Well... I think in the back of our minds whether we want to admit it or not, I think we all knew this was probably going to happen. It bothers me that its happening. I really hoped once this DWTS crap was over, JT would be back here and playing football, and now he's made it clear that isnt the case. I dont think anyone really is to blame here.. He mentioned privately he wanted traded, we tried to trade him, it just didn't work. However, here's maybe where i fault JT a bit. He needs to understand... we tried to meet his demends, but we couldnt trade him and burn the team in the process and get less for him than he's worth. Thats the business side of the game, like it or not. IMO, this is where JT should step up, honor his contract and play, if not, then retire. It's not a matter of the FO trying to force him out of the game... He asked to be traded, we tried, were not successful. Im sorry, but I agree with Sparano and company. At the end of the day.. JT is still a Miami Dolphin, and he should learn to deal with that, or step away and do something else. I love him as a player, and love all he's done for this team. We have to remember though, this is the NFL. Its a business. We tried to work with him and trade him, it didnt work out. Now its time for him to step up. If nobody wants to trade for him, and give us what the organization feels is fair compensation, well thats not the FO's fault. I don't hate him for it... I can understand having the career he's had, and having the desire to win, and wanting an opportunity to do it before he retires, and i'd love to see him get his ring. I don't necessarily like how he's handling this now after we tried trading him, but, hey... it is what it is. Hopefully we can trade him now and get something fair in return...
I actually meant Tom Brady won't have to worry about facing Jason Taylor when he plays us anymore. I'm almost certain we won't be giving Taylor to the Patsies but the prospect of Brady not having to get sacked or pressured by JT anymore when he faces us should make him happy.
Zach was a 100% Class act, but their situations are completely different. They WANTED to get rid of Zach, they did him a hell of a favor by releasing him so early & letting him pick where he wanted to go. They wanted to KEEP JT, JT is the one who wanted to leave. Parcells said he wanted to keep JT from the very begining. I think JT demanded a trade behind the scenes then got impatient and started to run his mouth off to the press. He basically screwed himself over.
Parcells, and from what I hear, Sparano, are the wrong guys to pull this on. They'll call his bluff, refuse to trade him, and leave with the option of sitting out the season. This is exactly the same crap that Ocho Cinco pulled and it needs to be handled in the same manner -- hardball.
Well, for myself I'm quite happy to see that our FO anticipated this happening and drafted Merling and Langford to try and generate some sort of pass rush in the absence of JT.
Excellent post. People seem to be glossing over the fact that it was the quotes from Sparano, NOT JT that turned this into what it is right now. JT was handling this with class, I'm not sure why the fans are so angry at JT, he's not the one that destroyed his trade value by going public right now.
That's a unique spin on the situation. JT has been pissing to the media to create this 'situation'. If he didn't whine to the press there wouldn't have been any 'situation' to begin with. All Sporano did was relay the information that JT would be holding out. They don't want to trade him, they've said that all along. Parcells said at his first press conference that he wanted JT here. Didn't he later say JT would play for the Fins or retire as a fin...
I don't give a hoot about JT. I care about the dolphins. I was a fan of the dolphins before JT and will be after JT. THanks for all the memories, hard work but your done. Asta la vista baby. I like the hard nosed aproach with these players. I know JT is being a big baby and needs to grow up. For all you JT fans the game is above all the players no one player makes or breaks the game. It's about team. Jt knows that but doesn't care anymore. He wants to be a star. I for one will not see any of his movies. I guess all that time with Zach didn't rub off on him. Jt is a punk. I hate to say it Parcells must force JT to retire by not agreeing to trade him to a contender. Screw him. A firm hand must be dealt to any premadonnas.
You have no idea what you're talking about. JT has never wronged the Dolphins. All he has done is play his heart out for them and won defensive MVP in the process. Players are what make you want to watch and care about a team. Would you watch a sports team that changed players every year? I wouldn't. Your response to this is incredibly juvenile. The game is not above the players, the game is the players. JT has kept his mouth shut and has not said a single ill word about the Dolphins. That is not how primadonnas or punks act. I have a feeling you didn't hate to say any of that.
Bravo. First Don Shula gets shown the door, then Dan Marino is booted, Zach Thomas is cut (to small?-give me a break!), and now Jason Taylor (after doing everything right, behind closed doors) is being told "Show up or get out!" And all Wayne can say is "I'm not going to get involved." My question is "When have you ever, Wayne?"
As my previous posts on this whole debacle has shown, I'm still more of a JT supporter at this point than the FO. The Tuna was actively doing one thing, while lying to our faces at the same time with that comment. Other team reps have let reporters know that the Dolphins contacted them to trade Taylor. One recently said the demands were lowered to a single 2nd round pick. Now I don't know how Parcells defines "Play here or retire", but his definition and mine seem to vary a bit. I also question JT's actions a bit too. He knows they tried to trade him, but his offseason activities created too much uncertainty for other teams to touch him (I couldn't care less, as I wanted him here). If he really wants to play for a real contender, then play for the Dolphins this season, tear it up like the '06 season like I expect you to, then get teams to bid for you on one last run in '09. I'm all for his budding film career, but for heaven's sake, next offseason, wrap up any Hollywood projects by March.
