Jason Taylor Returns to Miami To Star for Dolphins Once Again

Jason Taylor was loved in South Florida, so Dolphins fans understood when their star player no longer wanted to play for a team that was "rebuilding."

Last year both Taylor and Zach Thomas departed South Florida after the Dolphins' worst season in their history, when they finished 1-15.

Then, Taylor and Thomas had to watch as the team they were most associated with made the playoffs without either of them.

Now, Taylor will return in hopes of making a similar run this year.

How much did playing for the Dolphins again mean to Taylor? He turned down $8.5 million from the Redskins next season to sign a one-year contract with the Fins for $1.5 million.

Shortly after announcing his signing, Taylor stated, "My heart has always been in Miami, and so I'm truly excited to call myself a Dolphin once again."

Well, Jason, the Fins, as well as their fans, are truly happy to have you as a Fin once again.

Taylor was drafted by the Dolphins in 1997 and played every season with them until he was traded to the Redskins in 2008 for two draft picks. In 2006 Taylor won Defensive Player of the Year honors when he compiled 13.5 sacks, forced nine fumbles, and also had two interceptions.

While it would be unlikely that Taylor could achieve such numbers again at outside linebacker, he should be able to create problems for opposing quarterbacks playing alongside the fearsome Joey Porter.

That tandem will put two of the most feared defensive players in the league in the same linebacker corps. There is no doubt this addition will help the Dolphins on defense just by adding another threat for offenses to be concerned about.

Taylor helps solve an issue that was left unresolved in the Dolphins' draft: The Fins needed another pass rusher.

While Porter and Taylor played alongside each other in 2007 with mediocre results, it is important to note that this is not the same Dolphins organization that was coaching the two at the time. Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano obviously see a way they can make this work.

In the end, the Dolphins bring back their all-time leader in sacks. But for those close to the situation, there was no real surprise. Taylor always intended to come back to the Dolphins to finish his career.