Jason Taylor Visiting with the Jets

[tubba marxxx]

2 years/ $3.45 million for JT.....nice to know you, goodbye

[joymax16]

We don't want to see Jason Taylor in a Jets Uniform, we NEED to resign him or it will come back to kick us in the BUTT!! He is an essential part of this team and truly is a Dolphin at heart!
He is a leader in sacks, getting the ball back and team leadership, Dolphin fans can't handle knowing him as a Jet player!
Not resigning him would be the biggest mistake in the Dolphins coaching history.
Joyce Mercurio pompano beach
Dolphin fan since 1970

[StL FinFan]

I read on espn last night that he pretty much has a deal done with the Jets.

[Dave Gray]

^ If that is true, it is indeed sad, but it is a part of the game.

The Dolphins can't make decisions they wouldn't normally make, because of some kind of loyalty.
At the same time, this is a job for Taylor, and he has to go to the place that gives him the best career path.

I fault neither side, but wish it could've gone down some other way.

The thing that I don't get is this: Why doesn't Taylor take a pay cut to play his career out in Miami?  I mean, just from a financial standpoint, wouldn't you think that the Jason Taylor "brand" will be stronger if he stayed in Miami?  He's only got a year or two left, I think, so it seems short-sided.  I think that if he finished it here and kept the local hero persona that he'd make the money back and then some in endorsements.

Perhaps he's going the other route -- trying to get on the national stage more -- the New York media, Dancing With the Stars, etc.  He's good looking and is personable, so I imagine he'll end up as an analyst at some point.

[Doc-phin]

The thing that I don't get is this: Why doesn't Taylor take a pay cut to play his career out in Miami?  I mean, just from a financial standpoint, wouldn't you think that the Jason Taylor "brand" will be stronger if he stayed in Miami?  He's only got a year or two left, I think, so it seems short-sided.  I think that if he finished it here and kept the local hero persona that he'd make the money back and then some in endorsements.

From what I can tell the main issue is that the Dolphins didn't want to even look at Taylor until after the draft.  When you have a team that obviously wants you there and they are offering a contract now, I would imagine it would be hard to pass up on that opportunity and hope that the other works out.  If Taylor doesn't sign with the one team that obviously wants him he is taking a chance that they may go after another option in order to fill their need.

Beyond that, Taylor is at a point where he shouldn't have any interest in a rebuilding team.  Unfortunately, there are lots of teams that are going through a youth movement including us which limits his options.  In this case everything just aligns in a way in which his best option to play without being on a losing team is to go with our hated rivals.

I personally feel a little bad for him that his options are so limited.  I don't think it is the money that is the issue but rather that he doesn't want to retire and the team he loves doesn't seem to want him. 

[JVides]

^ If that is true, it is indeed sad, but it is a part of the game.

The thing that I don't get is this: Why doesn't Taylor take a pay cut to play his career out in Miami?  I mean, just from a financial standpoint, wouldn't you think that the Jason Taylor "brand" will be stronger if he stayed in Miami?  He's only got a year or two left, I think, so it seems short-sided.  I think that if he finished it here and kept the local hero persona that he'd make the money back and then some in endorsements.

Yeah, but he wants to come back.  It's the Dolphins that are saying to him "we'll get back to you after the draft".  Well, what if after the draft they say "nope, we're good", and the Jets and Pats have moved on?  If he's only commanding 2 years at $4 Million total, isn't that essentially kicker money the 'Phins would be forking over to their BEST linebacker from the 2009-2010 year?  Seriously now, even with the new MLB in the fold, Taylor's the second-best linebacker on the team, and all he wants is $4 million.  Sign his ass up!  Worst case, cut him pre-season if the young guys impress. 

[bsfins]

The deal is the maximum they could pay Taylor,The Jets are restricted on what they can spend because they were one of the top 8 teams in the league last year (one of those funky little rules in an uncapped year) For the Jets It's killer (as in great) he's better,and cheaper than Gholston,and Bryan Thomas.

