Dancing His Way Home: Jason Taylor Returns to Miami

In what has to be scored as an absolute coup, Jason Taylor has signed a contract to return to the Miami Dolphins.This story has been developing all offseason.  Taylor was released by the Redskins when he refused to report to offseason workouts.  He made clear his desire to return to the Dolphins.  But the Dolphins were mysteriously quiet about it.  They never said they didn't want him, only because they said very little about him at all.  When asked, GM Jeff Ireland said he was one of the "acorns" lying around, available to be picked up.  Maybe he was confusing Taylor's alma mater, Akron?  The Dolphins seemed to be stalling, not interested in Taylor but not wanting to publicly say it.  They wanted Taylor to be the one to sign elsewhere, so it would appear he was the one rejecting the Phins.  But Taylor was patient, turning down offers from the Patriots and a dozen other teams, and two lucrative movie deals.  The questions started again when Miami was either unwilling or unable to address the linebacker position in the 2009 Draft.  Taylor badly wanted to come home to Miami, to his family, and the team he's always loved.  So much so, he recently contacted the Phins and told them to write a contract that fit their salary cap and other financial concerns, and he'd sign it.  Think about that.  A former Defensive Player of the Year, coming off the ONE bad season in his career when he was playing out of position (ref: Joey Porter), contacts you and says write the contract?  You'd be stupid not to!  So Taylor has signed a one-year deal worth $1.1 million, plus another $400,000 in incentives.  Taylor didn't care about money, as he's been averaging $7 million a season since the early 2000s.  And don't worry, the Dolphins are getting a motivated JT.  Coming off a bad season that has many questioning if he's got anything left, he says he wants to play 3 more years.  This is just a one-year deal, so he has to earn another two-year deal.  And since he already effectively skipped offseason workouts anyway, he's fresh and ready for training camp.  His decision next year about offseason workouts may determine his next contract, but he'll be home, so it shouldn't be as big a deal.  He knows that in 3 years he'll be just as photogenic and still getting those movie offers.The on the field questions will once again feature Joey Porter.  Porter and Taylor are basically one and the same; guys that had one bad season when forced to play out of position.  But Porter openly rallied for JTs return, so they are willing to make it work.  Maybe the Dolphins will develop some dual-rusher schemes.  Or platoon JT and Porter so we have fresh rushers in the 4th quarter.  The potential for Porter and Taylor as a dangerous duo is still there.  It just has to be utilized properly to pay dividends.This signing is awesome for Miami.  It addresses a key position with an All-Pro player at a bargain rate.  And on the chance he doesn't have it anymore, it hardly cost us a thing AND we still have Joey Porter.  It's very low-risk and amazingly high-reward.  And, our gain is also the Patriots loss.  They really wanted JT and now have to look elsewhere.  This one gets The Phish Tank Stamp of Approval.Welcome home, JT!