Training Camp Primer: Burning Question #1 - Jason Taylor
by Matty I on Jul 16, 2008 12:15 AM EDT
in News
16 comments
Over the course of the next 10 days or so (because that's all that is left before camp kicks off), I plan on taking a look at the 5 burning questions that the Dolphins face as they enter training camp.
To start us off with this, I thought I'd look at the biggest question facing this team first. And that, of course, is Jason Taylor. What will Taylor do? Will he show up for camp or will he decide to hold out if he doesn't get his wish of playing for a contender?
You know, it's funny. Throughout this whole long, drawn-out circus this off-season regarding Jason Taylor, I've taken a lot of heat. And that's probably because I was one of the few who turned against Taylor, calling him out and proclaiming that he's selfish and he's not the leader of this team anymore. And to this day, some Dolphin fans still flame me for my strong words against Taylor.
People said I was crazy for knocking him for not being at the OTAs and voluntary mini-camp. Then some got on me for saying it was a problem that Taylor decided to skip the mandatory mini-camp. "He's a professional and he'll be ready when camp kicks off" is what I was told by many who thought I was being too "anti-JT."
Some even claimed that the Dolphins actually owed it to Taylor to trade him to a contender because of how loyal he has been to this franchise throughout his illustrious career. Seriously? The Dolphins owe him? No, no. The only thing owed here is Taylor owing it to the Dolphins to report to camp because he's under contract - a contract which he agreed to.
By now, you've probably figured out which direction this piece is headed. But how am I not supposed to be pissed off at this point? In fact, I don't see how any Dolphins fan isn't pissed off right now. Think about it. Back in June, Jason Taylor said the following:
"I’m playing ball in ‘08. If [a trade] doesn’t work out then I’m a Miami Dolphin. That's what I've been for 11 years. What better way. I love this place."
That's great and all. But here's the thing: when recently asked if his off-season drama would be coming to a close soon (presumably by showing up at training camp), Taylor responded simply by saying, "We'll see."
Wow. He must really love this place if, with 10 days to go before training camp starts, Taylor can't decide if he'll honor his contract with the Dolphins.
So will he or won't he show up in Davie, Florida on July 26 when the first training camp practice kicks off? That's perhaps the biggest burning question the Dolphins are facing right now as we head towards camp. Personally, I'm hopeful he'll show up, will not be a distraction, and will play up to his typically high standards. But I wouldn't count on it right now.
And this leads me to a question I pose to all of you. How will you feel if Jason Taylor doesn't report to training camp?
0 recs |
16 comments
Email
Print
Comments
jt is jt
he’ll do what ever the hell he wants…the problem that i have is how he is undecided…WDF you dont deserve to be in the nfl if ur thinkin about quitting early to go into hollywood…fuckin give me a break…ur makin 8 million in one year or something? fuck that play the game you love or get the hell off my team
thread comment champion
by finsxfactor on Jul 16, 2008 2:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Annoying
I almost started with “I don’t care anymore’...but from a team perspective I still do care if JT is on or off the team. But I don’t really care for how he feels about stuff anymore. It seems with he and the Farvre, every interview is now a media fed docu-drama. Whether he plays here, there, or not at all, his legacy as a great Dolphin has been sealed in my mind. If he tarnishes it at the end?...well I’ve already forgiven Csonka, Kiick, and Warfield for bolting for money to the USFL.
This seems to have been the longest off-season EVER. I cannot wait for training camp!
by OntheGo on Jul 16, 2008 7:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
longest/ slowest
thread comment champion
by finsxfactor on Jul 16, 2008 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Losing respect
Like every Dolphin fan, I once held JT in high regard. What he contributed to the organization and the community was amazing; he has been one bright spot over the last few years. Then this offseason happened. Every day JT puts himself before the team makes me lose more respect for him. I am a Miami Dolphins fan; not a JT fan. I like JT because he is a Dolphin. JT is becoming too much like a player I have disliked for years – and another person causing a lot of commotion recently – Brett Favre. They both are prima donna drama queens. Get over yourslef already; you are ruining your image. The selfishness must end now. I applaud Ted Thompson and the Packers for making a stand against Favre. I hope the Dolphins do the same if Taylor fails to report. We owe him nothing despite what he has done. Dragging the organization through the dirt is not the way to get your way. Perhaps if JT would have done all the right things this winter and spring he’d already be somewhere else, which is what he truly wants.
by JMFlyer1454 on Jul 16, 2008 9:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
half of me says
JT deserves a ring…but half of me is like…fuck this bitch
thread comment champion
by finsxfactor on Jul 16, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
After making some initial comments...
on the JT situation way back when, I’ve pretty much stayed out of the debate.
Matty has addressed one possibility in today’s blog: JT not showing up.
How about a different angle: He shows up for training camp, suits up, and goes on to play well during the season. Now I realize some will say that’s unlikely but it certainly is plausible.
What then? Does any of what happened in the past 2-3 months even matter? That’s why I’ve kept out of it because until training camp opens, we won’t know for sure what JT’s choice will be (barring a trade or the like)
by Natalya on Jul 16, 2008 9:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Plausible indeed
The idea and ability of Jason Taylor delivering another strong (I can’t say the word ‘performance’ regarding him any more) ‘season’ for the Miami Dolphins is not a question in my mind. Nor do I think the past 2-3 months of BS will diminish his legacy as a Dolphin in the long term. My heart of heart questions regarding JT is whether he’d play harder for someone else.
by OntheGo on Jul 16, 2008 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
once u lose respect..
for someone it is very difficult to re-attain it….i dont think JT can undo the damage he has already done in the hearts of the devout finfan….that being said, personally speaking, its not like ive lost all respect for him, hardly the case… however, and correct me if im wrong here, but i dont think anyone can look at him the same way we did a yr ago.
by Krab on Jul 16, 2008 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually Nat, I have a better question.
