The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2008/05/sparano-taylor.html#comments

Sparano: Taylor not attending training camp

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano just dropped something of a bombshell that we all saw coming.

"This is what I know and I'm glad we know this," Sparano said. "We got new information and that's important. I know that Jason is not going to be at any OTAs [Organized Team Activities]. I know that Jason is not going to be at any minicamps. I know Jason is not going to be at training camp.

"Jason is a player under contract with the Miami Dolphins. He knows that. Both parties are well aware of the information. That's all I'm going to say about it."

And that's all he said.

Taylor, through his agent, has requested a trade on several occasions. And the agent, Gary Wichard, has told the Dolphins that Taylor will not report for training camp unless he is traded ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

Although Sparano portrayed this like it's "new information," it really is not.

Taylor's thinking is simple: He wants to play for a winner and he doesn't think the Dolphins are that team. The Dolphins, Taylor believes, are in a rebuilding mode and that doesn't fit his agenda, which at 33 years old, is to win a championship.

So Taylor ain't showing. He wants out. And he wants out now. He wants to play football, just not for the Dolphins. This is the proverbial tip of the iceberg, people.

As I've been stating to a chorus of accusations that I sensationalize, the situation promises to get very ugly. Uglier than it already is.

If Taylor isn't traded before the season in September, don't be surprised if he threatens to retire.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, can't really do anything about this matter right now other than continue efforts to trade him. So far Taylor has missed only voluntary workouts. Starting with the June 6-8 mandatory minicamp, Taylor becomes subject to team fines.

And the team will fine Taylor for every day he misses in training camp and grow angrier that such a distraction is threatening to overshadow the building of a team. And knowing the antagonists involved, don't be surprised if it gets personal when folks become frustrated enough to start speaking on the issue publicly.

What was once a win-win situation is now looking like a lose-lose.

If the Dolphins had done the logical thing and traded Taylor for a draft pick or picks around draft time, they would have added ammunition for building their team. Taylor, meanwhile, would have been happy to thank the team for 11 wonderful seasons and gone onto trying to win a championship for himself and new team. Win-win.

But the Dolphins put a ridiculous asking price on Taylor (a first round pick) that no one was willing to pay. So of course, no one made a trade offer. So Taylor is still on the team, but he is about to conduct a holdout while the team has a soap opera on its hands. Lose-lose.

It also seems that the new regime does not want him to stay.  I would bail too, if I wanted a chance to win a championship before I retired.  Good luck Jason and thanks!

Although I hate it when players do this- I can understand where he is coming from. I agree with STL this regime is treating him like they don't want him- which is terrible considering what he has done for this team. Ol Wayne said that if Taylor wanted out all he had to do was say the word...and now when he wants out they do this crap.

Ahh, Phooey on Jason Taylor. A 7.5 million dollar contract per year, he's made tens of millions in the dolphin uniform , and he won't deign to show up for training camp in order to force a trade? I'm sorry if the dancing and prancing prima donna had his tender feelings hurt by Parcells. What a selfish prick.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/05/21/0521dolphins.html

Jason Taylor tells team he won't attend any training camp sessions

By CARLOS FRIAS
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

DAVIE — Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor will not be attending any off-season workouts, including the main training camp that begins in July, coach Tony Sparano said today.

Sparano revealed Taylor's plans for a boycott at a previously scheduled news conference.

Sparano was asked if Taylor is trying to force a trade.

Sparano resonded by saying he will not be commenting on the situation until he has more information.

Sparano continued: "This is my reaction with the Jason Taylor situation, and I'm going to answer this question one time. I'm not going to answer another question about the Jason Taylor situation after I answer this.

"Here's what I know: What I know is that Jason Taylor - and I'm glad we've gotten the information; that's important - I know that Jason is not going to be at any OTAs (organized-team activities). I know that Jason is not going to be at any mini-camps, and I know that right now, that Jason is not going to be at training camp.

"So that's what we know. Jason's a player under contract with the Miami Dolphins. He knows that. Both parties are well aware of the information. That's all I'm going to say about it. I want to talk to my players now."

Taylor's agent, Gary Wichard, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Taylor, long the subject of trade talks since Bill Parcells took over as executive vice president of football operations after last season, already had said he would not attend any voluntary workouts or mini-camps.

Today, he was on a publicity tour for "Dancing With the Stars," the reality show he concluded Tuesday.

Earlier he said he didn't need extra workouts to get ready for the season.

