Jason Taylor traded to Skins!!!!!!

[DolFan619]

http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/news/andycohen.asp?contentID=5883

Dolphins Made A Good Deal ... But It’s Tough To Say Goodbye To J.T.

July 21, 2008

Presented By
Andy Cohen

As much as it hurts, it had to happen. Had to happen for Jason Taylor. Had to happen for the Miami Dolphins. If this indeed is “A New Beginning” as the franchise keeps saying, then it is hard to include a soon-to-be 34-year-old defensive end in that reconstruction project.

It just wasn’t the right fit, even for a player that has meant so much to so many people. Jason Taylor is a member of the Washington Redskins today. It doesn’t even sound right, does it? But it is a reality that we are now forced to accept.

That the Dolphins waited until the offer was right, that they just didn’t unload Taylor for a third or fourth round pick, is a credit to the backbone of the people now in charge. Another regime might have caved in on draft day. Not Bill Parcells. Not Jeff Ireland. They refused to budge until they got what they believed a player the caliber of Taylor justified on the open market.

And only after the Redskins suffered a couple of crippling injuries to defensive ends over the weekend, did the price reach what the Dolphins were looking for.

Make no mistake. This was the right trade for the Dolphins. A second and sixth round pick for a player who was taken in the third round way back in 1997, a player who might play two more seasons, might even only play one.

You couldn’t have expected the Dolphins to have gotten much more than that, and they refused to settle for less. It was good value, a smart move.

It was also a good trade for Taylor, who wanted in the worst way to play for a team on the cusp of something special. No, the Redskins would not have been his first choice. Probably not second or third either. They made the playoffs last year, but weren’t really a serious Super Bowl threat. There are no guarantees that this year will be any different, though with Taylor now in the fold their chances have improved dramatically.

In Taylor’s perfect world, he would have been traded to a West Coast team so he could continue to pursue his Hollywood ambitions. But when you want out, when the rumors swirl that you won’t play for the Dolphins, you’ve got to take what you can get. And today, rest assured, there is a smile on Jason Taylor’s face.

If there is a smile on the face of the Miami Dolphins, it is only because they received fair trade value. But, in truth, that smile must come with an empty feeling. It is sad when arguably the best defensive player in team history has to finish his career somewhere else. It is sad when such a strong pillar in the community must now go somewhere else. It is sad when the most popular player on the team leaves town because he wants a chance to play for a Super Bowl.

This isn’t how the perfect script would have unfolded. But it is what we are left with after six straight seasons without a trip to the playoffs.

Jason Taylor should be saluted today. He is a class act, a wonderful person and the most dominating defensive player I have been fortunate enough to cover on a regular basis. In so many ways, he was the voice of this franchise and that voice always seemed to say what the fan in Section 145, Row 27 wanted to hear.

If there is any solace, we got to see the best of Jason Taylor. The Redskins are there for the final verse, but we got the best of his music. All those sacks. All those dances. All those plays two seasons ago that led to Taylor being chosen Defensive Player of the Year. When Taylor is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and I’m betting he will be, rest assured he will go in as a member of the Dolphins. This isn’t a divorce as much as it is a separation. Unfortunate, but necessary.

Which was your favorite Jason Taylor moment? There was so many. No player before him was so proficient at what I call “the triple play.” That’s a sack, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble. I remember a play just before halftime in Cincinnati a few years ago that turned the game in Miami’s favor. I remember those touchdowns, when Taylor would cross the goal line in that Michael Jordan pose. The man certainly knew how to seize the moment.

I remember a quote from Tom Brady after a game a few years ago, “I just wish someone would block No. 99.”

Oh, they sure tried. Often two at a time. Sometimes three. But when the desire to get to the quarterback exceeds the will to stop him, Taylor is going to get his sack. And nobody can ever question that desire.

So now Taylor moves on. And so do the Dolphins. Now, with Zach in Dallas and Jason in Washington, it is truly “A New Beginning” for this franchise. Give Parcells and Ireland credit. They saw this coming. They drafted a couple of promising defensive ends last April. They signed some outside linebackers in free agency.

But before we move on, we must say thanks. We must salute a player who, in truth, can not be easily replaced. We must recognize a career perhaps like none other in team history. We must congratulate the person for touching so many lives in South Florida, touching them with grace and dignity.

Yes, it had to happen. But that doesn’t make it any easier. Training camp begins this weekend. There is a lot of excitement. A new coach. Many new players. A reality that seems to shout that this franchise is finally heading in the right direction.

But the reality today is that they will do it without big, lanky No. 99.

Thanks for the ride, Jason. You put on one whale of a show.

[Guru-In-Vegas]

I hope the Cowboys put a dirty spanking on the Redskins every time they play.  I don't like Taylor's baby attitude during all of this.  Thomas on the other hand was admirable in how shitty his treatment was.  I'll root for the Cowboys a million times to reach the Superbowl for Thomas over the Skins and Taylor.

[DolFan619]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_seasonticket/2008/07/fins-jt-trade-2.html?cid=123205716#comment-123205716

Fins: JT traded (aftermath #3)

The Giants are reportedly trading Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans for second and fifth round picks in 2009.

Also in the report: the Saints were trying to get involved over the weekend in a three-way trade that would have involved Jason Taylor and brought them Shockey.

(That doesn't come as a huge surprise, because my colleague Omar Kelly had heard something a few weeks back about the Saints being involved in a three-way deal that would have sent Taylor to the Giants, Shockey to New Orleans and draft picks to the Dolphins. I made a vague reference to a three-way scenario on the blog, but we didn't report it because sources in New York didn't confirm.)

Anyway, now that you see what the Giants got for Shockey, how do you feel about the return for Taylor?

Shockey is six years younger, but he has been more distraction than difference-maker the past few years. He figures to play longer, though I don't know what to make of Vinny Cerrato's confidence that Taylor will play at least two more seasons. Taylor's camp was adamant that he would only play one season, up until Taylor's seemingly self-defeating disclosure to that effect.