[Brian Fein]

If he wants to come back so badly, he'd wait 2 weeks.  This draft is one of the most important drafts in team history, and the people are busy trying to evaluate future talent.  Sorry, Jason, that we don't have time to talk to you right now.

Wait 2 weeks.  It won't kill you.

Taylor's being a greedy a-hole.  The Dolphins' world doesn't revolve around him.  If he wanted to sign with the Jets, he'd have done it by now.

[bsmooth]

Way, way to much animosity towards a player trying to capitalize on his money making assests, when the owners do the very same thing.
I would love to see JT stick around, but the days of loyalty are long gone due in larger part to the greed of the owners.
If people cannot handle the truth, perhaps they should stick to high school and college football and stay away from the business that is the NFL.

[Brian Fein]

^^ sure, i agree, but call a spade a spade.

Most people in this thread are saying "oh poor Jason Taylor, he wants to come back and they won't let him.  blah blah blah..."

If he wanted to come back, he'd wait.  Its not as if they're saying "wait until September, then we'll think about it."

Its not "poor Jason" and my loyalty lies with the Miami Dolphins, not individual players.  I'd love to see JT back in aqua and orange next year and retire with the team to preserve his legacy, but let's face it, this team is trying to get younger and develop tomorrow's leaders and JT's play doesn't hang with the young whipper-snappers anymore.

And that's fine.

But don't get all pissy at the team for the way they're handling the Jason Taylor situation.  They made it very clear that they are focusing on the draft, as they should be right now.  If he wanted to come back so badly, he'd be patient and the DAY after the draft march into Ireland's office and force them to talk.

In the end, I still think he's using the Jets to force the Dolphins to talk to him, and its a selfish asshole move on his part, IMO.  Good of the team, JT....  The draft is more important than you right now.

[bsfins]

^^^ Word....

I think this is part of the issue also (between the front office and Jason).....from the Jason Taylor rumored to be a done deal article in the sunsentinal...
One Taylor associate said Friday the deal is "close to done" and all that's left to discuss are smaller issues, such as how much of the voluntary offseason program the 35-year-old free-agent linebacker will be allowed to skip as he comes off minor shoulder surgery.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-jason-taylor-jets-040910,0,3288544.story

[Dave Gray]

Doc makes a good point about the not wanting to take a chance.   I guess a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush, in that respect.  What if he waits until the draft, the Dolphins don't want him, and neither do the Jets?  Unlikely that he won't be able to find work, but still...  I think that the decision to sign Taylor shouldn't depend so much on the draft.  Even if you draft guys to fill his spot in the long-term, are they going to start right away?  Would it hurt to have Taylor mentor them?

And I also agree with Brian's post.  The Dolphins are trying to get younger, and the draft is their primary objective right now.  Sadly, the loyalty towards the draft is more than that towards Taylor, but it's how it has to be.

Perhaps they would sign Taylor regardless, but the draft will dictate how much money they're willing to allocate towards the position...

...or maybe it's just an internal team rule -- they don't negotiate until the draft.  That would also make sense.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

One Taylor associate said Friday the deal is "close to done" and all that's left to discuss are smaller issues, such as how much of the voluntary offseason program the 35-year-old free-agent linebacker will be allowed to skip as he comes off minor shoulder surgery.

Should be all of it.   It is called voluntary for a reason. 

[bsfins]

^^It's part of the NFL, don't like it don't sign the contract....It's all in the CBA....Well the old one...

[bsmooth]

People on this board are pissed at JT for even considering it, like he is betraying the team.  Also the front office could have been in better communication with JT leading up to the draft, as it is obvious he has at least some ability left.
It seems as if the front office also wanted the ability to have their cake and eat it too by keeping JT stringing along until after the draft to see how things go. They could have very easily said "we are going younger" and allowed JT to test the market with the knowledge that he could still come back.