"I know how to get into a three-point stance," Taylor, the former NFL defensive player of the year, said recently.

Way to stand up to that fat overrated slob JT. What the hell has parcells won since he left the giants. Parcells could pull this shit with some 3rd string scrub, but no with the face of the franchise. Parcells made no attempt to make taylor feel comfortable, unlike saban who went out of his way to use JT to the best of his ability. And don't give me this crap about leadership and setting an example, because even if taylor took the high road and got on board with the plan, parcells would've traded him if he got the right deal.

Kudos for JT for not allowing the dolphins to dictate his future and going out on his own terms. Take that Fat tuna.

Clearly Taylor has no loyalty towards us, why should we have loyalty to him?

He's given us a lot of great years, and we cheered for him.  If he wants to stop, so do I.

Zach is a different story.  He was forced out, as a business decision.  I respect that, and wish him the best.   If Taylor is taking off for more prestige elsewhere, screw 'em.

What a shame.  JT you suck.  I hope you end up with a shittier team and we beat the shit out of you.  What a shitty way to go. 

When it comes down to it, I'm a fan of the Miami Dolphins, not of one or two particular players.

See ya Jason.

Word...couldn't have said it any better....

  Jason Taylor is not bigger than the Miami Dolphins.  It was fun cheering for him over the past ten seasons, but now it's time to move on.  See ya, Jason.

JT if you are reading this -- I would love to root for you next year! 

Come join many of your good buddies.  Wes and Sammy say hi and that the would love to play with you again. 

^ Whats it like to be a salesman for the devil?

Wow.........Armando Salguero just reported on 790 that if taylor isn't traded by Training camp he will retire.

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_seasonticket/2008/05/fins-sparano-ex.html

Fins: Sparano makes JT rift public

The inevitable occurred. A situation that was increasingly inside-ugly is now officially outside-ugly. This is why Dave Hyde and I kept writing that the Dolphins needed to move Jason Taylor by the draft -- even if they didn't get a premium price for him.

Today, Tony Sparano surprised the media by stating that Taylor would not be at any OTA days, minicamps or training camp practices. Then he refused further questions.

More details are necessary before I comment too much further, but here's the story we just posted. Many readers, who still believe the media are responsible for manufacturing this story, may feel differently after reading Sparano's comments. We've been writing that Taylor wanted to play for a contender. He does. His representatives have made that clear for a while. The Dolphins, by not trading him by the draft, asked for this distraction.

I don't know specifically what triggered Sparano's response today, when he has been careful to praise Taylor publicly in his previous media sessions. The tension has been building for months. Taylor said all the right things about football on Dancing with the Stars yesterday, but he did not apologize for missing the OTA day or the minicamp in his most recent ESPN blog.

I'm not aware, at the moment, that Taylor or his representatives pressed the trade issue in the past few days. He's been busy with his DWS responsibilities, taking a private jet to NYC last night for Good Morning America and Regis and Kelly this morning.

This change in public approach seems to be coming from the Dolphins, not Taylor.   

It looks like Sparano, Bill Parcells and company -- having already largely lost the public relations battle on this -- have decided to play hardball and really call Taylor's bluff. Parcells did something like this a couple of months back, saying that Taylor could play for the Dolphins or retire, (as Parcells was still entertaining offers for Taylor). But this takes the posturing to another level.

Remember what I wrote last night, and have been writing for a while.

Most likely option: Taylor is traded, which is his wish.

Next likely option: Taylor retires, because the Dolphins refuse to grant his wish.

Least likely option: Taylor plays for Dolphins.

Now that Parcells has stubbornly held onto Taylor through the draft (and as Taylor was making himself more appealing in Hollywood and less appealing to other teams), he may not get much for the defensive end. And if he won't get much anyway, he might just force Taylor's retirement rather than take a 4th round pick to give Taylor the privilege of playing for a contender. So the "retiring" is moving up the ladder, and the "trading" is moving down.

Again, this story is bound to change as the day progresses.

But that's my initial thought.

> Posted by Ethan J. Skolnick at 1:32:20 PM

I keep wondering why they keep being referred to as the trifecta.  Thats a bet in horse racing. 

But isn't a trifecta bet when you bet on which three horses will finish in the top 3 spots? I guess they are calling the three leaders (Parcells/ Ireland/ Sparano) the trifecta since they are the top 3 in the Fins football operations side of things.

I have to question something that could be mistaken for something that Parcells said,when in actuality it's what Omar Kelly is infering....

Is that what this is all about, or did the Trifecta tell Taylor he might as well not report in July if he's going to miss all of June?

If things are so great for you without football, how about trying life without it now. See you when we see you.

Disclosing Taylor's planned absence turns the tables on him and his camp, making him now look like the bad guy, and lightening the warden's villain status a bit.


sorry for knit picking...I've been pretty bored all day.....

I guess it makes sense.  I was just looking at it literally and being an asshole.

Even though I have nothing against BP.  Wow, I agree GC,  #1 for the year.

A more accurate title would be "triumvirate".
From wikipedia-The term triumvirate (from Latin, "of three men") is commonly used to describe a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals. The arrangement can be formal or informal, and though the three are usually equal on paper, in reality this is rarely the case.

But I guess trifecta is easier!

For those of you that brought up Wayne's remarks a few weeks back- remember, he gave TOTAL control of football operations to Bill and is now saying he won't interfere with the Taylor/Parcells issue:

Huizenga won't interfere in Taylor matter
Posted on Tue, May. 20, 2008Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email
By BARRY JACKSON
bjackson@MiamiHerald.com

With Dancing with The Stars having ended Tuesday, Jason Taylor plans to return to South Florida later this month and speak with the Dolphins. But though owner Wayne Huizenga said this week he would be happy to talk with Taylor if he wants to play elsewhere, he made clear he is not going to tell Bill Parcells how to handle the matter, and feels no need to smooth over the Taylor/Parcells relationship.

Huizenga said neither Taylor nor agent Gary Wichard have called him to request a trade and he expects Taylor will play for the Dolphins next season. Though Taylor has never said it publicly, numerous media outlets have reported Taylor wants to play elsewhere, with one close associate reiterating that returning to a rebuilding project is not a good fit for him.

''I like Jason -- he's a great guy and I would do anything for Jason,'' Huizenga said by phone. ``We all want to do what's right for Jason. . . . [But] as far as I'm concerned, he's happy [here]. He is a fantastic player. How could you not want him on the team?''

If Taylor asks him for a trade, how would Huizenga handle it?

''If Jason wanted to do that, we would consider it,'' Huizenga said, adding no meeting with Taylor has been scheduled. ``I would tell him that I would talk to Bill and [coach Tony Sparano]. I would not make that decision.''

What would the Dolphins be willing to accept in a trade? ''That's not my decision,'' Huizenga said. ``That's for the experts -- you're looking at Bill and Tony.''

As numerous reports indicated, Taylor told people he was unhappy that Parcells gave him the cold shoulder when he visited team headquarters last month. Taylor told ESPN he has spoken with Parcells for only about 30 seconds since he took over. But Huizenga indicated there's no need to intervene in their relationship because ''I don't believe'' there's friction. ``They are fine.''

Despite Parcells' earlier assertion that Taylor would not be traded, a high-level NFC executive said the Dolphins called his team before the draft, asking if his franchise would be interested in acquiring Taylor, but wanted at least a second-round pick. All Dolphins players are required to attend a minicamp June 6-8.


http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/story/540757.html

I really have no clue what is really being said between Taylor and the Phins Admin. but I can say that the drama and distraction that has been developing and looks to only get worse is not a positive for the team as they move forward.

I don't side with JT on this one.  I think he is being foolish.  He is no actor and whoever is telling him that he is needs to stop lying to him.  He has no guarentee of winning no matter what team he goes with and quite frankly could be in a pretty good situation in Miami within 2-3 years.  All he is doing is pissing off fans and tainting his legacy as a NFL player!

Overall, I just want the drama to get resolved!

He only has 1 or 2 year left in him, maybe 3 at the most.  No guarantee he will get a ring somewhere else.  But he won't play January football in miami, too much rebuilding, and he is too old.   

How do you know he only has 1-2 years left? How old is Michael Strahan? He'll be 37 this November, and he just won a SuperBowl after years of being on mediocre teams.

This is crazy. 

Wow, I'm agreeing with Cowboys and Hoodie...nice, guys!

Taylor's salary, or legacy, or loyalty are all irrelevant.  He'd be paid the same or more elsewhere, would have been as good or better if surrounded by talent rather than John Avery, Jamar Fletcher et al, and would have received the love and adulation he got here.  Taylor played excellent football for this team for 10 or 11 years and was betrayed by bad management and bad coaching.  I cannot blame him for wanting to leave the league on a winning note.  Though I won't root for his new team, I hope he succeeds wherever he goes.

Also: the last time an egomaniac coach/GM ran this team, we got 62-7.  The bombast is the same, I hope the result isn't.


The NYG also have a borderline franchise QB with 3 or 4 years under his belt and some nice receivers.  Miami's banking on a rookie or a second year guy, and Ted Ginn.  Situations are different.

Yes, and Strahan is 4 years older than JT is now. He was in NY when they had crappy teams also (remember, they had the #4 pick when they pulled the Eli trade off). So if the Fins are at the stage now that the Giants were at when they got Eli (and who's to say Henne won't be that QB?), JT could be playing in a Super Bowl a few seasons from now.

All I'm saying is that I could care less about his acting career after he leaves the Fins. Lets place a bet right now on how many main stream "acting parts" he gets where he doesn't play a football player.

Dave I need to take the 99 out of my Moniker.......7.5 Million? If thats what the Dolphins are willing to pay him per the contract then he needs to man up and take the ca$h and do the right thing. He's going out like a punk. 

There has been a lack of loyalty going both ways for decades now, so this is not surprising, and really is nothing to get upset about. He was going to leave the team eventually through FA, trade, or retirement anyway.

I love Jason Taylor until now...He is pulling a Ricky Williams on us. Yo Jason you signed a contract, why not be a man and honor it, you Benadict Arnold.

Are we seriously going to lecture JT on loyalty?  Perhaps JT should call up his brother-in-law and ask him what he thinks about the Dolphins and loyalty.

Loyalty is a two-way street, and JT saw how "loyal" the team was to Zach.  I don't think it's a coincidence that he just now decided that it's time to look out for #1.

It amazes me how people can cheerfully nod when a player is cut because "this is a business," yet vilify players when the tables are turned.  JT gave the Dolphins many years of service.  No matter what happens, I'll still respect him for what he's already done for us.

Parcells should have traded him before the draft, instead of letting it get to this point.

I saw a straw poll on AOL Fanhouse  A lot of fans agree with JT on this.

Yea, because teams never cut players.

So after ALL of the shit I got on this very forum 4 years ago for destroying Ricky Williams AND Jason Taylor (for blatantly calling out Ricky Williams and telling Taylor to shut the F up), I'm finally being "proved right" about this character (or, lack thereof). JT, as I've said FOR YEARS, has always been a big mouth, know-it-all, pompous ass clown, and when the going got tough and a new regime came into town, he didn't want to give up his comfort zone of being a high-paid primadonna on a 1-15 garbage squad where you don't work hard and you coast through the NFL season making millions. Now that Bill Parcells and company - you know, a system that actually WINS (hint Taylor, they've WON, what have YOU won?), JT packs his gear and moves to LA and now holds out. 

Miami - PLEASE outright release this aging, overrated clown. All the bullshit talk about Ricky Williams goes down the drain (it already did before when he two-faced his way back from what he said, and now again), and so does his winless career.

JT (And every other NFL player) - there is NO SUCH THING as "paying your dues", in case you idiots haven't figured this out yet. Let me repeat this one more time, because I know some of you high-priced clowns aren't necessarily road scholars: There is NO SUCH THING as "paying your dues" in the NFL. You are ALWAYS paying your dues, you are ALWAYS busting your ass like a rookie, and when you go 1-15, you have NO RIGHTS to be holding out or bitching about anything.

Remember everyone of the most true statement EVER. You should put this sentence in your signature lines: "The NFL is a business. It's also stands for "Not For Long", so shut your face and go to practice.

There is just no argument here. Show up to practice, period. If you don't, the door is that way. Simple as that. There are no such things as "sides" or "respect" here. You get your 1-15, over-rated, loud-mouthed, pretty boy, "they ain't comin' back on us" stupid ass to practice and that's the end of it.

Well, what is your view on Michael Strahan, who was in a similiar situation last year? Strahan has been more vocal than Taylor on a lot of issues.

at this point, why would the dolphins give jt the privilege of playing for another team? his rights belong to the dolphins and if he is interested in playing football he plays for the fins or retires. trade away this diva for a 4th round pick? f that... start your "acting" career early dude.

