He wants out - Jason Taylor Open to Leaving

[iceberg]

That's exactly what I was thinking. I'd bet my grandma's life savings he'll be a Patriot next year. Probably Zach Thomas too!

great. then the pats can become the new oakland raiders.

it just seems like when *any* player w/name recognition says they're unhappy, someone has to have them in dallas cause they know the name but not much about the player. not referring to you in this case, yomick, but it does tend to happen a lot.

 

[joseephuss]

This is interesting.

If a deal were to be made here, Jimmy would be the guy to go to for the real G2 on Taylor. I suspect that the endorsment would be strong from Jimmy Johnson.

Taylor would fit perfectly IMO. You don't sign guys to long contracts who are long in the tooth for big money. You can sign guys who are older and still producing. Right now, Taylor is playing at a DPOY level and I don't know how you can't say he would not be an improvement to any defense. Who ever said that this is exactly the kind of player NE goes after is exactly right IMO. There are tons of examples of succesful teams going out and signing older players just like this.

NE has made a living on it. We signed Haley. We signed Ditka, Jackie Smith, Lance Allworth, Forrest Gregg, Tommy McDonald, Herb Adderley just off the top of my head. KC signed Marcus Allen and Joe Cool and had big success. Niners signed Fred Dean, Wendell Tyler, Russ Francis, Wes Chandler, Ricky Jackson, Richard Dent, Tim Harris, Charles Mann and Lee Woodall in there SuperBowl runs. There are a lot of examples of teams signing older players that are still productive and having big success with them.

If we could figure out a sensible way to do it, I'd do it.

Charles Haley was 28 years old when Dallas got him. He also filled a specific need of an outside pass rusher that Dallas did not have on that team.

Ditka was 30 when he joined Dallas. The Cowboys needed a tight end at the time.

While Jackie Smith was 38 years old, he was just added as insurance behind Billy Joe Dupree. The Cowboys did not have any reliable back up tight ends.

Lance Alworth was 31 and Dallas was in need of another receiver opposite Bob Hayes.

Taylor will be 34 next year. Right now Dallas has 3 guys that can rush the passer from the outside in Ware, Spencer and Ellis. They need guys that can create pressure up the middle. Taylor does not fill that role. Sure he would be nice to have around, but he is not a priority for the team. He would be a luxury and one that I think he will still cost some money. Is he willing to accept a reduced role? Would Ellis and Spencer accept a reduced role?

 

[iceberg]

Charles Haley was 28 years old when Dallas got him. He also filled a specific need of an outside pass rusher that Dallas did not have on that team.

Ditka was 30 when he joined Dallas. The Cowboys needed a tight end at the time.

While Jackie Smith was 38 years old, he was just added as insurance behind Billy Joe Dupree. The Cowboys did not have any reliable back up tight ends.

Lance Alworth was 31 and Dallas was in need of another receiver opposite Bob Hayes.

Taylor will be 34 next year. Right now Dallas has 3 guys that can rush the passer from the outside in Ware, Spencer and Ellis. They need guys that can create pressure up the middle. Taylor does not fill that role. Sure he would be nice to have around, but he is not a priority for the team. He would be a luxury and one that I think he will still cost some money. Is he willing to accept a reduced role? Would Ellis and Spencer accept a reduced role?

good analysis.

 

[AsthmaField]

great. then the pats can become the new oakland raiders.

it just seems like when *any* player w/name recognition says they're unhappy, someone has to have them in dallas cause they know the name but not much about the player. not referring to you in this case, yomick, but it does tend to happen a lot.

Hiya IB.

Yeah, that does happen a lot. All team's fanbases do it. For every "________ is going to be cut! Should we sign him?" thread you see here, you can go to Extremeskins and find it's mate over there. You could probably find it on any teams message board, if it's an active one. It's human nature (for a die-hard fan).

I typically don't get too involved in those threads when I see them, however, I do think that this one has some merit. Taylor would be a good fit here and at the right price, I don't see why any Dallas fan wouldn't want him playing for the Cowboys.

