With no trade, Huizenga stuck between Parcells and Taylor

[DolFan619]

Things are starting to get ugly.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/04/28/a1c_stoda_0428.html

Commentary: With no trade, Huizenga stuck between Parcells and Taylor

By GREG STODA
Palm Beach Post Staff Columnist

Monday, April 28, 2008

DAVIE — This is H. Wayne Huizenga's mess to fix now.

No one else can do the job.

Jason Taylor remains a Dolphin, and the great post-NFL Draft mystery is this: Why?

The Dolphins spent the weekend choosing college players and trying to rid themselves of a defensive end who, starting immediately, becomes an albatross, albeit a very talented one, draped around the franchise's neck.

Miami doesn't want Taylor, and Taylor knows it.

Taylor doesn't want Miami, and Miami knows it.

They'll tolerate each other, but only if they must.

Team Taylor - player, family, friends and handlers - figured he would be traded before the draft concluded Sunday night, according to a source, no matter the language coming out of Dolphins headquarters.

The understanding was that Miami's new football czar, Bill Parcells, was posturing and negotiating from the outset when he said Taylor would play for the Dolphins next season or retire.

"Nothing has changed," first-year General Manager Jeff Ireland said.

Taylor chose to put his faith in the words of the Dolphins owner when Huizenga said he's "all for" trading him to a team with an opportunity to challenge for the Super Bowl title.

So it was foolish that the Dolphins didn't get whatever draft pick or picks there were to procure the past two days.

That is why Huizenga must reenter the picture. He has to broker a peace between Taylor and the triumvirate of Parcells, Ireland and new head coach Tony Sparano ... or he has to see to it that Taylor gets his way by getting him out of South Florida.

This is a tight and tender spot for Huizenga, who is balancing an allegiance to a longtime Dolphins star with a trust he is in the embryonic stage of establishing with Parcells Inc., to which he promised unilateral football-decision powers.

So how does Huizenga soothe Taylor's irritation over being cold-shouldered by Miami's brass during a recent visit to team headquarters while not insulting the bosses themselves?

The new Miami regime of Parcells, Ireland and Sparano owes Taylor at least the appearance of respect regardless of how they might actually feel about him. Instead, they seem to have allowed their annoyance regarding Taylor's involvement with Dancing with the Stars and his hopes for a future Hollywood career to define the mood of the relationship.

A trade still could happen, of course, and it's my guess one will before camp begins in late July.

The Dolphins drafted a couple of defensive ends - Clemson's Phillip Merling and Hampton's Kendall Langford - who could move into Taylor's spot. In order to avoid an impasse at this point, Huizenga might well ask Parcells to settle for what he can get rather than what he wants for Taylor in trade.

But perhaps the Dolphins are counting on an angry and/or disgusted Taylor being especially motivated. Taylor, who was NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006, dropped off in performance last season (11 sacks, but eight games without any).

It's possible he could return to the form he displayed when he was pleased with his individual assignments two years ago even as the Dolphins went 6-10 and began their descent into current wreckage. He liked lining up at different spots on the field under Nick Saban's coaching strategy.

Taylor was frustrated last year - sure, a 1-15 record had more than a little to do with it - when Cam Cameron replaced Saban and restricted Taylor to more traditional duties of a defensive end.

If they do keep Taylor, perhaps the Dolphins will accommodate his desire to perform as versatile a role as possible.

Ireland, asked to describe the team's relationship with Taylor, said, "Hopefully, it's good."

"Hopefully" is the operative word.

Ireland, saying there have been trade discussions involving Taylor, insisted that the Dolphins "want the guy back."

Jake Long. Merling. Chad Henne. Langford. Shawn Murphy. Jalen Parmele. Donald Thomas. Lex Hilliard. Lionel Dotson.

Those are the names of the players Miami drafted the past two days.

But the most compelling aspect of the weekend was what the Dolphins didn't do.

Jason Taylor remains on the team, and Huizenga has a mess on his hands.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

It is a long time until the trading deadline.....

Taylor could still be traded for another player or 2009 picks.  Rebuilding is going to take more than one year.  2009 picks have to be part of the equation.