Why is legacy and loyalty as it pertains to legacy irrelevant?  He may not have been given the oppurtunity he received in Miami.  Untill he was given his chance, most would have considered him way undersized for his position.  He played on teams with damn good defensive backs like Marion, Madison, Surtain.  I could argue that he wouldn't have been half of what his is now if it hadn't been for this team (vs. another).

And how has he been betrayed?  I hate to say it but other than the report of Parcells not talking to him in the locker room, Taylor has been treated awesome since he has been a Dolphin.  Sparano has been very supportive via the media even when he didn't have to be.  Behind closed doors may be another story, but that is all speculation.

I am wondering how much of Sparano's comments are the Dolphins "spin-doctoring" the situation ti turn the Miami fans against Jason Taylor.

Maybe I missed it, but I never heard JT say in an interview, directly, that he wants out.  I think he had every intention to return to the team in 08, but Parcells was a dick to him and JT doesn't want to play for another a-hole.  I don't blame him.

Maybe, behind closed doors, JT was asked not to show up to camp, or that he wouldn't be allowed in camp, and the team is spinning it to make him look like the bad guy.

Or maybe I'm way off base.

Just saying, something sounds fishy here.

I thought this opinion column was pretty good.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-miataylor052108&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

please retire already jt, and go start acting. the dolphins won't miss you... its not like there has been a whole lot of winning around here with you on the team anyway.

This is the part that I keep shaking my head and coming back to... If you're Parcells-Ireland, and you think there is ANY CHANCE that this situation can happen, don't you lower your price significantly in trade talks and ensure that you get something of value for him?

I mean...come on, who here wouldn't have preferred an extra 3rd round pick in this past draft instead of the drama we're getting now?

All this public talk about JT not coming to camp has made his trade value zero.

In fairness to the Dolphin's management that trade would be harder than it looks.  JT wasn't willing to go just anywhere.  If Dolphins traded him to the Ravens he wouldn't have showed up there either.  And the other teams knew it. 

The only potential trading partners are teams that made the playoffs or came close last year.  JT has high price tag salary-wise and many of those teams have cap issues.  Some of those teams might have said, we will give you a 5th round as is but we will go as high as a second round if JT agrees to a restructured 3 year deal for half the money.   So now you have a three way negotiation.  With the Dolphins and JT having totally conflicting goals. 

JT would be a great fit on the Pats. JT probably would even take a pay cut for that deal.  But Dolphins might be a bit leery of having two games where all the highlights are plays made by Wes, Sammy and Jason trouncing their former team.   

However, while Jason has played the off-season as professionally as one can while being a hold out.  The Dolphin management has not.  The coach could have said, "Jason is perusing other avenues during the off-season and has choose not to attend the off-season voluntary camps, as his right.  He continues to work out on a daily basis and his dancing is keeping him limber and sharp.  He is a seasoned veteran who is familiar with our play book and although his absence is missed, of all our players he is the only one for whom this learning would be a rehash of material he has already mastered.  We look forward to his return, but are also entertaining offers for a potential trade.  We are confident that whether he plays for the Dolphins or another team next year he will be a leader and huge contributor to his team." This would have kept his trade value up.   

I may be wrong but I don't think JT wants to play for New England, I have a feeling he would love to reunite with his brother in law in Dallas.

I agree with the top part,the Part about what Sparano could have said..Yeah..maybe but there has been enough Rumors of Jason saying he didn't want to be a Dolphin and requested a trade (before this week)..It just sounds like Coach speak...

That would be a good, fit.  Gets the family back together, Dallas has a real shot at a title, and Dolphins aren't playing them for the next three years.  I suspect that Dallas would want a pay cut also. 

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/story/542538.html

Nothing has changed since news that Taylor won't be in camp

BY ARMANDO SALGUERO
Miami Herald

The initial reaction is to believe the Dolphins are in chaos and that the circus we have come to expect in recent years is still in town because a couple of deliberate sentences from the team have rolled back the curtain on the estrangement with Jason Taylor.

Relax.

Things are going to be just fine.

The only thing that has changed since coach Tony Sparano announced Wednesday that Taylor is not reporting for the start of training camp is that we actually know what we suspected all along.

That is interesting because it makes for good gossip. But it doesn't really change anything.

Taylor is still a Dolphins defensive end today. The team is still trying to trade him, even as you read this. And barring a trade that doesn't give him away cheaply, Taylor will either have to play for Miami or retire.

Didn't Bill Parcells already say that, or at least part of that, about two months ago?

