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Jason Taylor says he’ll retire after season |
Linebacker Jason Taylor walked across the locker room brushing his teeth, then ducked into the equipment room to rinse and spit. Minutes later he tried to muster a smile for a cluster of TV cameras. It was time to call it quits. The NFL’s active sacks leader said he’ll retire after this season, his 15th in the NFL and his 13th with the Miami Dolphins. Taylor has contemplated retirement in years past only to be lured back, but now he insists his mind’s made up. “Sunday’s my last game,” he said. “I might even change my cell phone number so they can’t reach me.” The 37-year-old Taylor, who made the announcement following practice Wednesday, ranks sixth all-time with 139½ sacks. He has six fumble returns for touchdowns, an NFL record. He’ll conclude his career Sunday against the New York Jets. It’ll be his 204th game with the Dolphins, which ranks second to Dan Marino’s 242. “His contributions on the field as one of the greatest players in team history will be remembered by Dolphins fans for years to come,” owner Stephen Ross said in a statement. “He will always remain an integral part of the Dolphin family.” Taylor has had three stints with the Dolphins, who drafted him in the third round in 1997. He also played for the Redskins in 2008 and the Jets in 2010. “In my opinion, that’s a no-brainer Hall of Fame player,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “He was a phenomenal teammate here. We only had him the one year, yet he affected the team so positively. I’m proud that I had a chance to coach him.” Taylor helped the Jets reached the AFC championship game. He never made it to the Super Bowl, and his final playoff game with the Dolphins was way back in 2001. “If there was one regret I have as an athlete, it’s that I didn’t get a chance to bring a championship to Miami,” he said. Taylor said his wife was surprised he’s hanging it up. But the Dolphins (5-10) are nearing the end of another disappointing season and about to embark on a coaching search, which influenced his decision. “The last few weeks I thought about it more,” he said. “It has been a tough year. This organization is going to make some changes. This is the right time for me to go and allow this organization to grow and improve.” Taylor made the Pro Bowl six times, spending much of his career at end before switching to linebacker. He has been used mostly in passing situations this season and has seven sacks this season, which ranks second on the team. “He’s a great leader, a great ambassador for the city of Miami, and a great player in this league,” teammate Jake Long said. “He’ll definitely be missed.” His best season was in 2006, when he was chosen NFL Defensive Player of the Year. That season he had 13½ sacks, forced 10 fumbles and returned two interceptions for scores. Taylor has scored nine touchdowns, the most by any player whose primary position was the defensive line and who entered the league after 1970. He has four safeties, which ties him for fourth in NFL history. Taylor holds a Dolphins record with 27 fumble recoveries. He has been honored many times for his work in the community, and his South Florida foundation has contributed more than $2 million in grants and services to help children. “He’s a tremendous role model,” teammate Kendall Langford said. “He is always giving, giving, giving.” The foundation will help keep Taylor busy in retirement. He has also dabbled in acting, and earned runner-up honors on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” in 2008. “I look forward to the future. There are a few irons in the fire,” Taylor said. “Nothing is going to replace professional football. You can’t find it on the golf course or anywhere. There’s no place like an NFL locker room. Those guys become your family for seven months of the year. You won’t replace that. But I’ll find something else.” Leave your comments on the news below. Posted in dolphins-news, Jake Long, Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Rex Ryan | Comments Off
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Miami Dolphins’ Jake Long and Brandon Marshall… |
Palm Beach Post Staff and Wire Reports
Two members of the Dolphins were selected Tuesday to play for the AFC in the
Offensive tackle Jake Long was chosen to start in the Jan. 29 game in Honolulu
Long is believed to have suffered a torn right biceps in Saturday’s loss to
Long was a Pro Bowl reserve after his rookie season of 2008 and has since been
Marshall was a Pro Bowl starter after the 2008 season with Denver and a
“This selection is special, considering the struggles we had this season,”
Dolphins running back Reggie Bush was a longshot candidate to make his first
The Pro Bowl squads are dominated by New England and San Francisco – each has
The starting quarterback for the AFC will be the Patriots’ Tom Brady, backed
The NFC starting quarterback will be Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers. His back-ups
One of the newcomers to the Pro Bowl is New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham,
Graham, a 6-foot-6 former basketball player, spent just one season on the
Four of the NFL’s biggest headline-makers this season did not get voted in:
Suh and Harrison have been penalized by the league for dirty play; Newton and
Three rookies were chosen: Denver linebacker Von Miller, Cincinnati receiver
Fourteen teams from each conference were represented. Shut out were St. Louis
Players who make the Super Bowl – which will be played Feb. 5 – will be Thanks for visiting our blog =). Posted in Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Brandon Marshall, dolphins-news, Jake Long, James Harrison, New York Giants, New York Jets, Ray Rice, Tom Brady | Comments Off
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Miami Dolphins not interested in war of words with… |
AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File
