Would a Jonathan Taylor trade start a trend? Plus, Simone Biles is unstoppable

This is the digital version of The Pulse. If you want it earlier, start every morning with The Pulse delivered to your inbox. Sign up here.

Good morning! I hope you make the cut today.

Deadlines: Jonathan Taylor and the modern RB predicament

It’s a big week in the NFL. Final rosters are decided, the preseason is finally over and we get to look forward to real NFL games.

Also (maybe) this week: A Jonathan Taylor trade, which has a self-imposed deadline of tomorrow. As Mike Jones argues in a piece today, the potential transaction won’t just ship a running back somewhere else. It could provide a blueprint for disgruntled running backs in the future.

A few levels to this:

Mike reports the Dolphins, Bears and Broncos are all possibilities for Taylor. And as unbelievable as it feels, trading Taylor actually fits the Colts’ history. Jim Irsay’s team traded Marshall Faulk and let Edgerrin James walk in free agency.

Read The Athletic’s NFL agent survey.

If there’s no trade by tomorrow? Things become more uncomfortable, as Taylor must be active for six games this year to qualify for unrestricted free agency. He has not participated in any team activities this offseason.

Make sure to read Mike’s full piece this morning, which sheds plenty more insight into where Taylor fits in the current class of upset running backs.

GOATs: Simone Biles keeps winning

It’s easy to forget how young gymnasts are. Simone Biles was 19 when she won her first Olympic gold medal. She’s 26 now — shouldn’t she be a has-been already?

Unbelievably, no. Biles won a record eighth all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships yesterday, becoming the oldest woman to ever win the U.S. all-around crown.

What’s more impressive: This is all coming after Biles spent two years away from competition. Remember the “twisties” saga? It’s well behind her.

She’s gearing up to compete at the next Olympics, which would be an astounding comeback after such a break. But should we be surprised?

News to Know

Sun Devils bannedArizona State is self-imposing a one-year bowl ban, the school announced yesterday, in connection to violations made under Herm Edwards. It’s a tough look for ASU in its first year under native son Kenny Dillingham and, as Doug Haller points out in our news story, the school probably should’ve done this last year to avoid the dark cloud over a new coach’s first season.

Sacre bleuFrance is done at the FIBA World Cup after going 0-2, punctuated by a two-point loss to Latvia yesterday. It’s a sad turn for one of the world’s best international basketball teams, but they won’t feel the effects: They’re automatic qualifiers for the 2024 Olympics as host nation. Rudy Gobert might want to forget this one, though.

More news:

Hi, My Name Is: Viktor Hovland, superstar golfer

To the general sports fan, there’s a half-dozen or so pro golfers each year who are just vaguely familiar. Oh, that guy pops up in the top 10 of majors. That guy wears funny polos. So on and so forth.

Viktor Hovland was one of those guys until about a month ago. Real golfheads will tell you Hovland has been brimming with talent ever since he debuted on the PGA Tour five years ago. But he was never able to really break through the generic Talented Golf Guy rubric.

After yesterday’s win at the Tour Championship, he’s here. In a massive way. I thought Brody Miller’s column on Hovland’s ascension was brilliant. A few choice takeaways:

Don’t miss the full story on Hovland’s moment, including an insightful trip into how Hovland finally solved the problem that had plagued him for years.

Pulse Picks

It’s time to actually talk about Bo Nix, Heisman contender. Brian Hamilton goes into the “unclouded” mind of the Oregon quarterback who’s finally comfortable — and unshackled from expectations.

Torrey Hart has an extremely helpful guide to the new MLB playoff format installed last year. Just a month or so until the postseason begins.

Dane Brugler is back with the top five 2024 NFL Draft prospects at every position.

Our college football crew hosted their first Sunday Soundoff, which features voicemails from listeners after Week 0 action. Very fun.

Tomorrow is officially cutdown day for all NFL teams. Randy Mueller has a wonderful reflection on the cutdown day he’ll never forget — when a player convinced him to change his mind.

I thought Richard Deitsch’s interview with Tony Romo was fantastic. Romo has heard your criticisms.

Corey Pronman ranks the best NHL players and prospects under 23. A familiar name sits atop the board.

Lonzo Ball made a rare public speaking appearance this weekend, vowing to play in the NBA again. It’s hard not to feel for the guy.

CJ Moore and Sam Vecenie have an early college hoops Top 25, complete with a nifty design.

(Photo: Cooper Neill/ Getty Images)