> Posted by Ethan J. Skolnick at 1:58:41 PM

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/07/21/live_from_redskins_park.html

Live from Redskins Park...

By Ben Volin | Monday, July 21, 2008, 03:45 PM

ASHBURN, Va. — Jason Taylor may have been traded to Washington, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t track his every move, right?

Taylor and his new entourage arrived here at Redskins park a little after 4:30 p.m., and an introductory press conference is set for 6 p.m. He has to take a physical, and is supposed to practice with his new teammates tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. It will be more than a little strange seeing JT in the burgundy-and-gold, but I guess we better get used to it.

The town is obviously giddy about Taylor’s arrival. The Skins have lacked an elite pass-rusher since Lavar Arrington left town (and before that, the team signed players like over-the-hill Bruce Smith to get any semblance of a pass rush). Among playoff teams last year, only Indianapolis and their 28 sacks had fewer than Washington’s 33.

The Skins under Dan Snyder (since 1999) have a history of signing aging veterans that don’t exactly work out (Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith, Jeff George, Mark Brunell, Mark Carrier, Steve Spurrier, and on and on). But this is not like those trades. JT is not being asked to come in and be a savior. The Redskins made the playoffs in two of the last three seasons, and aren’t counting on Taylor to turn around the franchise. And Taylor, 33, still has at least two more good seasons left, if not more. Defensive linemen (like Bruce Smith, Reggie White off the top of my head) can often play through their late 30s and into their 40s.

Washington Post columnist Mike Wise makes essentially the same point in his column today:

“This was big and bold — back to the proactive days when rebuilding through the draft could not hold a candle to rebuilding on the fly, when Daniel Snyder saw a player he liked and promptly bought him.

And before anyone compares acquiring Taylor to throwing money away on Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith or Brandon Lloyd, let’s be clear: After watching Daniels go down and out for the season — and maybe his career — and after watching a backup like Buzbee crumple to the ground in agony, this was a move the Redskins needed to make.

Sure, they have a lousy track record when it comes to procuring someone else’s star — whose best work is often behind him. Yet, plucking Taylor from a franchise that can still finish 1-15 without him was a deal born of desperation. In his first deal that Cerrato alone gets credit or blame for, he went about as far out on a limb as he could go. “

It’s funny listening to the one-sidedness of the local sports-talk radio. I tuned into The John Thompson Show (the ex-Georgetown basketball coach) on the drive over to the park, and couldn’t help but laugh at all the Bill Parcells bashing.

John Thompson, former Redskins great Brian Mitchell and co-host Al Koken bashed Parcells for giving Taylor grief about not showing up to voluntary minicamps. They bashed Parcells for snubbing Taylor in April at the team’s facility. They bashed Parcells for “only” getting a second- and sixth-round pick for their Franchise Player.

They bashed Parcells for … being Parcells. They’re good at that in this town. Parcells is a Giant and a Cowboy at heart. He is always the enemy here.

Not that either side was right or wrong in the JT saga this offseason. But the one-sidedness of the conversation here in DC is hilarious. Parcells probably hates ice cream and puppies, too.

[dolfan13]

it'll be funny to see the dolphins actually win more games than the redskins next year 

[DolFan619]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-gooddealformiawash072008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Taylor move logical for Dolphins, Redskins

By Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports
Jul 20, 11:26 pm EDT
 
Bill Parcells must have spent a lot of time on the phone Sunday.

The Miami Dolphins vice president of football operations, responding to a Yahoo! Sports report that Jason Taylor and the organization had agreed to part ways, said in March: “Taylor is going to play for the Dolphins unless he retires. And I tell you what: If we trade Jason Taylor, I’ll call you myself to tell you it’s happening. But I’m not going to have to do that because it isn’t happening. That’s how sure I am.”

Clearly, certainty turned to reconsideration as Taylor – a six-time Pro Bowler, the league’s reigning Man of the Year and 2006 defensive player of the year – was traded to the Washington Redskins on Sunday for a second-round draft pick in 2009 and sixth-rounder in 2010. The deal was logical and necessary for all parties involved.

“This move really revitalizes Jason for the end of his career,” Gary Wichard, Taylor’s agent, said Sunday.

Only a month ago, Taylor was talking about how he might retire after this season if he had to play for the Dolphins, opting instead to pursue his budding acting career. But before finalizing the deal, the Redskins asked Taylor to promise that he would play at least the final two years of his contract. He agreed, according to Wichard.

Still, Washington’s immediate concern is ‘08 and stabilizing a line that lost defensive end Phillip Daniels to a season-ending left knee injury Sunday, the Redskins’ opening day of training camp practices. Beyond replacing Daniels, acquiring Taylor gives Washington a dynamic defender who forces opposing offensive coordinators to sweat quite a bit.

The Redskins made the playoffs last season, but it required an improbable late-season push that was fueled, in part, by the emotional circumstances surrounding the death of star safety Sean Taylor. In a division that includes the Super Bowl champion Giants, a loaded Cowboys squad and three supremely talented passers (Eli Manning, Tony Romo and Donovan McNabb), the Redskins needed a good pass rusher who can cause steady disruption.

Taylor, one of the most dynamic athletes in the NFL, can rush or cover with nearly equal ability. He can play in a 4-3 or in a 3-4. Just move him around and watch offensive linemen stumble trying to find him.

While Taylor is much closer to the end of his career than to the beginning, it says plenty that at least eight teams were calling the Dolphins regularly to check on his availability, according to a Dolphins team source.

For Taylor, the move is huge because it puts him on a competitive team after six years of watching the Dolphins get progressively worse. It also puts him on a relatively big stage again, something Taylor loves. Not only do the Redskins play in the Sept. 4 season opener against the Giants, but they have two more prime-time games against Pittsburgh and Dallas.

That’s three big chances to get Taylor’s mug all over the airwaves, only a few months after his impressive performance on “Dancing With the Stars.”

With the Dolphins, there were no prime-time games and little hope of getting back there anytime soon. The team bottomed out last year at 1-15 and Taylor had enough. As much as Taylor has invested himself in the South Florida community, he wanted out. He told the Dolphins that at the end of last season and Wichard kept on the team during the offseason.

Now, Parcells, new general manager Jeff Ireland and new coach Tony Sparano can go about restructuring the team rather than answering daily questions about Taylor, who was the roster’s only star.

At 33, Taylor has spent six years watching the Dolphins try to rebuild. Parcells is starting the latest rebuilding program and he desperately needs young players to rejuvenate a roster that is loaded with flotsam.

Despite Parcells’ proclamation in the spring, everybody knew the deal. The Dolphins aren’t going to be competitive for a couple of years, at best. It’s not just that the roster is bad, but the skill position players are woeful. Start with quarterback, where Josh McCown, John Beck and rookie Chad Henne are competing for the starting job. No matter who wins the job, it’s unlikely that New England coach Bill Belichick is going to be sweating over how to defend against them this year.

Or next year.

At wide receiver, the hope is that 2007 first-round pick Ted Ginn Jr. will become a star, but he didn’t show much promise of greatness last season.

Ultimately, Parcells didn’t like the idea of being pushed around, particularly by an agent, but a deal had to be done.

It was for the best of all involved.

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-721jasontaylor,0,3536813.story

Jason Taylor: Piece of my heart in Miami

By Harvey Fialkov
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

7:50 PM EDT, July 21, 2008

Standing so close to three Super Bowl trophies he's longed to hold, former Dolphins defensive star Jason Taylor bid farewell to Miami and hello to the Washington Redskins, his new employer since Sunday's stunning trade.

Taylor, who was acquired by the Redskins late Sunday afternoon for a second-round draft pick next season and a sixth-rounder in 2010, continued to deny any rift ever existed between him and Bill Parcells, the Dolphins vice president of football operations. The alleged misunderstanding was reportedly over Taylor's participation in the Dancing with the Stars, reality television show instead of attending offseason voluntary workouts with his teammates.

"There was no animosity, no hard feelings, no negativity,'' said Taylor at a 6 p.m. Monday press conference held at Redskins training facilities in Ashburn, Va. "Miami has been great to me for 11 years. I owe so much to what I am today to the city of Miami, the organization [and co-owner] Wayne Huizenga.

"I love them to death. That's where we make our home. I have no problem with Miami at all or with the Dolphins. A piece of my heart will always belong to Miami, but now I'm a Redskin and very happy to be.''

Taylor said he hasn't talked to Parcells since the trade went down because they've both been busy.

Despite rumors to the contrary, Taylor said he had no intention of holding out in an attempt to force a trade from the Dolphins. Instead, he was preparing to report to Dolphins headquarters on Friday and participate in the first practice Saturday morning when he was notified of the trade by a phone call at 6:15 p.m. from Redskins owner Daniel Snyder and vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato.

"I was ready to play football in Miami,'' Taylor said. "It wasn't a situation where I was disgusted to have to go play for the Miami Dolphins. It wasn't like that at all. I was ready to go.

"We had five more days so I wasn't quite ready to jump into training camp. … This has all been very accelerated in the last 24 hours and that's fine.''

Redskins coach Jim Zorn said Taylor would be introduced to the entire team at a 7:30 p.m. meeting as, "one of the guys,'' and be expected to practice Tuesday morning. The trade talks heated up Sunday afternoon after Washington lost two defensive ends on their first day of practice, including starter Phillip Daniels and reserve Alex Busbee.

Taylor's family, including his wife Katina and three children, were in Dallas visiting her brother, former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas. Thomas, a seven-time Pro Bowl player for the Dolphins, was signed by the Cowboys earlier in the offseason.

"I'll see Zach in a different way now,'' Taylor said of his brother-in-law, who he will now play against at least twice a season as fellow members of the NFC East. "We were teammates for 11 years. I owe so much to Zach, too. He made me into such a better player. He's such a professional in the way he carries himself and plays the game regardless of the circumstances.

"But now he's with the Cowboys and those aren't good words around here. I found that out very quickly.''

Taylor said that Snyder sent his plane to pick his family up in Dallas and then stopped in South Florida to transport Taylor to Washington Monday morning where he took his first complete physical since the Scouting Combine in 1997.

"I felt young again,'' he joked.

Taylor, who turns 34 on Sept. 1, has two years remaining on his contract for approximately $16.5 million. Despite making comments last month about playing one more season he has assured the Redskins he would at the very least honor his contract.

"I'm going to play out my contract,'' he said. "I'll be here for more than one year, God willing, unless something happens bad, I'm here to play ball as long as I can.''

Taylor gave credit to former Dolphins defensive end Trace Armstrong for being a mentor, and admitted that he has been talking regularly to former Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino for advice over the last several months.

"He's Mr. Miami,'' Taylor said. "Dan gave me advice as to what he thought I should do or what would be best for me or the organization in Miami. Dan has been a very big influence on my whole career, whether it was as a player or the foundation or doing work in the community or as a person in general.''

He said that it was possible for the 1-15 Dolphins to turn it around and become the Saints of two seasons ago and make the playoffs

Ironically, several reports have indicated that the Saints were trying to broker a three-way deal with the Dolphins and Giants that would've sent tight end Jeremy Shockey to New Orelans and Taylor to the Super Bowl champion Giants. The Dolphins would've ended up with a 2009 second-round pick and 2010 fifth-round pick.

Taylor jokingly suggested that he would be willing to pay a moderate price to wrest his uniform No. 99 away from Redskins veteran defensive end Andre Carter, but that the only dancing he'd be doing in the immediate future would be to, "celebrate big plays.''

"Some people do it for money and fame,'' Taylor said of playing professional football. "All those things are great but the reason I play the game is to win. I think this organization here, the Washington Redskins, give me a great chance to win this year, and to build on that in the coming years.''

[DolFan619]

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2008/07/news-and-notes.html#comments

News and notes following Jason Taylor trade

Clearing out the notebook of things I have been told and have witnessed:

1. Dolphins football czar Bill Parcells likes to make the point that he is neither the Dolphins coach nor general manager. Not his job, he says. Tony Sparano is the coach and Jeff Ireland is the GM. And while Parcells isn't actually going to be on the sideline coaching, he definitely is serving as GM, casting an immense shadow over Ireland.

When it came time to make the decisions on the Jason Taylor deal this week, it was Parcells making the call. When Redskins executive Vinny Cerrato went looking for a defensive end to replace Phillip Daniels, he called Parcells not Ireland. He negotiated with Parcells, not Ireland.

"We went out to practice at 3 p.m., and I talked to Bill Parcells probably like three times on the practice field, back and forth," Cerrato told ESPN radio on Monday. "We went and discussed some different terms, we came in after practice, talked to 3 or 4 of the veterans players, and asked them what they thought, what type of guy and everything Taylor is and they said great guy. Everything was positive. I called Parcells back around 6:15 and told him, we'll do the deal. We faxed papers back and forth, got Jason Taylor on the phone and we were done."

According to Peter King of Sports Illustrated, Parcells was so in charge of the deal, he even told Cerrato: "All right, I'll fax you the paperwork. It's done."

I don't think any of us should have a problem with any of this. I think everyone can agree Parcells has a reputation that Ireland doesn't yet have and his experience also trumps the young GM's experience. But let's drop the pretenses, shall we?

The Dolphins, for whatever reason, continue to insist that Parcells is a shadow contributor while Ireland is the decision-maker. When the team finally got around to confirming the trade the entire Western Hemisphere knew had been made hours earlier, they released quotes from Wayne Huizenga and Ireland. I can understand Huizenga's statement was necessary because the owner has a history with Taylor, a long-time contributor. But if teams are speaking almost exclusively to Parcells, if the rest of the NFL understand Parcells is running the show, don't Miami fans deserve to hear from him?

Everyone knows Parcells is the ultimate decision-maker, deal-maker, and lord of all football realms in Miami. Teams around the league have no problem acknowledging it. Wish the Dolphins would.

2. As I reported yesterday, the Dolphins were involved with a couple of teams on the Taylor front. New Orleans and the Giants were involved with Miami in some talks and it should come as no surprise those two teams made a trade today, sending tight end Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans for multiple draft picks.

Apparently, New Orleans coach Sean Payton was so eager to get Shockey, he tried to involve the Dolphins in a three-way deal with New York. The Saints would get Shockey, the Giants would have gotten Jason Taylor and the Dolphins woul have gotten draft picks.

I cannot confirm how far those talks went (not far enough, apparently) but one source tells me earlier this offseason the Giants and Dolphins were talking about making a Shockey for Taylor deal. That conversation obviously didn't go very far either, but geez, doesn't that deal sound a whole lot more palatable for Miami than what it eventually got for Taylor?

Shockey for Taylor? Maybe I'm showing my love for The U -- yeah I've got a Miami license plate on one of my cars -- but I would have loved this trade. A 27-year-old Pro Bowl tight end trumps a 2009 second round pick any day in my book. And a 27-year-old Pro Bowl tight end for a 33-year-old defensive end sounds like a good deal for Miami.

But I guess the Dolphins (Parcells) decided he didn't want the New York malcontent coming to his Miami team and possibly, you know, ruining the great offensive chemistry the Dolphins already have in their passing game. Plus why would anyone want to upgrade over David Martin?

I understand the minuses of getting Shockey, but I see a lot on the plus side that the future draft pick doesn't offer.

3. Anybody notice how everyone in this whole JT saga pretty much lost credibility with things they said?

Parcells in March: "The only way Jason Taylor does not play for the Dolphins is if he retires. The team is not going to trade him."

Taylor in June: "I told the Dolphins my intentions from Day One. My intentions are to play one more year."

Um, in case you haven't noticed, Taylor was traded Sunday contrary to what Parcells said. And Taylor immediately told the Redskins he would be happy to play out the remaining two years of his current contract and left open the possibility of signing a new deal after that.

4. Taylor had not talked to former Miami teammate, brother-in-law and new rival Zach Thomas as of Monday afternoon. "I'll see Zach in a different way now," Taylor said at his press conference Monday afternoon. "He made me a better player over the years. But now he's with the Cowboys and those aren't good words around here."

5. Taylor, who reads this blog religiously and was upset with moi when I suggested he lied danced around requesting a trade, is concerned about his legacy with Miami fans.

"You always worry about perception because sometimes it can become reality for some people," Taylor said. "When the media starts to paint a picture a certain way, you can't address everything. There are so many blogs and writers out now that you can't address everything. And sometimes the perception becomes so big that it disappoints you. And sometimes you have to look at the body of work. He's done this for so long and this is the kind of guy he is. He's done it this way, week in and week out and year in and year out so we have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Because you can't address everything."

5. The Dolphins get a very nice cap relief after trading Taylor. The just cleared something on the order of $7-7.5 million. That means they have approximately $21 million under the cap. Now they can go out and shop aggressively in free agency ... or not.

Your thoughts?

[DolFan619]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/07/jt-almost-ended.html

J.T. almost ended up on Giants

Guys, I got it confirmed from my New Orleans source that the Saints were trying to broker a trade over the weekend that would've sent Jason Taylor to the Super Bowl champion Giants where he would've been the perfect replacement for retired DE Michael Strahan.

In return, the Giants would've sent former UM tight end Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans (which they ended up doing on Monday), and the Saints would've given the Dolphins a second-rounder next season and a fifth-rounder in 2010, instead of the second rounder and sixth rounder that the Redskins eventually gave Miami.

Do you think J.T. would've preferred going to the Big Apple than the nation's capitol where the Redskins might be the fourth best team in the NFC East, instead of the Super Bowl champs? Plus, think of all the television contacts he could've made in NYC?

Ah, the best laid plans of mice and men ....

By the way no matter how much Parcells doth protest and say he is leaving the heavy lifting to GM Jeff Ireland and coach Tony Sparano, did you notice that Redskins VP of football ops Vinny Cerrato said all day Monday that he dealt with Parcells on the phone throughout Sunday's negotiations - and not Ireland.

> Posted by hfialkov at 8:32:17 PM

[ethurst2]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/07/jt-almost-ended.html

J.T. almost ended up on Giants

Guys, I got it confirmed from my New Orleans source that the Saints were trying to broker a trade over the weekend that would've sent Jason Taylor to the Super Bowl champion Giants where he would've been the perfect replacement for retired DE Michael Strahan.

In return, the Giants would've sent former UM tight end Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans (which they ended up doing on Monday), and the Saints would've given the Dolphins a second-rounder next season and a fifth-rounder in 2010, instead of the second rounder and sixth rounder that the Redskins eventually gave Miami.

Do you think J.T. would've preferred going to the Big Apple than the nation's capitol where the Redskins might be the fourth best team in the NFC East, instead of the Super Bowl champs? Plus, think of all the television contacts he could've made in NYC?

Ah, the best laid plans of mice and men ....

By the way no matter how much Parcells doth protest and say he is leaving the heavy lifting to GM Jeff Ireland and coach Tony Sparano, did you notice that Redskins VP of football ops Vinny Cerrato said all day Monday that he dealt with Parcells on the phone throughout Sunday's negotiations - and not Ireland.

> Posted by hfialkov at 8:32:17 PM

Go back to this thread and read what I posted a little over a month ago. From a personal source, friends of mine in New York and in Dallas that's still got ties to the NFL, The Giants knew that Strahan was going to retire and wanted to deal Shockey to the Dolphins for Taylor but Parcells didn't like Shockey.

Bill never forgot the "homo" comment and neither did the NFL brass. behind the scenes the NFL was going to suspend Shockey because they did get flax from Gay and Lesbian groups. Instead, he was fined by the team.

Jerry Jones wanted Taylor so badly that he was willing to part with safety Roy Williams and a late round draft pick. Williams had become a headache for the Cowboys and has developed a poor work ethic and was exposed in the passing game. Williams is good but unless you're Darren Woodson, who set such a high standard at Dallas, you're tradeable.

Jones envisioned Demarcus Ware and Taylor terrorizing quarterbacks with Taylor easily fitting in to Wade Phillips 3-4 defense. Parcells nixed that idea partially because of an ego thing. You put Taylor on the Cowboys squad and they are almost guaranteed to be in the Super Bowl.

Here's the thread

...http://www.thedolphinsmakemecry.com/forums/index.php?topic=10963.msg114830#msg114830

P.S. Tommy actually nailed what the Giants wanted to do.

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/07/21/taylorweb.html

Jason Taylor: Exit from Miami is amicable

By BEN VOLIN
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, July 21, 2008

ASHBURN, Va. — Jason Taylor hasn't been seen much around the Dolphins' Davie practice facility this off-season, but there he was Sunday afternoon, organizing the shoes in his locker and getting ready for the start of training camp this weekend.

"I hadn't been there for awhile," Taylor said. "I always go in before camp, before the guys come in. It's nice and quiet, get set up, situated. Same thing I've been doing for the last 11 years."

Except this time was different.

On his way home, he finally got the phone call he'd been waiting for all summer - the one from his agent telling him that the Dolphins had agreed to swap the 33-year-old defensive end to the Washington Redskins, a playoff contender, for second- and sixth-round draft picks.

The one that ended months of speculation and no-comments and threats of a holdout.

The one that ended his stellar career with the Miami Dolphins.

"It's bittersweet," Taylor said Monday, wearing a suit with burgundy pinstripes and a burgundy tie at his introductory news conference at Redskins Park. "I had 11 great years in Miami, and Miami is home. But it's a chance for me to write a new chapter or two in my career."

Taylor, drafted in the third round in 1997, leaves as one of the most-decorated players in Dolphins history.

He recorded 117 sacks, made six Pro Bowls and was named by fans to the All-Time Dolphins team.

He won NFL Defensive Player of the Year and then later NFL Man of the Year for the charity he does with the Jason Taylor Foundation, and will continue to call Miami his home in the off-season.

Yet it was a move all sides wanted to make. Taylor gets to play for a contender, the Redskins get a Pro Bowl defensive end and the Dolphins get the draft picks they need to accelerate their rebuilding process.

On Monday, Taylor called the split "amicable" and said there was "no animosity" between him, first-year Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, new General Manager Jeff Ireland or Bill Parcells, Miami's new head of football operations. But after his news conference, he admitted that he could've handled the situation differently.

This spring, while all 84 of his Dolphins teammates participated in voluntary off-season workouts, Taylor was in Hollywood, dancing and mingling with the stars. He didn't make any public declarations about his intentions, didn't appreciate getting snubbed by Parcells, and it was Sparano - not Taylor - announcing publicly in May that Taylor would hold out of training camp.

Taylor had to call a special media session at his charity event in June to make it clear that he wasn't going to be holding out. He did say then that he wasn't sure he would play past 2008, but Taylor cleared the air Monday by saying he plans to play out the length of his contract. Taylor, whose 1001/2 sacks this decade are the most in the NFL, is signed through 2009 at about $7.5 million per season.

"When it's the off-season, I'm off. I'm not going to talk to the media about all this stuff," Taylor said. "I was in L.A. having a good time, doing my thing. That's why I wasn't pleasing everybody, and I guess people come up with their own opinions. From my point of view, there was no animosity, there was no hard feelings, no negativity."

Taylor said that he hasn't spoken with Parcells since news of the trade broke Sunday evening. He also hasn't had a chance to speak with brother-in-law and former teammate Zach Thomas, also discarded by the Dolphins this off-season and now Taylor's rival with the Dallas Cowboys.

"I'll see Zach in a different way now," Taylor joked. "I owe Zach a lot, but he's with the Cowboys, and those aren't good words around here. I found that out very quickly."

Taylor's wife, Katina (who is Thomas' sister), and their three children were in Dallas last weekend visiting Thomas. Redskins owner Dan Snyder sent his private jet to Dallas on Monday morning to return them to Miami.

Taylor gave them a quick kiss and a hug, got back on Snyder's plane and headed to Washington. After arriving at Redskins Park at 4:30 p.m., he spent the next three hours meeting his new teammates, coaches and a horde of local media.

"It's been a whirlwind, the last 24 hours," Taylor said. "It still hasn't set in yet."

Today, at 8:30 a.m., he hits the practice field as a Washington Redskin. But his locker in Davie is still intact.

"Sometimes things have to change, and that's where we find ourselves now," Taylor said. "They're boxing my stuff up as we speak."

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/07/21/a6c_dolphins_0722.html

Which Dolphin will supply pressure now?

By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, July 21, 2008

DAVIE — Former Dolphin Jason Taylor started a team-record 130 games.

Cornerback Will Allen now leads Dolphins' defenders with 21 consecutive starts.

Taylor had 117 sacks, or 114 more than his possible replacement, fourth-year outside linebacker Charlie Anderson.

No member of Miami's defense has been selected to the Pro Bowl as a Dolphin, much less to six of them like Taylor.

Add it up and Taylor's trade Sunday to Washington for two draft picks (a 2009 second-rounder and 2010 sixth-rounder) makes the Dolphins - the NFL's worst team last season - even worse.

"They're not going to be as good," one former NFL executive said. "I think the arrow was pointing down (on Taylor's level of performance), but he's still better than anyone they have.

"You have to remember, you're looking at a bigger picture here."

Many rebuilding efforts require teams to take one or two steps back to eventually end up several steps ahead.

But until Bill Parcells works his rebuilding magic in Miami, someone will have to step in for Taylor.

Taylor, who turns 34 on Sept. 1 and failed to make a sack in eight games last season, might not be the dominant player who had 181/2 sacks in 2002 or earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2006.

But no Dolphins player can match Taylor's explosiveness as a pass rusher, raising a red flag for a team that ranked 24th in the NFL a season ago with 30 sacks - 11 by Taylor.

A handful of players will look to pick up the slack, beginning with last year's biggest free-agent signing, outside linebacker Joey Porter.

The Dolphins hope Porter, who had just 51/2 sacks, including only 11/2 in the team's first 11 games, bounces back in a scheme similar to the one he played in during three Pro Bowl seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Blessed with quickness more than Taylor's flat-out speed, Porter, 31, twice had a career high 101/2 sacks, a total Taylor has surpassed in six of the past eight seasons.

Anderson, 26, likely will get the first crack to line up opposite Porter at right-side outside linebacker in the team's new 3-4 defensive scheme long used by Bill Parcells. The position, played in the '80s by New York Giants Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and currently by Dallas Pro Bowler DeMarcus Ware, would have been well suited to Taylor's pure pass-rushing skills.

Anderson, on the other hand, primarily played special teams during four seasons in Houston and managed only three sacks when he did line up at outside linebacker. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Anderson, 26, does have the size, athletic ability and range needed to play outside in the 3-4 scheme.

Second-year pro Quentin Moses looks to be a much better pure pass rusher than Anderson. But Moses bounced around the league a season ago after he finished his career at the University of Georgia.

Selected in the third round by Oakland in last year's NFL Draft, Moses, 24, didn't even make the team. He also was signed and released by Arizona before landing in Miami, where he had 11/2 sacks in seven games as an end.

The 6-5, 260-pound Moses is moving to linebacker from defensive end, so he might be more of a project.

Taylor spent much of his career at defensive end but had the athletic ability to move around the line or drop into coverage.

In the new scheme, the Dolphins want ends that can occupy blockers, stop the run and pressure the quarterback when possible.

The team returns ends Matt Roth and Vonnie Holliday, added Randy Starks through free agency and drafted two - second-round pick Phillip Merling and third-round pick Kendall Langford.

Roth plays with energy, but lacks size, and Holliday doesn't have the speed to rush from the outside. The 312-pound Starks played defensive tackle before coming to Miami from Tennessee, but he worked at end during the off-season.

The 6-4, 275-pound Merling and 6-6, 287-pound Langford each fits the mold of a 3-4 end. Each also has the skills to develop into an effective pass rusher.

Longtime draft analyst Frank Coyle of draftinsiders.com said Langford is an amazing athlete for his size and could eventually become "a surprise starter" for the Dolphins. Langford played in a 3-4 scheme in college, but Coyle said he needs to develop NFL pass-rushing skills because he played at Division II Hampton University.

Merling was projected to be a top-20 pick out of Clemson until suffering a sports hernia that required surgery. Coyle said Merling could be a steal who could develop into a pass-rushing presence at either end of the line.

"Early expectations have to be tempered because of health issues," Coyle said. "But he's a really nice player with a lot of potential."

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/07/21/a1c_stoda_0723.html

Commentary: Good guy Taylor gets away in end ... just like he wanted

By GREG STODA
Palm Beach Post Staff Columnist

Monday, July 21, 2008

Jason Taylor is one of the good guys.

He has done much for the South Florida community in terms of charitable work, and was a star athlete of the highest rank for more than a decade from his defensive end/outside linebacker position with the Miami Dolphins.

He is personable and engaging in conversation off the field, and a fierce competitor well-respected by teammates and opponents alike on it.

But let's also remember how Taylor - both by word and deed - pushed for the trade the Dolphins made Sunday night in sending him to the Washington Redskins.

He wanted out.

The Dolphins, in restructuring mode, weren't inclined to keep Taylor, anyway, but he did more than just help the franchise open the exit door. He played to Miami's desires by making his own desires clear.

Taylor and the Dolphins had no time for each other, which made the timing perfect for farewells. Taylor will be 34 years old in September, which puts him near the end of a career just as the Dolphins are ready to embark upon a new era trying to climb up from the depths a 1-15 record compiled last season.

"You want to win," Taylor told reporters at his Redskins introductory news conference Monday. "Some people (play) for money, for fame, for whatever reason. All of those things are great, but the reason I play the game is to win."

And he realized the Dolphins aren't likely to win in the manner he hopes anytime soon.

Taylor wasn't as duplicitous as was new Dolphinczar Bill Parcells in their prolonged game of hide-'n'-seek with the truth, but neither was he above sending whatever message suited his purpose.

And not just with the Dancing with the Stars complication, which was a convenient tool for Taylor and, as it turned out, Parcells as well.

"Things got out of control," Taylor said.

No kidding.

Taylor, for example, said playing for the Dolphins this season would have been fine with him when it quite obviously would have made him miserable. Taylor's comment about his intention to play only one more year was a plain and simple threat aimed at Parcells and his incoming regime of General Manager Jeff Ireland and head coach Tony Sparano, and proof already is abundantly clear. Taylor, after all, quickly informed the Redskins he'd be glad to fulfill the two seasons remaining on his contract.

"I'm on board. I'm gonna play out my contract," Taylor said. "I'll be here for more than one year, God willing. I'm here to play ball, and play ball as long as I can."

Parcells, meanwhile, comes off as a fool or a liar when his own words spoken not too long ago are reprinted: "The only way Jason Taylor doesn't play for the Dolphins in 2008 is if he retires."

Oh, really?

"From my point of view, there was no animosity," Taylor said. "I haven't talked to Bill Parcells since this happened. It's increasingly difficult to play with one organization because of the way the league is set up. Sometimes, you have to change, and that's where we find ourselves now."

It's possible, of course, that the Dolphins will get lucky and make big hits on the second- and sixth-round picks they're getting for Taylor in the NFL Draft the next two years, respectively. Miami is doing nothing more than gathering pieces, and this deal gives Parcells, Inc., two more.

But with Taylor gone so soon after Thomas' departure, the Dolphins lack a singular identity. Unless, that is, it's Parcells, which simply won't do. They're not as anonymous as, say, the Panthers, but they're close.

There's the quirky Ricky Williams as a weirdly interesting figure, and that's about it. Who else? Ronnie Brown? Channing Crowder? Joey Porter? Vonnie Holliday? Yeremiah Bell? Ted Ginn? Samson Satele? Jake Long?

For sure, the Dolphins don't have a star the quality of the Heat's Dwyane Wade or even the Marlins' Hanley Ramirez, which must be great news for franchise ticket-sellers given the economy and the team's prospects of achieving something as pedestrian as mediocrity.

Taylor's escape is to a good, not great team. (Thomas landed in a better spot in Dallas, but won't that Cowboys-Redskins rivalry now carry some extra spice for Miami fans?) Hardly is Washington assured of again making the NFC playoffs as it did last season, and the Redskins chased down Taylor in swift pursuit only after two of their defensive ends suffered season-ending injuries Sunday.

"A piece of my heart will always belong to Miami, but now I'm a Redskin," Taylor said.

He leaves the Dolphins as one of the best defenders in franchise history. Maybe the very best. He'll someday be in the Ring of Honor at Dolphin Stadium unless someone of influence holds a grudge, and an argument can be made that Taylor should get an NFL Hall of Fame bust someday, too.

But he's a Dolphin no longer.

Taylor and Parcells used each other to this result.

Assess credit or blame as you choose.

[ethurst2]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/07/21/a1c_stoda_0723.html

Commentary: Good guy Taylor gets away in end ... just like he wanted

By GREG STODA
Palm Beach Post Staff Columnist

Monday, July 21, 2008

Jason Taylor is one of the good guys.

He has done much for the South Florida community in terms of charitable work, and was a star athlete of the highest rank for more than a decade from his defensive end/outside linebacker position with the Miami Dolphins.

He is personable and engaging in conversation off the field, and a fierce competitor well-respected by teammates and opponents alike on it.

But let's also remember how Taylor - both by word and deed - pushed for the trade the Dolphins made Sunday night in sending him to the Washington Redskins.

He wanted out.

The Dolphins, in restructuring mode, weren't inclined to keep Taylor, anyway, but he did more than just help the franchise open the exit door. He played to Miami's desires by making his own desires clear.

Taylor and the Dolphins had no time for each other, which made the timing perfect for farewells. Taylor will be 34 years old in September, which puts him near the end of a career just as the Dolphins are ready to embark upon a new era trying to climb up from the depths a 1-15 record compiled last season.

"You want to win," Taylor told reporters at his Redskins introductory news conference Monday. "Some people (play) for money, for fame, for whatever reason. All of those things are great, but the reason I play the game is to win."

And he realized the Dolphins aren't likely to win in the manner he hopes anytime soon.

Taylor wasn't as duplicitous as was new Dolphinczar Bill Parcells in their prolonged game of hide-'n'-seek with the truth, but neither was he above sending whatever message suited his purpose.

And not just with the Dancing with the Stars complication, which was a convenient tool for Taylor and, as it turned out, Parcells as well.

"Things got out of control," Taylor said.

No kidding.

Taylor, for example, said playing for the Dolphins this season would have been fine with him when it quite obviously would have made him miserable. Taylor's comment about his intention to play only one more year was a plain and simple threat aimed at Parcells and his incoming regime of General Manager Jeff Ireland and head coach Tony Sparano, and proof already is abundantly clear. Taylor, after all, quickly informed the Redskins he'd be glad to fulfill the two seasons remaining on his contract.

"I'm on board. I'm gonna play out my contract," Taylor said. "I'll be here for more than one year, God willing. I'm here to play ball, and play ball as long as I can."

