player that's also entering the last year of his rookie deal.
But Gutekunst shut that idea down pretty quickly.
"A.J. is part of this team [and] he was going to be, regardless," said Gutekunst. "But, you know, we're not doing what we're supposed to be doing if we're not investigating these things, at least listening to things. But I think it's the nature of the world now. It's just, there's all kinds of things out there but some are true and some aren't.
"… I don't know how these things get out there. I don't particularly care. You guys know how we do business around here. That's just not how we do them and I don't really want to react to them. I mean, we have conversation about players throughout the National Football League; players on our team [and] on other teams, all the time. People ask about our guys all the time, you know, I mean, that's just part of it… if people perceive that it's one thing or another, I can't control that."
Keep in mind that this story isn't done, even if it appears that way. The Colts have until October 31 to get a deal done, which is clearly plenty of time for the Packers to work something out.
If they want, of course.
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Featured image via Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK
