What game is Jason Taylor playing here?

[DolFan619]

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2008/06/what-game-is-jt.html#comments

What game is Jason Taylor playing here?

A colleague I was just speaking with said it best after witnessing Jason Taylor's press conference today: He said he witnessed Taylor's first acting job.

Taylor got in front of the assembled press and, apparently trying to keep his reputation intact or for whatever other reason, declined to say he would like to be traded. Which is interesting because, well, he would like to be traded.

So the stories about to be published on the Jason Taylor matter will make an issue that Taylor only wants to play one more year -- that's not news to anyone, least of all the Dolphins -- and that Taylor actually hasn't requested a trade.

Which would be news to the Dolphins.

During today's press conference Taylor was asked if he wants to be traded from the Dolphins -- something that he definitely wants because that's what everyone associated with him is saying he wants and what his agent told the Dolphins in January.

So publicly Taylor answered the question this way: "I want to win in '08, that's what I want to do," Taylor said. "I told the Dolphins from Day One about my intentions. My intentions are to play one more year. I would like to try to give the Dolphins the opportunity that if they wanted to do something and move me, that I was OK with that. If they can get value for me, then do that. That was the conversation we had a long time ago."

So Taylor would have us believe he went to the Dolphins and basically said, "Hey guys, if you want to trade me, and you can get value, I just want you to know I'm good with that."

Who does that mean? The Dolphins don't need permission to trade Jason Taylor. He brought it up because he wants out. And his agent made the case to the team that keeping Taylor simply doesn't make sense and that Taylor has earned a chance to play for a winner.

So what's this stuff about, 'if you get value for me, then do that."

Moreover, Taylor said during today's press conference that he's OK with playing for the Dolphins in 2008. Of course, he declined to commit to reporting to training camp. So again, he's OK with saying playing for the Dolphins is fine, but he can't commit to actually proving that by showing up to mandatory camps, including training camp?

He's OK with playing for the Dolphins but he's not showing up for the mandatory minicamp next week? [He said he's attending his brother's graduation and handling legal matters instead.]

I have said for some time that this story has more layers and is more complicated than just about any I've covered since I started covering the Dolphins. That certainly isn't helped by the fact Jason Taylor is wanting one thing and saying something else.

But I guess that's what makes a good actor.

[ethurst2]

God, I'm tired of the Jason Taylor saga so please let this happen.

I would like for Jason Taylor to take a pay cut and go play for the nemesis of the Dolphins, The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS and here's why.

- Taylor has committed the crime of not going to OTA days which are voluntary.

- Taylor has been a bright light in the Dolphins rapid decline from contenders because of the incompetence and greed of Uncle Wayne and clueless coaches (except Jimmy in this case).

- Taylor does charity work in South Florida. Reagan Mauia punches people in the buffet line...Channing Crowder leave the scene of an accident...Joey Porter? Oh well, at least he stayed out of Vegas this year and Will Allen is being investigated by the NFL because he played the under on how many times he was gonna get burned by a WR.

Ho Hum...Taylor does charity work. That's not exciting.

- When Dolphin fans are hiding behind paper bags that they wore last season, Taylor represented the franchise on "Dancing With The Stars" and gave a figure skater a run for her money even though rumor has it that he's not a good dancer.

So maybe the Patriots could use a guy like Taylor and not have to film the opposition. Think of it. Wilfolk, Taylor and Richard Seymour with Taylor playing the hybrid linebacker spot and Randy Moss on offense. I guarantee you that the Patriots would go 19-0.

Miami doesn't deserve Jason Taylor or Zach Thomas.

I have become disgusted with the way Huizenga has ran this team. From the behind the door firing of Don Shula (thanks Marino, you were a part of that), to extending Dave Waanstedts contract, to begging Nick Saban, whose heart clearly was into coaching in the pros to a clueless rookie head coach (oh damn, what's his name, doesn't matter anyway) to now, the henchmen brought in from Dallas led by a rookie GM, a kicker and a line coach whose last coaching assignment was at some school we have never even heard of.

Good luck Miami.

Like I said...Ronnie Brown and John Beck better watch their backs.

[CF DolFan]

Jason came away looking the good player while Bill and compoany have egg on their face.  I couldn't help but laugh after reading his conference.

I reelly wonder what Bill will do next to try and get Jason under his control?  You know he will try something.

[Fau Teixeira]

BP doesn't have to do anything .. just call JT's bluff .. don't move him .. and let him play the season

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I think the real question is what game is BP playing? 

Threating to cut a player, lock them out of camp, or trade them because they don't show to a voluntary off-season work out program violates league rules.  Granted it is a rule that other teams violate as well, but the others tend to do less openly.

Is BP going to be Godells next example?   

[simeon]

This is the same BP that built the Giants into a winner,
the same BP that built the Patriots into a winner
the same BP who built the Jets into a winner...
If Parcells is playing a game, chances are he will win.

[Brian Fein]

Why does the media automatically side with the team when conflicting information is presented?

That's irresponsible, IMO.

[CF DolFan]

This is the same BP that built the Giants into a winner,
the same BP that built the Patriots into a winner
the same BP who built the Jets into a winner...
If Parcells is playing a game, chances are he will win.

I love you like a brother Simeon but you are way off base here.  You might want to look a little closer. 

Bills greatest talent is being able to have talented people working around him ... both coaching and GMs. Since he never hired the GMs ... that's just darn good luck. Give an egotistical guy enough rope and he will not only hang himself but he will advertise it first.  I see Bill doing just that in Miami because as he says ... he's buying the groceries now!!

[gocowboys31]

Taylor is playing the PR game. Taylor and his camp realized he was getting bashed in the local media so had to respond.

The fat tuna and his henchman fired the first shot and JT responed. Did you think taylor was going to DIRECTLY demand a trade and bash the fans and the city of miami, please!!!!

Taylor knows he's Mr. Dolphin and is going to do everything he can to preserve his image.

Nothing he said yeaterday really changed the situation.

[DolFan619]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/06/jts-weird-press.html

JT's weird press conference

If Jason Taylor and the Dolphins would stop playing mind games and word games, and just come clean, perhaps this bizarre drama would end and everyone could enjoy their offseason.

The bottom line is Jason Taylor doesn't want to play for the Dolphins this year because he wants to finish his career playing meaningful games in December, January and perhaps February before he replaces the Rock on the big screen instead of the Diamondvision screen.

But he doesn't want to come off like a whiny T.O. or Chad Johnson and cry his way out of a community he has embraced and enhanced with his charitable endeavors. But you and I both know that he has asked for a trade no matter what he is saying in front of the cameras. What is this, "I'll accept'' a trade stance. Duh. What's his choice. If the Dolphins want to trade him to Buffalo he's got to go or retire. Unless the trade is contingent on him restructuring his contract down then he has no options. And how ingenuous when he says he's fine with playing for the Dolphins this year and that he didn't tell Sparano that he wasn't coming to training camp - but in the next breath he says he can't commit to training camp. What is that?

The bottom line from the Dolphins regime - Tuna and Tony Sparano - is that they want to create a new culture of toughness and passion for football, so get your butts into the weight room and get in shape or there's the door. Parcells is a stickler for offseason conditioning and he said in his opening press conference that he would address the reasons for seemingly half the team ending up on IR like last year. They don't want the leader of the team off dancing while his teammates are busting it in the weight room and on the practice fields at so called voluntary OTA days. As Eddie George told me yesterday at JT's charity dinner and auction, "If you're not a Parcells' guy then you can't win. I guess Jason isn't a Parcells guy.'' George's career ended in Dallas when Parcells told him to take a hike.

So Taylor should admit he wants out and the Dolphins should admit they want him out but want to get decent fair market value for him - translation: a second round pick. Problem is with JT's announcment that he wants to play just one more season, he diminished his own chances of landing on a contender. That said, JT would probably change his mind and play the second season if the location and team were ideal.

Who would ever have thought that Ricky Williams would end up the good soldier while Tuna turns his back on the Golden Boy?

> Posted by hfialkov at 10:22:28 AM

[Phishfan]

That press conference was a crap fest. I expected him to actually say something. Both sides are playing mind games.

[Defense54]

That press conference was a crap fest. I expected him to actually say something. Both sides are playing mind games.

I agree 100% . But only one side is running the show.  Taylor can either STFU , Play ball in Miami, or retire.