Parcells, meanwhile, comes off as a fool or a liar when his own words spoken not too long ago are reprinted: "The only way Jason Taylor doesn't play for the Dolphins in 2008 is if he retires."

Oh, really?

"From my point of view, there was no animosity," Taylor said. "I haven't talked to Bill Parcells since this happened. It's increasingly difficult to play with one organization because of the way the league is set up. Sometimes, you have to change, and that's where we find ourselves now."

It's possible, of course, that the Dolphins will get lucky and make big hits on the second- and sixth-round picks they're getting for Taylor in the NFL Draft the next two years, respectively. Miami is doing nothing more than gathering pieces, and this deal gives Parcells, Inc., two more.

But with Taylor gone so soon after Thomas' departure, the Dolphins lack a singular identity. Unless, that is, it's Parcells, which simply won't do. They're not as anonymous as, say, the Panthers, but they're close.

There's the quirky Ricky Williams as a weirdly interesting figure, and that's about it. Who else? Ronnie Brown? Channing Crowder? Joey Porter? Vonnie Holliday? Yeremiah Bell? Ted Ginn? Samson Satele? Jake Long?

For sure, the Dolphins don't have a star the quality of the Heat's Dwyane Wade or even the Marlins' Hanley Ramirez, which must be great news for franchise ticket-sellers given the economy and the team's prospects of achieving something as pedestrian as mediocrity.

Taylor's escape is to a good, not great team. (Thomas landed in a better spot in Dallas, but won't that Cowboys-Redskins rivalry now carry some extra spice for Miami fans?) Hardly is Washington assured of again making the NFC playoffs as it did last season, and the Redskins chased down Taylor in swift pursuit only after two of their defensive ends suffered season-ending injuries Sunday.

"A piece of my heart will always belong to Miami, but now I'm a Redskin," Taylor said.

He leaves the Dolphins as one of the best defenders in franchise history. Maybe the very best. He'll someday be in the Ring of Honor at Dolphin Stadium unless someone of influence holds a grudge, and an argument can be made that Taylor should get an NFL Hall of Fame bust someday, too.

But he's a Dolphin no longer.

Taylor and Parcells used each other to this result.

Assess credit or blame as you choose.

Gee? Jason Taylor went 8 games without a sack and ended up last season with 11? What if Cam Cameron would have not had Porter and Taylor playing out of position most of the season? They both picked up their play the second half of the season. Maybe the Dolphins could have eeked out 2 more games.

[DolFan619]

http://www.miamiherald.com/614/story/612906.html

A fresh start for Taylor in D.C.

BY JEFF DARLINGTON
Miami Herald

The cameras stopped clicking. The glitzy introduction had ended.

And now, in a much quieter moment, Redskins defensive end Jason Taylor was standing outside the doors of his new team's training facility Monday, about to hop into a gold Tahoe that would whisk him to a place where he would attend his first team meeting.

''I feel like we're sending you off to your first day of school,'' said Seth Levit, the person largely responsible for the success of Taylor's charitable foundation in South Florida.

''It's like you're back at Akron!'' joked Taylor's agent, Gary Wichard.

They all laughed. They all hugged. And even though each of them tried to make this into a casual goodbye, the way grown men like to do, it was clear that everyone realized this seemingly surreal scenario was actually so very real.

Taylor, who has spent 11 seasons as a household name with the Dolphins, had instantly become the newest face of a different franchise.

''This is very new to me,'' Taylor said earlier, as he stood in front of dozens of cameras and reporters during his introductory news conference with the Redskins.

The flashing cameras? The national attention? The bright lights that make his bald head bead with sweat? No, none of that is new. But this team -- and this feeling -- is something Taylor knows he's going to need time to get used to.

''This is my first time being on a new team,'' Taylor said. ``I haven't had to get a physical like that since the Combine [after college]. I felt young again.''

DAY TO REMEMBER

For Taylor, the rapid events of the past 24 hours had only begun to really sink in. After all, consider how Taylor spent his Sunday afternoon while the rest of his family was visiting in Dallas.

'I went and moved into the Dolphins' facility for training camp [which starts Friday],'' Taylor said. ``I organized my locker, since I hadn't been there for a while. I got all my shoes put together and all that. When I got home, I got a call from my agent.''

Strangely, just when Taylor took his first physical action toward accepting his future with the Dolphins he was simultaneously granted the trade he was hoping for.

''And now,'' Taylor added, ``those boxes are being packed as we speak.''

While Monday's news conference mostly could be characterized as Taylor's introduction to his new team (it took just more than a minute for him to point out the Redskins' three Super Bowl trophies resting in front of him), this also -- at times -- was about mending some of the perceived controversy between him and the Dolphins.

By asking for a trade, Taylor seemingly caused some fans to question his loyalty toward the organization. While he said he sometimes worries about that perception, he wants fans to eventually base their opinions on his entire body of work.

''From my point of view, there is no animosity,'' he said. ``That's home. Miami will still be home. I don't know anything about Virginia. This is my first time here. Miami is going to be home for me.''

So why did he want to leave?

''As an athlete, you want to win,'' Taylor said. ``The reason I play the game is to win, and I think the organization here and the Washington Redskins give me a great chance to win this year.''

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Taylor noted that his family will still live in South Florida, and Levit said Monday that Taylor's foundation will maintain its base in South Florida, although they also hope to expand to Taylor's new community.

Home, maybe. But no longer his home team.

After Monday's news conference ended, Taylor also took a moment to reflect on the past 11 years rather than simply look to his future. Because even though Monday might have been the beginning of a new challenge, it was the end of another.

''There have been so many great times,'' Taylor said. ``I still remember when Dan Marino said hello to me for the first time. I felt like a little kid. We've had some good games, some big wins. There's been so many great moments.

``This still hasn't totally set in yet, but this is bittersweet. I had 11 great years in Miami. That's home. But this is a new opportunity for me. It's a chance for me to write a new chapter.''