I don't know if anything can turn your stomach more as an NFL fan than the current state of Jason Taylor. I don't know if he is a good person or a bad person, all I know is his behavior is sad. Taylor was one of the most feared sack masters in the entire league. He has a ton of probowl nods, and was defensive player of the year only a few years back. I would think one of the greatest defensive ends to ever play would be pretty hungry to get a ring as exclamation point on his career.
However, when the Redskins asked him to attend off-season workouts, with the simple goal of having him develop some much needed chemistry with his team mates he said: 'no thanx'. So they offered to pay him five hundred thousand dollars for what would have amounted to about 25 workouts over a 3 month period (twenty thousand per workout), he said: 'no thanx'. The team spent 100 million on a DT that would demand a double and even occasionally a triple team. Meaning, Taylor could expect to be in one-on-one match ups all season. This could easily equal double digit sacks for him. Considering all this he said: 'no thanx'.
He couldn't be bothered, and to my surprise Washington stepped up to the plate and said: 'goodbye'. They cut him and sent a message to the entire team that certain minimum requirements apply to everyone. I applaud them, and at the same time cringe when I think about the second round draft pick they game up for him only last year. I guess the easiest way to look at this situation is if Bill Parcells takes over a team and the first thing on his list is to get rid of you... it's time to pack it up. Parcells loves veteran players, so if he's giving you your walking papers, your useful days are done. Some team will pay Taylor, even though he has shown that football is not at the top of his list of priorities. I just hope it's not a team that wears green and white!
As free agency moves along the Jets have made no moves regarding the WR department or the D-line. I am sure they will pick up at least one WR in the draft, and most likely it will be with one of our first two picks. I feel they may be thinking one of two things. Either they plan on Cotchery being the #1 guy this year, or they think they can land a wide out in the draft that can be a #1 from day one. I think both of these ideas are bad ones. If we had an established QB, maybe this could work. We don't have a veteran signal caller so we need an established #1 WR. It's that simple to me.
As for the D-line, I think they plan on addressing that in the draft as well. Igor Olshansky is now a Cowboy and I don't see any other quality 3-4 DE's on the market. The Daily News reports the Jets are interested in FA DT Howard Green. He played for Seattle and is listed at 6'2" 320lbs. I guess they want him for depth. He fits nicely into my "who's that guy" department. He's been in the NFL for 5 years and has one sack.
Finally, the AFC East just got a little more interesting. The tired, childish, tabloid T.O. show has landed in B-town. The Bills signed Terrell Owens 3 days after he was released from Dallas. I have a few thoughts on this. First off, I don't see him having an amazing impact. I don't think the Bills make the playoffs, but Lee Evans and Owens will cause issues for any defense and they will be a threat every week. Next, I am amazed that he was in so little demand. His agent said he fielded multiple offers. For Owens to except a 1 year 6 million dollar deal with a cold weather team that doesn't have a dominate QB, there must have been nowhere else to go. It's one of the lowest profile teams to play for. Will Owens play with something to prove? Will Trent Edwards mature into a real NFL QB? This may be a marriage made in heaven or hell. Either way, the NYJ's have two games this season that just got a little harder.
However, when the Redskins asked him to attend off-season workouts, with the simple goal of having him develop some much needed chemistry with his team mates he said: 'no thanx'. So they offered to pay him five hundred thousand dollars for what would have amounted to about 25 workouts over a 3 month period (twenty thousand per workout), he said: 'no thanx'. The team spent 100 million on a DT that would demand a double and even occasionally a triple team. Meaning, Taylor could expect to be in one-on-one match ups all season. This could easily equal double digit sacks for him. Considering all this he said: 'no thanx'.
He couldn't be bothered, and to my surprise Washington stepped up to the plate and said: 'goodbye'. They cut him and sent a message to the entire team that certain minimum requirements apply to everyone. I applaud them, and at the same time cringe when I think about the second round draft pick they game up for him only last year. I guess the easiest way to look at this situation is if Bill Parcells takes over a team and the first thing on his list is to get rid of you... it's time to pack it up. Parcells loves veteran players, so if he's giving you your walking papers, your useful days are done. Some team will pay Taylor, even though he has shown that football is not at the top of his list of priorities. I just hope it's not a team that wears green and white!
As free agency moves along the Jets have made no moves regarding the WR department or the D-line. I am sure they will pick up at least one WR in the draft, and most likely it will be with one of our first two picks. I feel they may be thinking one of two things. Either they plan on Cotchery being the #1 guy this year, or they think they can land a wide out in the draft that can be a #1 from day one. I think both of these ideas are bad ones. If we had an established QB, maybe this could work. We don't have a veteran signal caller so we need an established #1 WR. It's that simple to me.
As for the D-line, I think they plan on addressing that in the draft as well. Igor Olshansky is now a Cowboy and I don't see any other quality 3-4 DE's on the market. The Daily News reports the Jets are interested in FA DT Howard Green. He played for Seattle and is listed at 6'2" 320lbs. I guess they want him for depth. He fits nicely into my "who's that guy" department. He's been in the NFL for 5 years and has one sack.
Finally, the AFC East just got a little more interesting. The tired, childish, tabloid T.O. show has landed in B-town. The Bills signed Terrell Owens 3 days after he was released from Dallas. I have a few thoughts on this. First off, I don't see him having an amazing impact. I don't think the Bills make the playoffs, but Lee Evans and Owens will cause issues for any defense and they will be a threat every week. Next, I am amazed that he was in so little demand. His agent said he fielded multiple offers. For Owens to except a 1 year 6 million dollar deal with a cold weather team that doesn't have a dominate QB, there must have been nowhere else to go. It's one of the lowest profile teams to play for. Will Owens play with something to prove? Will Trent Edwards mature into a real NFL QB? This may be a marriage made in heaven or hell. Either way, the NYJ's have two games this season that just got a little harder.
One final thought on the Bills. After their epic collapse last year they elected to keep their head coach. I was blow away by that move. I mean this guy lost his team, they gave up on him. However, Marv Levy their former head coach turned GM has be a bit of a maverick since taking over the team a few years back. Is he positioning himself for 2010 and the amazing group of coaches who will be on the market?? Names like Cowher, Shanahan, Parcells, Billick, Gruden, and Holmgren and their collective 8 suprbowl rings and 11 confrence championships makes any NFL GM's mouth water. This may have been a really smart move by a crafty old-school football guy thinking a step ahead.
J.Wagner
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