Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin requested a trade on Thursday, something he gave coach Dan Quinn a head's up on ahead of time.
Quinn told reporters on Saturday morning that he appreciated the communication, and that while gearing up for the season sparks emotions of many kinds, he is there to lend support while understanding the separation between business and the playing side of things.
"We love Terry. I’m really glad he’s here," Quinn said. "Hopefully he’s out practicing soon. We also understand there’s the business side of this things that (general manager) Adam (Peters) and his side and Terry and his reps are working it through. I just kind of stay in that space. We recognize both are happening. But like I said, I’m really glad he’s here. I love coaching him. But the business side, that’s kind of where it’s at. It’s not -- somebody asked me if it’s a distraction -- it is not. Players today, they’re more aware of contracts and things maybe than they used to be. They recognize that business part happens, as well, so for the team, we’re just rocking and going and throwing some great practices.
“For Terry and the trade request, that’s part of normal business that is happening around the NFL. It’s normal, we understand it, and we just throw our very best practices out on the field.”
McLaurin is in the the final season of a three-year deal, set to make $15.2 million in base salary and is currently the 17th-highest-paid wide receiver in terms of average annual salary.
Coming off the best season of a six-year career in which he's never failed to lead Washington in receiving yards, McLaurin has been seeking an extension more on par with his production after hauling in 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns on 82 receptions.
He skipped the Commanders' organized team activities and mandatory minicamp and didn't initially report to training camp. The 29-year-old showed up on Sunday and was placed on the physically unable to perform list, and his presence presented an opportunity for talks to hopefully pick up.
Instead, McLaurin's trade request came before the week was through.
His latest move certainly cracks the door a bit more for a departure, but by no means does it guarantee a trade takes place.
Even as Quinn stays out of that aspect of running a team, he is well aware such a request stems from the business side of football, and he's taking an even-keel approach to the situation.
“Sometimes, those are the emotions and that’s the human side of it," he said. "Knowing there can be emotions, that’s the ones he attached to at that moment. For me as the coach, give the support, give the insights, do you want advice? That’s the way that you do it. But it is an emotional time. It’s so damn important and each player, it won’t be quite the same in how that’s happening.
"I just try to not judge it as best I can, and it’s not always that easy to do knowing it’s an emotional time. Our times together are intense for different reasons. Sometimes it’s the competitive intensity, other times it’s something like this where you’re just, ahh, and you’re feeling some kind of way. So I just try to make sure, man, support the players as best I can knowing they’re accessing emotions that are hard.”
As Quinn leads the Commanders through their preparation for his second season at the helm, under the weight of far greater expectations following a 12-win campaign, he's also making sure to strike a supportive, neutral tone for the off-the-field part of the equation.