What if he DOESN’T show up for camp, then shows up for the season and plays well? What then?
From the interview, I heard a guy that was pretty confident about his ability to show up for game 1 and play well, but I certainly didn’t hear any sense of urgency to make any decision before then. If I had to guess, he will not commit to a course of action any sooner than absolutely necessary.
Why? 1) He wants to keep the pressure on to trade him, 2) He is still waiting to see if a better offer comes up from Hollywood, and 3) He still might decide that he doesn’t want to play for the Dolphins if he doesn’t like what he sees, and might retire instead of play this year (“planning on playing one season, but that could still change”).
So what if he sits out TC, but still comes in to play this season? Is that okay, because he is JT?
IMO, no, it is not okay, even if he plays well. He is still screwing with a team that already has an uphill battle to reach .500 this year. That makes him an @55hole.
-LCFF
by LeftCoastFinFan on Jul 16, 2008 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm still....
a loyal JT fan, Fin or not. I had my doubts, but a moment of clarity and some Grey Goose made me see through that.
JT has more right than any of us to decide whether or not he wants to hold out. Yes, he shouldn’t have done things the way he did and I would much rather have him help rebuild this team. But, dammit, JT doesn’t owe it to us though, or the Miami Dolphins, because the Miami Dolphins’ GMs, Front Office, and Wayne Huzienga didn’t help JT by building a team around Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor, instead they squandered arguably the two best defensive talents in this game for 11-12 years!!! JT should be pissed, he’s watching Zach Thomas play for the ‘boys and he’s still stuck with a franchise that has been in rebuild mode for most of this decade!
11
y not if im wrong who will remember
by qbinfin on Apr 27, 2008 3:27 PM PDT
by DolfinPhan on Jul 16, 2008 10:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I strongly disagree.
JT has a right to retire, certainly!
JT can to refuse to honor his contract, but that doesn’t make him right.
JT is allowed to be pissed, and I can understand why he would be.
But I disagree with any attempt to legitimize a hold out. If he retires, fine. But if he doesn’t, then he needs to show up and shut up. This team needs confidence in the new leaders, and doesn’t need JT undermining that.
He also isn’t going to get traded unless he does some things to help his trade value, so what he is doing now is counter productive to his goals. If he shows up and can still play, and expresses a willingness to play for one or to more years, he could conceivably be traded to a contender before the trade deadline this year, like Chambers was last year.
Otherwise, he has two choices… shut up and play, or go away. But quit screwing with a team that has enough to deal with already this season.
-LCFF
by LeftCoastFinFan on Jul 16, 2008 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ZACH THOMAS FOR PRESIDENT!!
IF JT had an offer from the pats (like zach thomas did) he would already be on his knees suckin bill belichek..
zt will be in the hearts of dolphin fans for eternity
thread comment champion
by finsxfactor on Jul 16, 2008 4:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If he doesnt show up
What great fans we are,this guy has been around for ever and gave everthing for this team and now we talken about were not gonna respect the guy anymore.How i see things and how every body should see things is that this,We dont now what happens behind close doors and maybe hes not being treated fairly how would we now.But were quick not to respect the guy now right.For the past couple of years this team has been horible and he always gave everything he had and been there no matter what.Now this team is been turned inside out and parcel is doing what he wants,So i belive the story is a lot larger than what we now…..So until i know the hole story im not gonna make any conclusions…..............
by lionel on Jul 16, 2008 7:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No dude. No.
You can’t say that we don’t respect what he has done.
We don’t respect what he is doing.
If he were to retire and walk away, he would do so with many people’s respect. But the way he is acting right now is contrary to the best interest of the team.
I understand that he wants to play, but not on the Fins. That’s fine. Sometimes things work out the way we want, and sometimes we don’t get what we want and have to accept things the way they are.
The team was agreeable to trading JT for what they felt was adequate compensation and couldn’t come to terms with another team. JT’s best chance for a trade now is to suck it up, show up, and shut up. Then maybe he can get traded to a team that loses someone in preseason or before the trade deadline.
If he doesn’t want to do that, retire and we will give him a spot on the ring of honor.
But give up the “holdout” crap because it is prolly not gonna help him get traded, and it is certainly not going to help the team.
-LCFF
by LeftCoastFinFan on Jul 17, 2008 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lets face the facts
I love jt like i said over and over agin,But to tell you the truth the guy is getten to old and by the time we become a competitor he lost his value his contract is over and hes probley retired….So what are we waite for to trade the guy already,We sould Trade him and try to pick up some kind of young corner that can realy play and be good for us for now and in the future.Cuz how i see it if by the start of the season we dont get some kind of corner on are team were toast easily said…So lets just get rede of him while we stile can….........................
by lionel on Jul 16, 2008 8:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
lionel!!!!
I don’t know if you have been reading the answers to your post(thread), but they have told you that JT is hearting himself with his actitud and what he says. He said ,he wanted to play ONE more year, that will NOT help him or US to look for a trade. Nobody is going to make an investment for ONLY one year. I really don’t care anymore about JT and the two jerseys that i have(my wife and mine) of him, i will use them to washe my car. F** JT, welcome Merling, and hopefully he will use the 99
I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(20 years and counting)
by Aleta on Jul 17, 2008 1:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on The Phinsider
Related FanShots on The Phinsider
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
