The Dolphins have traded Jason Taylor to the Washington Redskins for a second-round draft pick in 2009 and a sixth-round pick in 2010.
With the trade, the Dolphins are able to move a disgruntled player out of their locker room and the Redskins are able to replace Phillip Daniels, who they’ve lost for the season, with one of the best defensive players in the NFL.
Here are a couple of quick thoughts on the move:
1) Is this really all they could get?
There will be a ton of fans angry that their team wouldn’t give up a second- and a sixth-round pick for Taylor.
He’s a Pro Bowler, a playmaker, and one of the most consistent pass-rushing threats in the NFL.
Since 2002, Jason Taylor has totaled 18.5, 13, 9.5, 12, 13.5, and 11 sacks. He’s also forced 33 fumbles, had four interceptions, scored three touchdowns, and maybe more importantly, played in all 16 games in each of those seasons.
2) The Dolphins needed to trade Taylor.
They aren’t going to compete this year, and probably not next year, either. Jason Taylor has two or three years left. The timelines don’t match.
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If you’re the Dolphins and you know you’re not going to be able to surround him with enough talent to win, you HAVE to move Taylor and get what you can for him.
3) The Redskins are immediately better; the question is how much better.
I’m not sure this move puts the Redskins up into Cowboys/Giants territory, but it certainly gives a defense that had trouble getting to opposing quarterbacks last season a shot in the arm.
Taylor will get sacks. Taylor will force fumbles. Taylor will make plays.
In a relatively wide-open NFC, that could be enough to put Washington over the top.
4) Nobody's happier than Tom Brady.
Speaking as a Patriots fan, I couldn’t be happier to see Jason Taylor out of the division. He has been tormenting Tom Brady since Brady came into the league.
Remember, the Patriots went through a stretch where their offense could do absolutely nothing against the Dolphins. A huge reason for that was Jason Taylor, who may have single-handedly taken a few years off of Tom Brady’s career.
I’m happy for him that he has a chance to end his career with a potential playoff team, and I’m happy for me that he won’t be able to torment my Patriots twice a season anymore.
All in all, a decent move for the Dolphins (you have to wonder if they could have gotten more) and a tremendous move for the Redskins.
The NFC East just got a little more interesting…
Sean Crowe is a Senior Writer and an NFL Community Leader at Bleacher Report. You can email him at scrowe@gmail.com. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.
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about 1 month ago
Way to be on top of things, Sean. Washington got a one doozie of a deal.
about 1 month ago
give up the whole "Dancin" thing please. Although the article has a great "fan" view point, the whole dancin' thing is played out. Washington got a player that is on the back 9 of his career, and is more focused on what is going to happen after football. Parcells got some good value for him. Either let him play in Miami for 1 more year, or get value from a player who doesn't want to play for your franchise anyway.... You have posted some nice articles, but please don't refer to the whole "Dancin" thing.....
from about 1 month ago
I only used the Dancing theme in the title...if you have a better headline, I'm open to suggestions...
I was just looking for something that would get hits...I hate coming up with headlines.
about 1 month ago
Sean, like they say down in da "Hood of America's ghettos...this article is *killin'em* pal!
You were right on, about everything. Although, I don't think it was about "that" being all the Dolphins could get for him. I think teams played the odds, that Taylor is overdue for a couple of bad seasons, in a row. Although I hope not.
Still, the 'Dancing with the stars ordeal' can be legitimately viewed as something to cause a lose of focus, or even, him wanting to retire prematurely to pursue Hollywood/Pop Culture beating his door down...everysince that year the Nation's most influential magz. named him amongst The World's 50 Most Beautiful People.
from about 1 month ago
You're only saying this because Sean did not write this about a white player. Had this been Jared Allen, you would have heard "how peculiar it would be for this cracker to lose focus when a black man would be perscuted".
So transparent
about 1 month ago
Nice article Sean
about 1 month ago
Good move for the Dolphins! At this point I'm not sure what they will recieve but a second rounder would be huge.
about 1 month ago
As a lifelong skins fan, this move signals to me the Redskins front office might just be getting their act together. Vinny Cerrato has not been my favorite pseudo GM of choice, but he has my vote of confidence for getting this deal done so quickly.
To lose Phillip Daniels stinks, and in a perfect world, it would have been great for our chances to hang in there with the competing line of the Cowgirls and Gentle Giants, with both players starting.
I'm glad we're not playing that throw crazy amount of money at has-beens with marquee names anymore. A second rounder next year and a 6th rounder in 2010 is peanuts for the value we are receiving. Dan Snyder has learned a thing or two about life in this salary cap age. Buy within your team structure. Taylor is no Bruce Smith or Deion Sanders. (That one still smarts.)
He might be a bit distracted, and in the twilight of his career, but he's still in top physical condition. Kudos to the burgundy and gold for making the right choice for the right price. Looking forward to Sept 4th and Eli getting force fed some pigskin in the puss. Rest in peace #21.
about 1 month ago
As a Patriot fan I'm glad to see Taylor go but sad to see Miami get another second for a guy that might have just sleep walked because it didn't matter. (Oh, I'm a Patriot fan. He might have sleep walked except vs. Brady.:))
about 1 month ago
Ahh Sean you are forgetting about Matt Light...I think he is estatic for not getting trampled, pumbled, and thrashed twice a year by Taylor
from about 1 month ago
Good point...
about 1 month ago
Matt,
the fact that I shed light on what (-) realities could be overdue, for Taylor, where no one mentioned them...just shows that you're an angry White-racist who is *reaching----like Reed Richards* out of your anger that I exploit your assisting the 'peculiar' posting culture on this site toward Black players vs. the silence here, on dead-weight Caucasoid players.
The fact that I have commended and defended Brett Favre here, for weeks, is more proof of how suspect you are. So, transparent, is more indicative of you. And, if you get any more "transparent" we'll have to secure you an opportunity with '3M Scotch Tape' pal! (smile)
about 1 month ago
So is Taylor Black or White? I don't know or care but he's a hell of a football player. Go Skins!
about 1 month ago
Since I can't write articles, for some strange reason, can someone bring on the Brady Queer, ooops!...I mean, Brady Quinn articles??
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