Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports, citing multiple unnamed sources, reports that Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor has told the team that he would like to be traded.

The request has been made, as Cole characterizes it, “politely” — without any threats or demands.  And Cole believes that, if the Dolphins don’t trade Taylor, Taylor might indeed retire.

The rumor mill has linked Taylor to the Jaguars.  Cole throws out possibilities like the Browns, Packers, Eagles, Patriots, and Steelers.  (The Vikings are another team with an obvious need, if they can’t get Jared Allen from the Chiefs.)

We also think that Taylor will prefer to play for a team located in a big market (like the Giants, Jets, or Redskins) or that carries a high national profile (like the Patriots or Cowboys).

The Dolphins denied comment for Cole’s story.  Previously, the team refuted a report from Cole that a trade would occur, with V.P. of football operations Bill Parcells calling the item “journalistic irresponsibility.”

But we’re siding with Cole on this report, and his prior one.  We’ve heard some of the same rumblings, and believe that Taylor is committed to trying to get to a new team without being viewed as a villain in Miami.

After all, if/when he becomes a movie star, he’ll want Dolphins fans to buy tickets.  That’s far more likely to happen if the perception is that he didn’t try to abandon the team when it arguably needed his skills the most.

Even if, you know, he is.