Here is a nice article I found on ESPN about JT. I copied some of the article, but if you want to read it all you will have to click on the link.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-6-651/Scouts-Inc---The-pros-and-cons-of-Jason-Taylor.html
So, where does he best fit at this stage of his career? Taylor has been linked to the New England Patriots and has publicly expressed interest in returning to the Miami Dolphins, but would signing him to a short-term deal be a prudent move for either club? Taylor should immediately bolster either pass rush from an outside linebacker position, but from an age perspective, he isn't exactly what either team is looking for opposite Joey Porter or Adalius Thomas, two over-30 outside linebackers.
However, the Dolphins did sign Derrick Wake from the Canadian Football League, and while Wake was a pass-rushing demon up north, surely there will be a learning curve while he adjusts to the game at this level. Taylor could bridge that gap. In a similar situation, New England has a wealth of early draft picks and probably would select a pass-rushing outside linebacker even if they were to sign Taylor. That incoming rookie along with a few promising youngsters presently on their roster -- such as Pierre Woods and Shawn Crable -- will need some time to develop before becoming productive at this level. Both teams, but especially New England, should be in a win-now frame of mind, and Taylor could help make that happen in a limited rotational role.
That being said, the big question is how Taylor would fit with the way Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells do things. Taylor doesn't exactly exude that tough-guy, Porter/Lawrence Taylor/Mike Vrabel-like mentality that has become synonymous with these two future Hall of Fame decision-makers. Belichick and Parcells are two men who know exactly what they want in a player's mental makeup, and it's not clear that Taylor fits at this post-"Dancing With the Stars" stage of his career. Still, both men are also all about improving their football team, and Taylor could do that as well, without costing the team a draft pick or an inordinate amount of salary-cap space.
IMO if he is willing to come in and work hard with the rest of the team we should take him back. If he doesn't feel like working hard and doesn't want to attend the offseason workouts we should say no thank you.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-6-651/Scouts-Inc---The-pros-and-cons-of-Jason-Taylor.html
So, where does he best fit at this stage of his career? Taylor has been linked to the New England Patriots and has publicly expressed interest in returning to the Miami Dolphins, but would signing him to a short-term deal be a prudent move for either club? Taylor should immediately bolster either pass rush from an outside linebacker position, but from an age perspective, he isn't exactly what either team is looking for opposite Joey Porter or Adalius Thomas, two over-30 outside linebackers.
However, the Dolphins did sign Derrick Wake from the Canadian Football League, and while Wake was a pass-rushing demon up north, surely there will be a learning curve while he adjusts to the game at this level. Taylor could bridge that gap. In a similar situation, New England has a wealth of early draft picks and probably would select a pass-rushing outside linebacker even if they were to sign Taylor. That incoming rookie along with a few promising youngsters presently on their roster -- such as Pierre Woods and Shawn Crable -- will need some time to develop before becoming productive at this level. Both teams, but especially New England, should be in a win-now frame of mind, and Taylor could help make that happen in a limited rotational role.
That being said, the big question is how Taylor would fit with the way Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells do things. Taylor doesn't exactly exude that tough-guy, Porter/Lawrence Taylor/Mike Vrabel-like mentality that has become synonymous with these two future Hall of Fame decision-makers. Belichick and Parcells are two men who know exactly what they want in a player's mental makeup, and it's not clear that Taylor fits at this post-"Dancing With the Stars" stage of his career. Still, both men are also all about improving their football team, and Taylor could do that as well, without costing the team a draft pick or an inordinate amount of salary-cap space.
IMO if he is willing to come in and work hard with the rest of the team we should take him back. If he doesn't feel like working hard and doesn't want to attend the offseason workouts we should say no thank you.
