NFL Legend to Retire Sunday
 

Miami Dolphins’ Jason Taylor will play his final game Sunday against Jets

By Armando Salguero The Miami Herald


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Linebacker Jason Taylor walks off field after the game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on October 31, 2011. Joe Rimkus Jr. / Staff Photo

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Jason Taylor, who has collected more sacks than any player in Dolphins history and is sixth all-time among NFL sack leaders, will play the final game of his 15-year career Sunday.
Two team sources confirmed late Tuesday that Taylor has decided this weekend’s game against the New York Jets will be his final chance to add to his 139 1/2 career sacks — a mark that puts Taylor behind only Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Kevin Greene, Chris Doleman and Michael Strahan.
It’s unknown if Taylor plans to announce his intentions to walk away from the NFL prior to Sunday.
He might decide to tell only Miami coaches and teammates either before or after Sunday’s game, or he might announce his intentions so fans that otherwise might not attend the game would have the option of watching him play one last time.


The reason Taylor is retiring is not fully known, but he is 37 and would be 38 when the 2012 season begins.
Despite the advancing age, Taylor is still a respected pass-rushing threat, although admittedly not on par to what he was at the height of his career in 2002 through 2007. In that six-year span, Taylor collected double-digit sacks five times and amassed more than half of his career total.
Taylor has seven sacks this season playing primarily in pass-rushing situations. During a recent conversation, I asked him to respond to the following true/false question:
True or false, you are playing better this season than you did last season despite being one year older:
“True,” Taylor said immediately.
Taylor said he didn’t require surgery or rehabilitation treatment for the first time in several offseasons and credited that with helping him be better conditioned and prepared for the start of 2011.


The statistics agree with Taylor’s self-assessment, as he has two more sacks this season than last despite being a year older.
Taylor will leave the game as a future Hall of Fame candidate. Aside from his high sacks total, he was the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was a Pro Bowl selection six times. He returned six fumbles for touchdowns, which is the most in NFL history. And he added three interception returns for scores.
He scored more touchdowns than any other NFL defensive lineman — closing out most of the scores with a Jordan-like jump over the goal line.


But Taylor’s days with the Dolphins will be remembered for more than just his exploits around the pocket or end zone.
He met former teammate Zach Thomas’s sister Katina in the 1990s, and their marriage is the stuff of mushy Hollywood scripts — the handsome football player getting together with a pretty ex-cheerleader and building a family.
He has become a community pillar as the driving force behind the Jason Taylor Foundation, a nonprofit that helps needy kids with health care, education and quality-of-life issues. Taylor’s work with the foundation led to his being named the 2007 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.


Taylor brought a certain amount of star power to the Dolphins as he did the rumba and tango on Dancing wWith the Stars, appeared on Sesame Street, rang the NASDAQ closing bell and visited military personnel stationed in Germany, Kuwait and Iraq with Hollywood types such as Gary Sinise and Alyssa Milano.
Taylor considered an acting career several years back but continued playing despite offers of movie roles. Football also provided him with drama — sometimes too much of it.
He was traded to the Washington Redskins in 2008 and came back in 2009. He signed with the New York Jets last season before returning again this season.
Taylor’s season with the Jets got him to the AFC Championship Game, but he opted to return to the Dolphins this year because he wanted to be home with his family.


All that coming and going suggests Taylor might be convinced, under the right circumstances, to return to the Dolphins if they need an experienced pass rusher in the near future.
Only in that regard would the saga of Taylor’s career continue because his current plan is to play one last game Sunday.

Re: NFL Legend to Retire Sunday
 

Jason Taylor is one the best defensive players in the game.

I wish him well in his future endeavors.

Thx Ladybbird.