Sparano spoke out Wednesday, most assuredly with Parcells' agreement because he wanted to eliminate a distraction, not incite one. Sparano understood that Taylor's absence at every ensuing conditioning session from now to July would draw attention to, well, Taylor.

SHARING NEWS

So Sparano shared what the team knows, what Taylor's representatives have told Parcells and general manager Jeff Ireland -- that Taylor wants to be traded and will not report to training camp if he is not.

And now the Dolphins will shut up and not address the issue anymore.

The next you hear from the Dolphins about Taylor is when he either reports to training camp or is traded.

On the delicious subject of that trade, you should know every player on the Dolphins' roster, save Jake Long, is on the trading block.

Taylor is not unique. But Miami isn't going to give Taylor away.

So this might take a little while to get resolved, likely into the middle part of training camp. And what if there is no palatable deal available for Taylor by then?

The team believes, as most teams rightfully do, that when the regular season and its mammoth-size paychecks beckon, Taylor will report.

Of course, that is not Taylor's view of things. He is spending the coming holiday weekend with his Los Angeles agent, and they will plan a strategy during that time. Afterward, you might see a series of interviews in which Miami's best player suggests he is ready to retire if he doesn't get a trade.

Taylor, after all, considered the retirement possibility in February, when he didn't know if Hollywood thought him employable. It is definitely an option now that he has a talent agent to go along with his football agent -- and both are fielding show business offers.

But let's be real here. All coming retirement bluster aside, Taylor doesn't really want to retire. He very much wants to play in 2008. He has told teammates that. He has told friends that.

Despite his Hollywood lunches with Denzel and Pacino and Twentieth Century Fox executives, Taylor still considers himself a football player.

There is, of course, no arguing that the rift between Taylor and the Dolphins didn't have to get this ugly. If the Dolphins had jettisoned him before or during the last draft, the issue would be resolved.

But it is wrong to think the failure to trade Taylor was a mistake.

We should applaud the team for trying to maximize its return for a great player. It is a sign the Dolphins are in control rather than spinning out of it.

NO GOOD OFFERS

It also is not the Dolphins' fault that -- despite published and Internet reports -- Miami got no better than a fourth-round offer for Taylor in April.

The Cowboys gave a fourth-round pick for Adam ''Pacman'' Jones, and he's on suspension, so the Dolphins weren't about to settle for that price, even though Taylor is playing only one more season.

So where does that leave us today?

The blaring headlines and screaming radio shows will have you believe chaos is indeed the order of the day at the training facility. The Dolphins have heightened their disrespect of Jason Taylor. Taylor is threatening to retire. Cats and dogs are living together.

Relax.

Taylor will be traded. Or he will play for the Dolphins. Or he will retire.

But what happened Wednesday didn't make any one of those possibilities more or less likely.

Apparently it was all over a blog he does for ESPN that he doesn't want to play in Miami and wasn't going to attend any camps before Sparano had the press conference saying it.

You can't compare Ricky to taylor. Wiliams quit on the team 4 days before training camp. He gave the dolphins zero opportunity to prepare for exit, meanwhile they missed out on eddie george and were so desperate for a running back they traded a 3rd round pick for Lamar Gordon. When has anyone questioned JT's dedication to the game.

What has Bill Parcells actually "WON" since leaving the Giants, NOTHING!!! How did it work out in dallas with any owner who supplied him with everything a coach could want. How was his coaching in 06 when dallas was 7-3 and missed the playoffs, how about 08....8-4 with 3 of the last for games at home....9-7 first round playoff exit. Ethurst is right he's overrated.

Don't let me start on his spectacular drafting

05- Passes up Steven Jackson to draft julius jones. Jackson is a pro bowler and jones was beaten out by barber. Anyone seen those two great offensive lineman he drafted the same year Jacob Rogers and Steven Peterman.

06- He wanted to draft Marcus Spears over Demarcus Ware, but was overruled by jerry.

07- The grandaddy of them all. He drafts a backup linebacker in the first round of the draft in bobby carpenter, because he coached his fuckin dad, meanwhile Antonio Cromartie a top flight corner was sitting there and was selected one pick later by the chargers. Cromartie is a pro bowler and Carpenter can't get on the god damn field.

He gets all the credit for discovering Romo when he should get zero. Sean Payton should be receiving the credit for discovering him. Also he didnt bring in T.O. , Leonard Davis or Ken Hamlin.

He's an upgrade over what miami had 3-4 years ago, but elmo the clown is an upgrade over Wannstedt and Speilman.

