Former Dolphins, Redskins, Dolphins, Jets defensive end/linebacker Jason Taylor announced on Monday that he will, indeed, be returning to Miami. Looking to get on the field for his 15th season, the NFL's active sack leader, with 132.5 sacks, comes to Miami looking to finish his career where it all started.
"Jason has made his decision regarding where he is playing for the upcoming 2011 season," a post on the Jason Taylor Foundation's Facebook page said. "Jason is coming home to MIAMI and will once again proudly wear the aqua and orange!"
With those two sentences Twitter exploded into a celebration, as the majority of Dolphins fans welcomed home the Dolphins legend.
But, not everyone is ready to forgive Taylor for the move to the New York Jets last year.
The 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year was unceremoniously dumped by the Dolphins after the 2009 season. Even though Taylor was willing to play for the veteran minimum, then Dolphins Executive Vice President for Football Operations Bill Parcells would not dream of bringing back the aging player.
Waiting until the very end of the free agent period, Taylor was forced to make a decision; either retire, or head to New York, and play for a team he had hated his entire NFL career. In fact, the animosity between Taylor and the Jets was so big, Taylor had once said that, "Jets fans take the CL out of class," and the reaction among Jets fans to Taylor's signing was mixed, at best.
But, now, Taylor is returning to Miami, looking to up his sack total from 2010, when he was disappointed with himself for only tallying five.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, are looking to Taylor to be a leader, both in the locker room and in the development of linebackers Cameron Wake and Koa Misi, as well as an added threat on passing situations. For a team that normally carries five outside linebackers, the addition of Taylor in that fifth slot is a savvy move, and once again shows, Miami General Manager Jeff Ireland is continually looking for ways to make the Dolphins better.
Maybe Hall of Fame Dolphins quarterback Dan Maino said it best. On his Twitter feed, Marino (@DanMarino) wrote, "Welcome back to Miami # 99."