Do we not want him so that we don't have to cut Justin Rogers? I just don't see any downside if the cost is within reason.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Hiya IB.

Yeah, that does happen a lot. All team's fanbases do it. For every "________ is going to be cut! Should we sign him?" thread you see here, you can go to Extremeskins and find it's mate over there. You could probably find it on any teams message board, if it's an active one. It's human nature (for a die-hard fan).

I typically don't get too involved in those threads when I see them, however, I do think that this one has some merit. Taylor would be a good fit here and at the right price, I don't see why any Dallas fan wouldn't want him playing for the Cowboys.

Do we not want him so that we don't have to cut Justin Rogers? I just don't see any downside if the cost is within reason.

Could an argument be made that he coud be more effective than Ellis and/or Spencer even at 33?

 

[khiladi]

Taylor will be 34 next year. Right now Dallas has 3 guys that can rush the passer from the outside in Ware, Spencer and Ellis. They need guys that can create pressure up the middle. Taylor does not fill that role. Sure he would be nice to have around, but he is not a priority for the team. He would be a luxury and one that I think he will still cost some money. Is he willing to accept a reduced role? Would Ellis and Spencer accept a reduced role?

Ellis is nowhere on the level of Taylor at 34, and as far as I see it, Ellis is way more of a risk, considering his achilles... Your talking about short-term deal...

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Charles Haley was 28 years old when Dallas got him. He also filled a specific need of an outside pass rusher that Dallas did not have on that team.

Ditka was 30 when he joined Dallas. The Cowboys needed a tight end at the time.

While Jackie Smith was 38 years old, he was just added as insurance behind Billy Joe Dupree. The Cowboys did not have any reliable back up tight ends.

Lance Alworth was 31 and Dallas was in need of another receiver opposite Bob Hayes.

Taylor will be 34 next year. Right now Dallas has 3 guys that can rush the passer from the outside in Ware, Spencer and Ellis. They need guys that can create pressure up the middle. Taylor does not fill that role. Sure he would be nice to have around, but he is not a priority for the team. He would be a luxury and one that I think he will still cost some money. Is he willing to accept a reduced role? Would Ellis and Spencer accept a reduced role?

He's playing at a level that can win him the second defensive player of the year award. I don't care if he's 134, if he can play at that level, why wouldn't you get him if you could?

Ellis has already accepted a reduced role. As great as we all expect Spencer to be, he only has 1 sack so far. He too will accept a reduced role. In fact, he may have to do that this week. Honestly, I think Greg's role on this team, in future is as a pass rush specialist. I think Spencer's role on this team is the future. I think a guy who can Pass Rush opposite Ware is exactly what we need. We run a pressure defense. We need guys who can create pressure at all times. We need at least 3 of those guys and really 4. I think it's something you do if you have an opportunity to do it.

 

[AsthmaField]

Could an argument be made that he coud be more effective than Ellis and/or Spencer even at 33?

Well, clearly, as a coach and GM you'd look at how he played this year on a bad Miami team and try to get a good feeling for his effort and athleticism at his age. Assuming you liked what you saw out of Taylor, then you make him an offer.

Assuming his play hasn't rapidly declined from last year's DPOY performance, I think he'd be better than either as a pure pass rusher, yes.

The thing is, Taylor wouldn't have to be better than Ellis if you just had one or the other playing 50 snaps a game. The question would be, playing on just some snaps along with Ellis and Spencer in the rotation, could Taylor be effective and provide pressure. Taylor would play in place of Ellis and Spencer some... but he'd also play along with one or both on certain passing downs. If Taylor only played 15 snaps a game and only provided 1 sack per game... that's still 16 over a season and would provide big plays for the defense.

IOW, Taylor would be part of the defense... not replacing one or the other. Defenses are so specialized to down and distance these days, that it's difficult to simply say Taylor would replace Ellis or Spencer. Rather, he'd be part of the defense with them.

Clearly, if you viewed the tape and Taylor seems to have declined quite a bit... then you pass on him and look elsewhere.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well, clearly, as a coach and GM you'd look at how he played this year on a bad Miami team and try to get a good feeling for his effort and athleticism at his age. Assuming you liked what you saw out of Taylor, then you make him an offer.

