Marvin Harrison Jr. says he pays trade rumors no mind
The Cardinals receiver addressed swirling trade speculation ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline, as ESPN reports the Colts are among teams checking in.
Why Marvin Harrison Jr. is trending
On Thursday, Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. addressed trade speculation that has picked up over the past few weeks ahead of the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline, according to ESPN.
Part of what fueled the chatter is that Harrison hired agents Todd France and Tory Dandy on Sept. 23, according to the NFLPA's online database, after playing without an agent before that. Harrison told reporters, "Truthfully, I pay it no mind," and said he is focused on the Cardinals' next game, in Detroit.
ESPN reported that the Cardinals are not shopping Harrison, though other teams are doing their due diligence on the third-year receiver. No trade has been made, and nothing in the reporting points to one being close. What happens next is simple: the deadline is Nov. 10, and the speculation is expected to continue, or quiet down, by then.
The numbers behind the speculation
Harrison has five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown through four games this season, per ESPN. His 12 targets rank fifth on the Cardinals' offense, behind tight end Trey McBride, receivers Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne, and running back Jeremiyah Love.
His only touchdown came in Sunday's 36-24 loss to the Giants at MetLife Stadium. After scoring, he sat on the turf and made a shush gesture at his facemask. Asked about it Thursday, Harrison said there was "no message" behind it.
Why the Colts keep coming up
ESPN reported that the Indianapolis Colts are among the teams that would consider trading for Harrison. Indianapolis placed top receiver Alec Pierce on injured reserve last month with a heel injury, and the team hopes he can return later this season.
Without Pierce, the Colts have struggled to create explosive plays, and they signed former Giants receiver Darius Slayton to help at the position, per ESPN. Harrison is the son of Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison Sr., who holds multiple Indianapolis receiving records, a connection that adds color to the speculation but is not, by itself, evidence of a deal.
Where this stands
Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur backed Harrison after Sunday's loss, saying, "my confidence is high in Marv," per ESPN.
For now, Harrison remains with Arizona, and the team is not actively shopping him, according to ESPN's reporting. Whether that changes by Nov. 10 is the open question, and nothing in the current reporting points to a resolution before then.
Facts per ESPN. Opinion is the taproom's.