Taylor owes nothing to parcells. What has he done in Miami? How many games has Sparano won here. He's not proven.

Ethurst is right, he'll stay 3 years and be gone. We ran his old ass out of town in dallas. We got sick of his conservative style. He's talked a big game for many years, but hasn't delivered a damn thing.

Bill Parcells has never done anything without thinking about his own best intrest......I bet Arthur Blank would beg to differ. Anyone sending Arthur blank any sympathy cards after he was left hanging by parcells..........ohh yeah i forgot it's a buisness. It works both ways fat tuna.

^ Such animosity towards the man who made your team respectable again.  Mark my words, your team will be back into middle of the pack status by next year. 

Sounds like Jason maybe changed his mind...... or maybe he wasn't planning on holding out all along. 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-0528jasontaylornew,0,989322.story

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AkR3gS9pv8i4Mf.tcRe03i9DubYF?slug=ap-dolphins-taylor&prov=ap&type=lgns



WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)—Jason Taylor is headed back to South Florida after three months away from home. But the six-time Pro Bowl defensive end doesn’t sound like he’s in any rush to settle his stalemate with the Dolphins.

“I’m under contract with the Dolphins. So again, I’m looking forward to playing some golf. Football doesn’t start until July and training camp, so I’ll be all right,” Taylor said Wednesday after playing in a pro-am for the Principal Charity Classic, a Champions Tour event in Iowa. “I’ve been in L.A. and so far removed from it. Like I said, I’ll deal with that when I get there.”

Taylor will return home to host a charity golf tournament this weekend. The Dolphins, who are upset that Taylor spent the offseason on the hit TV show “Dancing With the Stars” rather than in South Florida working out with teammates, likely won’t have Taylor on hand when they hold a mandatory minicamp June 6-8.

Miami coach Tony Sparano said last week that Taylor isn’t expected to take part in any team activities through training camp.

Taylor avoided questions about whether he plans to meet with Dolphins executive vice president of football operations Bill Parcells when he gets back. Taylor says his immediate plans are to work out, play golf and relax at home.

“We’ll work with football here in the near future,” Taylor said.

Possibly neither.  JT has never said he wasn't going to report to camp.  He did say that he wants a trade and he did say he was not going to attend the OTAs.

The day before the Dolphins said that JT wasn't going to be at camp JT posted on his blog his plan was not to attend the OTAs, but would be attending camp.

Two possibilities:  What JT is saying to the Dolphins and what he is saying publicly are not the same or the Dolphins are going too far in demanding players attend the OTAs. 

Teams can not require players to attend the optional OTAs.  Nevertheless, most players attend.  A player can not be cut for not attending the OTAs, but if the player doesn't attend and anther does he could lose his job because the other player is now in better shape or knows this years play book better.  For most players it could be the difference between making the team or not, or starting vs. being a back up.  And there is that wink wink nod nod, it goes to the character of the player.

For the few whose skills are so good that is not a risk such as Peyton or Cromartie the coach telling them that their presence at the OTA is import for the team being prepared for the season is enough, less they be responsible for the team losing a shot at the playoffs because of them. 

JT's situation is different, he neither needs the OTAs to earn the starter role, nor does he believe his absence will lower the Dolphins chances at a Lombardi, as it is nil either way. 

Still most teams typically have a few players miss the OTAs.  The Dolphins only had one.  It is quite possible that the Dolphins laid down the law with miss the OTAs, don't bother showing up to camp we won't have a place for you.   If that is what they did they might be in a bit of trouble.

(lets stay on topic, no need to do a comparison between this possible rule violations and other rule violations) Simply pointing out that BP may have gone a little over board. 

Like I said - I saw the interview on the news this morning, he had no knowledge of "holding out"

Reporter: "They say you have threatened to hold out of training camp..."
Jason: "Who said that??"
Reporter: "Coach Sparano"
Jason: “I’ve been in L.A. and so far removed from it. Like I said, I’ll deal with that when I get there.”

Its BS - I am very confident that this was a one-sided threat to lock him out, while making him look like the bad guy, rather than have the fans pissed that they're dismissing the last fan favorite on the squad.

JT will be in aqua and orange in '08

point number #1 i agree with, point #2 i disagree. Taylor never said in his interview that he wanted to play for the dolphins, he said he'll worry about football in July. Transalation, the dolphins still have time to trade me before i retire in july.