http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-dolphins-channing-crowder-040209,0,3309206.story I still doubt it.
I almost forgot Crowder was still on the team. After all, there was no way Bill Parcells et. al. would resign him ...
I don't want JT back. Though at least, now Sparano has clearly taken ownership of this team. It is Chad Pennington and Sparano's lockerroom. Not Jason Taylor's. If he showed up now, having seen how 'sweet' life was outside of here, chasing his vainty, he'd be more humble, I think. Do you get the impression JT's personality rubs me the wrong way? lol. Anyways, if he comes back, he gets hitched to the sled like a regular old sled dog and works as hard as the rest.
Yeah! I hear ya'! Me too. I defended him early on, but he has this arrogant, aloof kind of attitude which I really don't like. It's all about him and in the ultimate team sport, that BS doesn't cut it, IMO. What I really don't like is how he comes out and says he would like to play for the Pats, one of arch enemies within the division and also says that he would like to play for us again. Look at Zach. He said he couldn't play for NE because he played against them for his whole career and he just couldn't bring himself to do it or something like that. That's class. That's character. I love that old school mentality or what feels like old school mentality with having that pride and team loyalty. I know things are different now with FA and it's a business, yada, yada, yada, but it's so refreshing to see guys like Zach who still have that kind of attitude, one which JT obviously does not. Isn't it so obvious to people that he's just saying this BS because he's out of work and needs a job. I'm sure he'll say that he would like to play for any team that shows any interest in him. I'll always appreciate what he did for us while he was here and how he used to terrorize Tom Brady, but we've moved on. We already have a good veteran OLB in Porter. We need a young, hungry player to pair with him and to hopefully be one of the main pieces of our LB core for years to come. We don't need to pair Porter up with an aging vet, past his prime with injuries becoming a serious issue. What would that do for this franchise? I don't see this happening. JMO.
I love JT for all the years of awesome football he gave us. There were years where it seemed JT and Zach were carrying this team via sheer willpower. And you got to love them for that. But all good things come to an end. I don't see how JT really could figure into our future. This is the time for us to be grooming our next defense stars not hold onto yesterdays. Thanks JT for everything!
I like the comment about moving Roth to the inside, could provide nice pressure from the inside while wake takes his spot on the outside opposite of porter.
He would be good plugging up the middle against the run, but he would really worry me in pass coverage. With his stout frame and short arms and lack of speed, I don't see him being able to help cover the middle. It seems the big, tall TEs would have a field day going against him on pass plays.
of course...just in certain situations {matt roth could never play the pass like # 54}....subsitutional defense looks like it will be on par with our offense. Its all about getting the best players on the field at the same time.....
The thing with talking about using this player on run downs and using that player on passing downs is: You never really know what a passing down will be and what a running down will be. Sure, on first down it's usually going to be run down, but teams know this and you see teams all the time trying to exploit the other teams weakness and catch them by surprise by passing it on first down. You don't want someone who is a liability in pass coverage in the event they try to pass it on first down. The same goes when a team decides to run a draw on 3rd and long, etc. You want the most well rounded player, IMO, though easier said than done.
That would be great to get him back for 1 or 2 season. He would help our defense alot and he can do soo much.
If he does end up coming back, Its actually not a bad deal for us. We trade him away last year, get the 2nd rounder, now re-sign him this year, probably for less. Not a bad deal at all I'd say. Spend a season without him, and then get a 2nd rounder and get the player back? I don't know how useful he could be to us anymore... but im sure if he's healthy, he'd still be able to pressure the QB, which is something we still need help with... I don't know where I stand with this deal, I think I'll reserve judgement till we know what happens in the end.
IF he does come back it would have to be as a WLB, and that makes no sense, IMO. After the season Porter just had, and after the season he had the yr before playing the other side, why would you want to mess with that? Taylor isnt going to play SLB, he doesn't have the cover skills. I cant imagine at his age he would want to go back to DE fulltime, but thats the only reasonable place we could put him.
If the price is right, I have no problems with JT coming back. With this regime I don't see how his "attitude" would get in the way. He was an incredible player for so long who got a taste of fame at the end and tried to capitalize. It's a business and I don't begrudge him for that (unless he signed with the Jets or the Patriots), especially given his last year here and what Cam Cam did to this team. Now we have a chance to have a defense that would feature Joey Porter and Jason Taylor (in a diminished role). Think of what this could do for the education of Cameron Wake and whichever OLB we draft. Come on down JT and if you sign with NE or NY...you're dead to me.
Who cares what Crowder wants. He needs to worry about someone taking his job. He needs to focus on getting better.
Man, I can't believe how quickly people are turning on JT! TWO years ago he was the DPOY and now he's too old and whatever???? REDICULOUS! THis is Jason Taylor we're talking about! He'd obviously have to take a different role but he would EASILY fit into this system, whether it be opposite JP or whatever he DEFINITELY has a year or two of top-tier football left in him.
we also don't know the whole story, and never will...we know mostly what the media molds and feeds us.
I don't know how much top tier football he has left but he's definitely still a better pass rusher than any current Dolphin not named Joey Porter. I think if he comes back they should platoon him [to steal a baseball term] at strong side linebacker with Matt Roth. Use Roth on 1st and 2nd downs and JT on 3rd downs when a pass is coming. JT could be pretty effective still if he doesn't have to play every defensive snap. And we all know Matt Roth was very good against the run but left a lot to be desired rushing the passer.
I don't really understand statements like this. Does saying that he would like have Taylor back on the team really affect his focus on being a linebacker?
I'm not sure how I feel about this. On one hand I will always love JT for what he did for our team all those years. He was dominating and even won us a few games single-handily. On the other hand, he's older now, and sadly, isn't it just time to move on? I'll be content either way.
It does when he is making comments like he did in the first post. He said he and Porter have been talking about things like defensive schemes. Moving Roth etc. He needs to study film and try to better himself first. Then maybe he can play Mike Singletary. The defense had "spurts" last year because he was often out of position.
And those conversations somehow preclude him from studying film and bettering himself? Those conversations with Porter and studying film don't have to be mutually exclusive. He can do both.
I wouldn't mind getting JT back especially if it gives him a chance to retire as a Dolphin. However not at a lot of money and not long term. He certainly didn't leave in the best of terms when he chose dancing over training with Parcells and the Dolphins.
Two leaders on Defense are huddling together before the draft and you're telling him he needs to focus on getting better?
Exactly dj, JT would be a hedge for SOLB and a situational pass rusher, if Wake can't cut it, and we want to upgrade from Roth, JT would be a low risk hedge.
Of course, if we signed JT and let him play at Joey Porter's spot we could trade Porter. I know everyone hates that idea, but if you can still have a premier pass rusher at OLB, but pull a 2nd round pick out of thin air, isn't it tempting? (I'm assuming we could net a 2nd for Porter, of course. If not, it isn't worth doing.)
