The Jason Taylor era in Miami is over.
As first reported by Fox Sports yesterday evening, the Dolphins traded Taylor to the Washington Redskins for a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-round pick in 2010. It had been almost a foregone conclusion, knowing that if an opportunity presented itself, that Bill Parcells would indeed trade away our best player to acquire more draft picks. And yesterday, that opportunity came. After the Redskins lost defensive end Phillip Daniels for the season on a 7-on-7 drill, it was inevitable that they'd come calling about Taylor. Washington offered two draft picks for him. Parcells accepted. And just like that, the end of an era.
"As you might imagine, this is a bit overwhelming right now,” Taylor said in a statement released by the Dolphins. "I love Miami, will always cherish my 11 years with the Dolphins… And what can I say about the fans? This town has been supportive beyond belief, through good times and bad and I wish I could thank everyone personally.”
Parcells got what he wanted for Taylor. Two draft picks, including a second-round pick for next year's draft. Time will tell if those picks will turn into game-changing players and make our team that much better. Until then, all that's left for us is JT's legacy.
Jason Taylor is the greatest defensive player in the history of this storied franchise. He's also arguably its greatest athlete. The man flat out took over games and was an absolute force of nature on defense. Who can forget the way he'd frustrate Tom Brady every time the two faced off? Who can forget the way he single-handedly beat the vaunted Chicago Bears two seasons ago? He was our undaunted resident warrior. A man who gave us a shot to win every Sunday and a man whose hatred for the Jets was just as intense as ours. His ability to excite us and get us to believe that no opposing offense was safe -- not as long as he had something to say about it, dammit! -- will be his bequest to all future Dolphins-wannabe-badasses. Quite simply, since Dan Marino's retirement, Jason Taylor was not only the face of the Miami Dolphins. He was the Miami Dolphins.
He was the one constant for this franchise; a guy you knew would end the season with double-digit sacks, no matter how much talent his teammates lacked. The man is just a tall glass of awesome. He makes men blithe and women swoon. He is a sultan of badassery and an ambassador of ass-kickery. He has two speeds: fast and kill. His pulse is measured on the Richter scale. When you put his cock on any vinyl record, it plays The Beatles' Revolution #9, and you actually understand it. His family crest is a picture of a grizzly bear eating Chuck Norris. He is Jason Taylor. The greatest man in the universe.
Sundays just won't be the same.
So long, 99. Thanks for all the memories. And good luck in your pursuit for that ever-elusive ring. Sorry you couldn't win it here.
- Chris Joseph