By Brian Biggane Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Updated: 8:06 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2011 Posted: 6:18 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2011 DAVIE — New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is likely to have no more success enticing the Dolphins into a war of words this week than he did the New York Giants last week. Ryan became the center of attention before the Jets-Giants battle last week, crowing that the Jets were the better team and were done playing the “little brother” in the crosstown rivalry. Giants coach Tom Coughlin’s response of “talk is cheap, play the game” resonated when the Giants won 29-14. Ryan, who had a profane on-field exchange with Giants running back Brandon Jacobs after the game, admitted he had been humbled. The Jets are just 8-7, and their faint playoff hopes will end if they lose Sunday against their old rivals at Sun Life Stadium. Still, history says Ryan will be back on his high horse in no time. The handful of Dolphins who showed up in the locker room Monday seemed unfazed by whatever is to come. “It would be nice (to shut him up),” defensive end Jared Odrick said. “But I don’t think our objective is to shut Rex Ryan up. “You can respect his talking to a certain extent. He’s always supportive, always boosting his team, wants his team to win. But when you’re on the other side of the fence, if you believe you can beat his team, you do kind of want to shut him up. So you can see where he’s coming from, but, yeah, it’d be nice to go out and get a ‘W’ and shut him up.” Not exactly bulletin-board material, though it seemed like it compared to interim coach Todd Bowles’ response. “I don’t get into that at all,” Bowles said. “I know he is a good football coach. That’s all we’ve got to prepare for.” Ryan, of course, generates headlines wherever he goes, predicting a Super Bowl victory three years running. He came close to backing it up the first two, as his team reached the AFC championship game both times, but this year’s squad is a long shot to even make the playoffs. So is the opportunity to put the Jets out of their misery an incentive? “That would be a good way to end it,” wide receiver Davone Bess said with a shrug. Truth be told, neither team has had the kind of season to sustain their fans’ interest. Miami started out 0-7 before coming on in the second half, but the Dolphins are sure to finish with a losing record for the fifth time in six years. The Jets have been even more enigmatic. Their only win over a team that currently has a winning record came in their season opener against Dallas, and after putting themselves in playoff contention with a three-game winning streak, they’ve been badly outplayed in losing their last two against Philadelphia (45-19) and the Giants. Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer doesn’t go a day without being ripped for his play-calling, and NBC’s Mike Florio reported late Sunday that the team is considering searching for a replacement for inconsistent quarterback Mark Sanchez this off-season. Sanchez, in his third season, has improved his completion percentage from 54.8 to 56.2 from last year and increased his touchdown passes from 17 to 24. But he has also been sacked 10 more times (37) and his passer rating of 79.0 ranked 22nd in the NFL through Sunday, behind Arizona’s Kevin Kolb and Seattle’s Tarvaris Jackson. The Jets have been unbalanced statistically, ranking 27th in yards gained and seventh in yards allowed. “The tradition and rivalry will always add a little extra,” Bess said. “But they know us and we know them. They’re the Jets, and the more prepared team, the more physical team, the more determined team will win the game.” Thanks for visiting our blog =). Posted in Davone Bess, dolphins-news, Houston Texans, Kevin Kolb, Mark Sanchez, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Rex Ryan | Comments Off
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Miami Dolphins can end New York Jets’ season,… |
AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File
By Brian Biggane Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Updated: 8:06 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2011 Posted: 6:18 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2011 DAVIE — New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is likely to have no more success enticing the Dolphins into a war of words this week than he did the New York Giants last week. Ryan became the center of attention before the Jets-Giants battle last week, crowing that the Jets were the better team and were done playing the “little brother” in the crosstown rivalry. Giants coach Tom Coughlin’s response of “talk is cheap, play the game” resonated when the Giants won 29-14. Ryan, who had a profane on-field exchange with Giants running back Brandon Jacobs after the game, admitted he had been humbled. The Jets are just 8-7, and their faint playoff hopes will end if they lose Sunday against their old rivals at Sun Life Stadium. Still, history says Ryan will be back on his high horse in no time. The handful of Dolphins who showed up in the locker room Monday seemed unfazed by whatever is to come. “It would be nice (to shut him up),” defensive end Jared Odrick said. “But I don’t think our objective is to shut Rex Ryan up. “You can respect his talking to a certain extent. He’s always supportive, always boosting his team, wants his team to win. But when you’re on the other side of the fence, if you believe you can beat his team, you do kind of want to shut him up. So you can see where he’s coming from, but, yeah, it’d be nice to go out and get a ‘W’ and shut him up.” Not exactly bulletin-board material, though it seemed like it compared to interim coach Todd Bowles’ response. “I don’t get into that at all,” Bowles said. “I know he is a good football coach. That’s all we’ve got to prepare for.” Ryan, of course, generates headlines wherever he goes, predicting a Super Bowl victory three years running. He came close to backing it up the first two, as his team reached the AFC championship game both times, but this year’s squad is a long shot to even make the playoffs. So is the opportunity to put the Jets out of their misery an incentive? “That would be a good way to end it,” wide receiver Davone Bess said with a shrug. Truth be told, neither team has had the kind of season to sustain their fans’ interest. Miami started out 0-7 before coming on in the second half, but the Dolphins are sure to finish with a losing record for the fifth time in six years. The Jets have been even more enigmatic. Their only win over a team that currently has a winning record came in their season opener against Dallas, and after putting themselves in playoff contention with a three-game winning streak, they’ve been badly outplayed in losing their last two against Philadelphia (45-19) and the Giants. Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer doesn’t go a day without being ripped for his play-calling, and NBC’s Mike Florio reported late Sunday that the team is considering searching for a replacement for inconsistent quarterback Mark Sanchez this off-season. Sanchez, in his third season, has improved his completion percentage from 54.8 to 56.2 from last year and increased his touchdown passes from 17 to 24. But he has also been sacked 10 more times (37) and his passer rating of 79.0 ranked 22nd in the NFL through Sunday, behind Arizona’s Kevin Kolb and Seattle’s Tarvaris Jackson. The Jets have been unbalanced statistically, ranking 27th in yards gained and seventh in yards allowed. “The tradition and rivalry will always add a little extra,” Bess said. “But they know us and we know them. They’re the Jets, and the more prepared team, the more physical team, the more determined team will win the game.” If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top. Posted in Davone Bess, dolphins-news, Houston Texans, Kevin Kolb, Mark Sanchez, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Rex Ryan | Comments Off
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Tom Brady gives Miami Dolphins a reality check |
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Here, like Christmas coal, were the Dolphins defense’s last five series against Tom Brady: field goal, touchdown, touchdown, field goal, touchdown. That was the second half. That is the Titanic. What really hurts is the defense is the stronger side of this Dolphins team. This is what to say the next time anyone talks about this roster’s being close and how they’re maybe just a great coach away. No coach has a chance to win with this roster. Not Tony Sparano. Not Todd Bowles. Not Brian Billick. Not Jeff Fisher. Not the young Don Shula that Steve Ross wants. Nor the old Don Shula. Nor the middle-aged Don Shula. In this sense, New England did the Dolphins a favor in their second-half beatdown for the 27-24 victory Saturday. There are no illusions now. No doubts. None of the wavering you sensed even at halftime, up 17-0, about Matt Moore’s upside or what a possible 7-2 record to finish the season might mean. The Dolphins are last in the AFC East now. They’re a loss to the Jets from ending the year 5-11. And for all the obvious ways they’ve improved from their 0-7 start, there’s still this to consider: Brady whomped them just as badly in Saturday’s second half as he did in the season opener. “There’s not many guys around the league like that, and he showed it again today,” Dolphins cornerback Will Allen said of Brady. “In the second half, he played like the elite player he is.” How many players on this Dolphins roster are talked of in those terms? Jake Long at tackle when he’s healthy. Any more? Cameron Wake was great last season. Brandon Marshall would be if he dropped his case of dropsies. Karlos Dansby, sometimes. Reggie Bush, for the last two months. Vontae Davis, for the last five games. Elite players don’t come and go. They’re elite every game. That’s the definition. What the Dolphins mostly have are a lot of average players. That’s not being dismissive. You need average players. You can win with average players — so long as a few elite ones are sprinkled on top. This isn’t about coaching. You want to talk coaching? The Dolphins’ defense had Brady so confused at the start that he completed three of his first 12 passes, was remarkably booed after two series by New England fans (shame on them), and his first six possessions went: punt, punt, punt, punt, punt (how many is that?), punt. Safety Yeremiah Bell went so far as to say, “We had him rattled early on.” It was the same on the offensive side under coordinator Brian Daboll. The Dolphins had 255 yards of offense in the first half, scored 17 points and did what good offenses should against the worst-ranked Patriot defense. “We had a great first half,” Bell said. “We just didn’t finish. We didn’t execute.” Throw this game in with the others they’ve lost in the fourth quarter. Cleveland. Denver. New York Giants. Dallas. The Dolphins have this wacky stat of outscoring opponents 310-296 this year despite their awful record. That’s what a lot of people point at to say the problem is coaching. Here’s the more relevant stat: they’re outscored 113-55 in fourth quarters. You can draw that up as coaching if you want. But with games on the line, great players make the headlines. Brady did it Saturday. Wes Welker did it, too. They weren’t stopped in the second half, while Matt Moore couldn’t get the Dolphins’ offense to move the way he had in so many games this year. Another hope that won’t be raised farther than it should be this off-season. The last time the Dolphins made a strong run at the end of a season was 2005, Nick Saban’s first season as head coach. They won six straight that year. They became the hot Super Bowl pick in 2006. Sports Illustrated put them on the cover. That year didn’t end in the Super Bowl. It ended with Saban in Alabama. Maybe Brady didn’t just beat down the Dolphins in the second half. Maybe he did them a favor by giving them a painful reality check. dhyde@suns-sentinel.com What are your opinions. Posted in Brandon Marshall, dolphins-news, Jake Long, Karlos Dansby, New York Giants, Tom Brady, Tony Sparano, Vontae Davis, Wes Welker | Comments Off
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