How Commanders view Terry McLaurin’s stunning trade request

Commanders coach Dan Quinn is taking Terry McLaurin’s trade request in stride.

Quinn told reporters that McLaurin told him of the demand before it went public Thursday and, essentially, called it business as usual for Washington.

“We love Terry and are really glad he’s here and hope he’s practicing soon,” Quinn told reporters of the star receiver, who went on the physically unable to perform list after holding out the first four days of camp. “But I also understand the business side of things. That’s what they’re working through. I love coaching him.”

McLaurin is considered a hold-in, with contract extension talks having gone nowhere to this point. Quinn said there was no need to address the situation with the team.

“Players today are more aware of contracts than they used to be,” Quinn said. “They recognize that’s the business part. For the team, we’re just rocking. For Terry, the trade request, that’s part of normal business that’s happening around the NFL. We understand it.

“This group is tight and they’re focused on what they have to do.”

The Commanders are reportedly reluctant to pay McLaurin an amount commensurate with the league’s top receivers since he will be 31 when a new deal begins.

Thus, according to ESPN’s John Keim, the two sides are far apart in negotiations.

McLaurin is coming off a season-high 13 touchdowns and has hit the 1,000-yard mark for five straight seasons.

He was a major part of the Commanders’ NFC title game run that marked the franchise’s best season since winning the Super Bowl in 1991.

He is currently attending meetings and walkthroughs while rehabbing an ankle injury that’s been a nagging issue since late in the season.

“I try to avoid judging it,” Quinn said. “I recognize players are trying to set themselves and their families up, so I try not to put myself in that spot. It’s too easy to say, ‘Man, if I had that much I would be this or that.’ So I don’t go there. I try to support him as best I can, but we don’t discuss the finance part of things.”