Jason Taylor should have been a Carolina Panther

The team could work on a trade with any team but that would come to the surface fairly soon because it is getting on into or past the OTA workouts and  mini camp time is right around the corner. Most teams really want all new players in the "system" as soon as possible and have enough time for them to get familiar with the way the new team does things.  Now, we know Jason Taylor and Bill Parcells have butted heads or dodged handshakes as it were this offseason.  They are seemingly engaged in a...spitting contest in south Florida.  

Parcells does not like anyone missing camp or OTA's.  Now, if you were Lawerence Taylor and you had given Parcells sweat and blood, year-after-year, then maybe you could dance on a pop TV show and miss a week of OTA's and stay in Parcells'  good graces.  But to Parcells, Jason Taylor is basically a fellow Parcells does not even know.  Parcells could believe Jason Taylor's excuses for missing camp is all pretty silly and sets a bad example.  Plus Parcells has seemed to always knock heads, usually with a star, just to prove to everyone, on whatever team he is associated with, that he, and not any player is the "man" and he is totally in charge of the team and the locker room.

If you were watching the 1st round of the 2008 draft then you probably heard a few of versions of a possible "proposition" or word of a trade, concerning the Jaguars 1st round pick in exchange for the veteran Dolphin, Jason Taylor.   This was supposedly a draft day deal where the Jags, who were frantically searching for a good defensive end could work with the Dolphins, who were looking for help, trying to build a young team by using  the draft. It seemed like a decent enough deal. A 1st round for a pro-bowler who could possibly give you 2 or 3 good years of play, and maybe 6-10 sacks per season (enough of a sack threat to draw double teams).  Jacksonville did not make the deal. 

With that in mind. I know the Panthers need a defensive end.  I know Taylor is going to be expensive but the Panthers have already given up their 1st round pick next season. Would the second pick be so bad to give up for Taylor? It would seem to me if the defensive end is the one position your team really lacks and if you (the coach and gm) know you will be fired unless you make a playoff run, then it may be very tempting to take that deal.  Jacksonville passed and drafted  2 rookie defensive linemen instead of the recent pro-bowler, Taylor. 

The problem is now...Jason Taylor says he wants to play one more year. Not 2 or 3 like  some hoped.  So, if you are a coach and you are still facing losing your job unless you produce a winner then I could see possibly making the move out of fear.  However, the Carolina Panthers have no 1st round pick next season and Parcells totally runs the show and may not deal at all.

The Panthers have a second round pick next season and a player or two they could trade.  But is the price to high?  It is in most cases yes, but in Carolina, it may not be a  crazy deal.  The cap could be re-worked to make it happen.  If it worked and the Panthers won big, then coach Fox keeps his job and the staff can still work on developing the current ends they now have to get ready for next season. 

Now, if it did not work and the team falters...Then it is not coach Fox and GM Marty Hurney's problem any longer...It would probably be former Steeler coach Bill Cowher who might be here trying to fix a team with no 1st day draft picks.

The latest news out of Miami has some believing the relationship between Taylor and the Miami Dolphin organization has not passed the point of no return. So, Taylor may soon be back on the shelf for the Dolphins to keep this season.  However, until the trade deadline is over, never count out anyone's career that Parcells has a hand in. 

Finally with Taylor's announcement that he wants to play just one more year, Parcells has to know that one year's play is not worth a number 1 pick especially when Taylor's contract now calls for him to receive $7.5 million this year.  For a team that is a bit needy that would possibly be almost $1,000,000 per sack. If Taylor had 7 sacks next season. Costly? Yes.  Crazy? A little. If the Panthers could give a 2nd round pick for him and then make it to a superbowl this season then it would be worth it.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?