Dillon Focused on Bears, Not Taylor Trade Rumors
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon said he did not talk to general manager Brian Gutekunst about the rumored trade talks regarding Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor.
“When I saw that, I just kind of laughed,” Dillon said on Wednesday in his first public comments about the report. “I don’t think much about that. I’m not going to go upstairs and start knocking on doors [about] rumors or anything like that. It’s just about when it’s time for my name to actually be brought up, when we’ve got real second-contract talks coming up, then I’ll have those talks. But that has nothing to do with me.
“I’m focused on Game 1, rocking with my guy 33 (Aaron Jones) over there – best backfield in America – and we’re going to go out there and prove it and keep balling and keep pushing each other.”
The Packers reportedly had “legitimate interest” in Taylor, the former University of Wisconsin star and 2021 NFL rushing leader. Presumably, the Colts would have wanted Dillon, who was taken 21 picks after Taylor in the second round of the 2020 draft, as part of the trade.
Both players are entering their final season under contract.
“That’s the nature of the business,” Dillon said. “I’m not naïve to think that when draft time comes around, if the shoe was flipped on the other foot, you’re trying to make your team as good as you can. I don’t know what the truth to that is or whatever but all that outside stuff, that doesn’t bother me. I’m here right now, I’m suiting up, I’m wearing 28 for the Green Bay Packers. I’m fired up to get it going Week 1.”
Jones and Dillon figure to be the building blocks of Green Bay’s rebuilt offense, which will feature Jordan Love making his debut on Sunday as the No. 1 quarterback. Jones and Dillon are two of the top players on the field, leaders in the locker room and pillars of the community.
AJ Dillon (Photo by Matt Marton/USA Today Sports Images)
Nonetheless, Dillon said he took no offense to the possibility of going from a centerpiece of the team to a centerpiece of a blockbuster trade.
“It’s really out of my control,” Dillon said. “I’ve been around long enough to see it doesn’t matter whether you’re a starter, not a starter, practice squad. I’ve seen guys [who are] very talented go to other teams from here.
“It’s about coming to practice, doing what you can control, trying to be a positive guy, trying to be a leader, trying to correct myself when I make mistakes out there. Those are things I can control. Coming in and being positive, a positive figure outside in the community, [are] things I can control. Whether I’m here next year at the end of the year, whether I’m here after the cut or whatever the trade, that’s out of my control. I’ve just got to go out there and put my best foot forward every day.”
Jones, who is entering his fifth season as the team’s unquestioned No. 1 running back, said he didn’t “pay … any attention” to the rumor. Nonetheless, Dillon said it was “human nature” for the teammates and friends to talk about it.
With Taylor opening the season on the physically unable to perform list, the rumors have been shoved to the back burner. Jones and Dillon will be driving forces on offense for Green Bay, especially with the injuries at receiver.
“We both believe in each other and what we bring to the table, so that’s really what we’re focused on,” Dillon said. “Once again, it sounds cliché, but, honestly, that’s how we both think. I don’t think either one of us gets caught up in who’s going where. We’re here right now. We know what we bring to the table and we’re both trying to help out this team as much as possible.
“I think it’s very apparent we both love being Green Bay Packers. We’ll try to represent ourselves, our families and this team well. So, while we’re here, as long as we’re here, we’re going to continue to do that. We don’t focus on anything outside of that.”
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