Jason Taylor's legacy

[Dave Gray]

This thread came from an evolution of another in the Off-Topic section, so I moved the idea here.

Basically, what do you feel JT's legacy should be with this team and how do you feel that his departure to the Jets should and will affect this?

Ring of Honor?  Number Retired?  Is it still up in the air?

[jtex316]

Probably Ring of Honor + Number Retired after he retires from the NFL. It's too fresh right now and people will say how much they hate him now b/c he's with the Jets. After a while, people will reminisce.

[StL FinFan]

I don't think what he did or does when he is in another uniform effects what he did when he was in a Dolphins uniform.  You can't just erase all the years and hard work because he is now wearing a color you hate.

[Dave Gray]

I don't think it's enough to negate what he did here, but it certainly does affect it.  I think the Ring of Honor is more than just about your play on the field.  It's about building a legacy and history with the team.  I think that some of that is tarnished.

As more details come out about the contract and stuff like that + Taylor's performance with the Jets will make a big difference in how this is perceived over time.

I am reacting somewhere in the middle of the two extremes.  I don't fault him as much as some, but I hold no loyalty towards the player anymore.  I feel that he chose money over legacy.  That's fine -- it's his call and I may have done the same.   But he lost my undying loyalty from doing that.  I don't think I'll boo him, but I won't feel one bit of sadness for it.  Also, I won't give him an ovation when he returns.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Nothing he does with the Jets changes what he did as a Dolphin.  Just like Adam Vinitiri belongs in the Patriots hall of fame not withstanding his bolting to the Colts. 

[Phishfan]

It is still very fresh. Right now, I'm not Jason Taylor fan but I'm not sure I've bumped him off the Ring just yet. Afterall, Nick Buoniconti was a Patriot at one time although that situation is a bit different because he was a Pat first.

[dolphins4life]

He should be remembered as one of the best players ever to play for the Dolphins 

[Spider-Dan]

Does Jerry Rice's time with the Raiders affect what he did as a 49er?

That's my answer to your question.

[Tepop84]

does thurman thomas' time with the dolphins affect his legacy?

[Fau Teixeira]

Nothing he does with the Jets changes what he did as a Dolphin.  Just like Adam Vinitiri belongs in the Patriots hall of fame not withstanding his bolting to the Colts. 

just like johnny damon deserves to be honored by the red sox right .. after all he won the first championship in almost 100 years right ? ... right ... ?

[Sunstroke]

I don't think his signing with the Jets should tarnish Taylor's reputation as a Dolphin at all. Now, if Miami had offered him a contract and he turned it down to sign with the Jets...I'd have a different opinion, but Miami made it pretty clear that they didn't want him here this season. I believe he is going in the NFL Hall of Fame after he retires, and I think he should also, at that time, receive every bit of respect that the Miami organization can provide, from the Ring of Honor to any other program or award they have in place.

I won't cheer for him while he's wearing a Jets uniform (duh), but I'll always be a huge Jason Taylor fan, and I refuse to let the business side of football dictate where my heart goes.

[bsfins]

I honestly couldn't give two shits about Zach Thomas's,Jason Taylor's,or any former player's legacy.....I've never attended a game in Miami,so the ring doesn't mean squat to me.I really don't care if we retire their numbers or not....

[fyo]

I don't think I'll boo him, but I won't feel one bit of sadness for it.  Also, I won't give him an ovation when he returns.

In the other thread, someone said something along the lines of "we'll boo him because he's a Jets player and that's what we do". While it probably wasn't you, your comment got me thinking and I'll inappropriately reply here:

No, that's NOT what we do.

We don't boo PLAYERS. We boo TEAMS.

With certain exceptions, of course, but the general principle holds. Booing individual players just because they play for a team we hate is totally classless.

Giving JT a standing ovation on his first return to Miami would be the classy thing to do... followed by a solid booing of the Jets -- and a kicking of their collective asses.

[ethurst22a]

I don't think it's enough to negate what he did here, but it certainly does affect it.  I think the Ring of Honor is more than just about your play on the field.  It's about building a legacy and history with the team.  I think that some of that is tarnished.

As more details come out about the contract and stuff like that + Taylor's performance with the Jets will make a big difference in how this is perceived over time.

I am reacting somewhere in the middle of the two extremes.  I don't fault him as much as some, but I hold no loyalty towards the player anymore.  I feel that he chose money over legacy.  That's fine -- it's his call and I may have done the same.   But he lost my undying loyalty from doing that.  I don't think I'll boo him, but I won't feel one bit of sadness for it.  Also, I won't give him an ovation when he returns.

Wow Dave, you're usually level headed about these issues. What about hios community work? Does putting on a Jets uniform negate that?

[IowaDolfan]

Give Jason his Just dues
But in no way should he make the ring of Honor It is Just that an Honor to be placed among those names and there is no Honor in what he did.
If all he wanted to do was play Im sure there would be teams outside the AFC east that would have shown an interest in him he decided to take the offer from NY which tells me he did it for more reasons then just to play he wants the chance to stick it to the front office of Miami and there is no Honor in that.
Living well is the best revenge