Assuming his play hasn't rapidly declined from last year's DPOY performance, I think he'd be better than either as a pure pass rusher, yes.

The thing is, Taylor wouldn't have to be better than Ellis if you just had one or the other playing 50 snaps a game. The question would be, playing on just some snaps along with Ellis and Spencer in the rotation, could Taylor be effective and provide pressure. Taylor would play in place of Ellis and Spencer some... but he'd also play along with one or both on certain passing downs. If Taylor only played 15 snaps a game and only provided 1 sack per game... that's still 16 over a season and would provide big plays for the defense.

IOW, Taylor would be part of the defense... not replacing one or the other. Defenses are so specialized to down and distance these days, that it's difficult to simply say Taylor would replace Ellis or Spencer. Rather, he'd be part of the defense with them.

Clearly, if you viewed the tape and Taylor seems to have declined quite a bit... then you pass on him and look elsewhere.

I'm a big believer in the fact that a defense has x amount of plays in them in any given game. If you bring a guy in like this, you have effectively extended the ability of the defense to play at a higher level. I don't know about anybody else but it was very clear to me that last Sunday, our defense was out of gas. You have to wonder how much it might help to be able to bring in a fresh set of outside rush guys to pressure a QB like Brady in the 4th quarter?

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Well, clearly, as a coach and GM you'd look at how he played this year on a bad Miami team and try to get a good feeling for his effort and athleticism at his age. Assuming you liked what you saw out of Taylor, then you make him an offer.

Assuming his play hasn't rapidly declined from last year's DPOY performance, I think he'd be better than either as a pure pass rusher, yes.

The thing is, Taylor wouldn't have to be better than Ellis if you just had one or the other playing 50 snaps a game. The question would be, playing on just some snaps along with Ellis and Spencer in the rotation, could Taylor be effective and provide pressure. Taylor would play in place of Ellis and Spencer some... but he'd also play along with one or both on certain passing downs. If Taylor only played 15 snaps a game and only provided 1 sack per game... that's still 16 over a season and would provide big plays for the defense.

IOW, Taylor would be part of the defense... not replacing one or the other. Defenses are so specialized to down and distance these days, that it's difficult to simply say Taylor would replace Ellis or Spencer. Rather, he'd be part of the defense with them.

Clearly, if you viewed the tape and Taylor seems to have declined quite a bit... then you pass on him and look elsewhere.

Good stuff.
Thanks

 

[WoodysGirl]

POSTED 11:51 a.m. EDT, October 19, 2007

TAYLOR DENIES THAT HE WANTS TO BE TRADED

Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor denies that he told Peter King "of All NFL Media" that it would have been best if Taylor had been traded.

On the current edition of Inside the NFL on HBO, King says he asked Taylor if he was sorry that he hadn't been moved before the October 16 deadline.

"[T]aylor said, 'You're putting me in a tough spot here,'" King said. "'I've had 10 great years here. I owe a lot to the Dolphins.'"

But King also said, "Clearly, Jason Taylor thinks not only would it be in the team's best interests for him to go in the offseason, but it would be in his best interests to go to a contender in the offseason for the last couple of years of his career.'"

In this case, we think both men are right. Taylor apparently never said that he thinks he should have been traded. Instead, King apparently was divining Taylor's thoughts based on his reaction to King's question. And King probably is on the money -- why would Taylor want to remain on a team that won't be rebuilt until after he's gone?

Still, if that's what really happened, King probably should have been more clear, especially since he was embroiled in a pissing match last week over whether Cowboys coach Wade Phillips had said what everyone else is thinking (and some are openly saying) about the Patriots' cheating scandal.

And while King has been able to develop a vast network of NFL folks who will happily talk to him on the record about potentially sensitive subjects, it might be a good idea for him to minimize the he-said/he-said situations. Eventually, it could affect the extent to which people will talk without first insisting that the discussion occur off of the record.

