A Good Draft, With a Sour Aftertaste

For me, there are two different ways you can assess the Miami Dolphins draft. If you assessed the draft, then the Fins scored at least a B+. However, taking the whole weekend into account, things aren't so rosy. And they could potentially get uglier.

What do I mean by that? No. 99 is still on the Miami Dolphins.

It seemed an absolute certainty that Jason Taylor would be Dancing with the Stars elsewhere by the end of Saturday. And although Bill Parcells reportedly was demanding a 1st round pick, he would settle for a Round 2 selection. And that is enough to land a 33-year old defensive end with two or three elite/productive years left.

Somehow, it didn't happen. Although I know for a FACT that the Fins were trying to spin a deal with Tampa Bay, they came up empty. Talks with Jacksonville stalled when the Tuna wanted to swindle a first round selection. Whether Miami eventually dropped the price is something for Jeff Ireland to know, and us to speculate about. But the end result is that JT is still a Miami Dolphin. And that is flat out absurd.

There is no reason whatsoever for Jason Taylor to still be on this team. Don't get me wrong, I love JT and everything that he has stood for over the last 11 years. Considering that my fandom for the Fins really began in the mid 90's, Jason Taylor is my favorite Dolphin.

But this is a team that is, thankfully, in the beginning stages of rebuilding. AKA they won't be good for another 2-3 years. And what do you do when you build? Get younger, and trade your older assets. What good is Jason Taylor for a 5-11 and 6-10 season, when you can get potentially a 10-year offensive lineman(Samson Satele) or a quarterback(Chad Henne) that at the very least will have a better chance at flourishing on a Parcells team than John Beck.

More importantly, what is the solution to an irreconcilable marriage? Split up. I don't care what JT may say publicly(and his PR people asking WIOD's Footy not to ask football questions today SPEAKS VOLUMES), he WANTS OUT. And not solely to play for a winner, or because his BFF Zach Thomas is now doing the two-step. I think by now, we've heard about this account regarding JT's surprise return to South Florida, and the brush-off he received from the new regime. If not, read it and come back to me with an argument that this marriage can continue!

And to clarify, I don't blame either side for the eroding relationship. Kudos to JT for realizing his Hollywood career and wanting to play for a winner. And for refusing to go Chad Johnson on everyone, or needlessly throw the media under the bus to be a good foot soldier. And I'm fine with the Fins wanting to move on from the JT/Zach area, and even tho Bill Parcells not acknowledging Taylor's entrance to the Fins complex is reprehensible, Tony Sparano wanting to mark his territory and not pander to the superstar is understandable.

What's not understandable though, is the sheer fact that Jason Taylor remains a Miami Dolphin. And whether that's due to an unreasonable first round pick demand, a stubbornness to give into what JT wants, or perhaps a behind-the-scenes ultimatum from Mr. Managing General Partner, it's a bad decision. And one that partially takes away from all the goodwill generated by the Dolphins in a draft week that they otherwise got right.