 

[superpunk]

Instead, King apparently was divining Taylor's thoughts based on his reaction to King's question

This appears to be a trend.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

This appears to be a trend.

:laugh2:

Funny SigPic Punk. Pretty creative. I like it.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Yup, yet another King "misquote". Shocker.

 

[superpunk]

:laugh2:

Funny SigPic Punk. Pretty creative. I like it.

I cannot take credit for the creativity. They were all Danny White-inspired.

Thanks, though.

 

[AsthmaField]

This appears to be a trend.

I was thinking that myself. He's making quite a habit out of doing that... and then crying in a subsequent article that he never writes anything that isn't said.


Heck, even some Dallas writers are getting into the act by divining what Phillips really meant when he said you have to stop the run in the NFL.

 

[superpunk]

Heck, even some Dallas writers are getting into the act by divining what Phillips really meant when he said you have to stop the run in the NFL.

Clearly they just wanted to make him look like an incompetent rube - a country bumpkin who was terribly worried about Sammy Morris while never giving Tom Brady a second thought. Obviously he could never hang with the Divine Orator bellichick.

They were waiting to pounce. The 5 game win streak prevented them. Then, the true colors showed up again when the team faltered and they needed to paint Phillips as a moron. I can see wanting to do that to Parcells, who patronized them and belittled them every chance he got, but Phillips is so nice - how can they feel the need? Guess they're out of ideas for being able to move their outdated print material.

 

[joseephuss]

He's playing at a level that can win him the second defensive player of the year award. I don't care if he's 134, if he can play at that level, why wouldn't you get him if you could?

Ellis has already accepted a reduced role. As great as we all expect Spencer to be, he only has 1 sack so far. He too will accept a reduced role. In fact, he may have to do that this week. Honestly, I think Greg's role on this team, in future is as a pass rush specialist. I think Spencer's role on this team is the future. I think a guy who can Pass Rush opposite Ware is exactly what we need. We run a pressure defense. We need guys who can create pressure at all times. We need at least 3 of those guys and really 4. I think it's something you do if you have an opportunity to do it.

Is he? I have watched him in 3 games this year and he was shut down in all three games. He does not look like a pro-bowler this season much less DPOY.

I agree that the team needs some pressure players. They have the outside guys. They need some that can do it from the inside especially when they are in their base set. A DE or inside LB that can also create pressure is what the team is really lacking. Wade's defenses in SD had at various times either a DE or ILB that could create pressure. This Dallas team does not. Canty, Spears and whomever else along the line and Akin and Bradie are not doing that in the base 3-4. I can't see Taylor playing any of those positions.

This is Spencer's rookie season. He only has 1 sack, but I will cut him some slack since he is learning a new position and the NFL game in general.

 

[AsthmaField]

Clearly they just wanted to make him look like an incompetent rube - a country bumpkin who was terribly worried about Sammy Morris while never giving Tom Brady a second thought. Obviously he could never hang with the Divine Orator bellichick.

They were waiting to pounce. The 5 game win streak prevented them. Then, the true colors showed up again when the team faltered and they needed to paint Phillips as a moron. I can see wanting to do that to Parcells, who patronized them and belittled them every chance he got, but Phillips is so nice - how can they feel the need? Guess they're out of ideas for being able to move their outdated print material.

That's perfectly said. You could just sense the media was waiting to call Phillips stupid, but like you said... the winning kept it to a whisper.

The loss to NE just opened up the flood gates. And Phillips is a nice guy... why they'd be so willing to do it is curious.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

great. then the pats can become the new oakland raiders.

it just seems like when *any* player w/name recognition says they're unhappy, someone has to have them in dallas cause they know the name but not much about the player. not referring to you in this case, yomick, but it does tend to happen a lot.

I hear ya.... but Taylor is an exception I think.

Its not look Bruce Smith going to Skins.

Taylor has atleast 2 years of game left. Especially if he is a rush the passer specialist....

As someone mentioned in this thread.... x amount of plays per game that maybe resulted in 1 sack - thats 16 on the season.... thats a created opportunity for the boys