Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right

I decided to wait a few days to fully digest the impact of Jason Taylor's defection. In the first 24 to 48 hours, if you had asked me for my impression, then I would have told you that JT deserves to go down in history alongside Benedict Arnold and Johnny Walker Lindh as one of America's most infamous traitors.

As the facts slowly begin to leak out, it is clear that the Dolphins were just as blameworthy in this mess as Jason Taylor. Few would dispute that Jason Taylor is one of greatest players to ever suit up for the Phins and one of the top defensive players in the history of the NFL.

It's hard to imagine a scenario where Peyton Manning, Ray Lewis, or Troy Polamalu are summarily traded, cut, or even denied a final one year deal with their respective teams. Many Phins fans would put Jason Taylor in that same untouchable, heart of the team, hero of the city category.

To Parcells and his cronies that simply is not the case. It all started during Parcells first year running the team when JT famously decided to skip Parcells' voluntary (if you hope to stay on the team) conditioning program to promote his celebrity on "Dancing With The Stars." Parcells in turn purportedly snubbed JT, refusing to shake his hand when they first crossed paths in the Dolphins' practice facility.

All of this drama culminated in a fateful decision to trade JT to the Skins for a second round pick. After the Skins realized that a 33 year old JT does not equal a 30 year old JT, they summarily jettisoned him after just one season.

The Phins, for their part, gave JT a second chance, and probably what they suspected was a final one year $1.1 million contract to come back to Miami at age 34.

Even with a return to familiar surroundings and a more rush friendly 3-4 defense, Taylor managed just 7 sacks and 42 tackles last season. As much as he has meant to the Phins, there was no doubt in my mind that he had little gas left in his tank and would probably retire at seasons' end or sign a final one year deal to return as a mere rotational player.

The real shocker came when JT decided to continue playing and the Phins, despite having no veteran OLBs on their roster, refused to give him a one year deal even for his bargain basement $1.1 million 2009 salary.

Hell, the Phins even brought back oft-injured QB Chad Pennington, who is equally long in the tooth, on a virtually identical deal. Moreover, they renewed the contract of Jason Ferguson who is the same exact age as JT, plays a position with the same lack of depth, is coming off a major knee injury, and is facing an 8 game suspension upon his return. What gives?

I know. I get the distinction. Chad Pennington and Jason Ferfuson have been with Parcells and Co. longer than Jason Taylor. What this means, however, is that Parcells and Co. view themselves as an organization whose loyalties have nothing to do with the history of the franchise that they happen to be running.

If anyone deserved a one year deal to return and play out his final year in a Phins uniform, it was JT not Chad Pennington or Jason Ferguson.

Despite Parcells' failure to show JT any respect, however, this in no way excused JT from signing with the JETS! If JT had beef with Parcells, then he should have kept that between the two of them instead of turning his back on a fan base that has been nothing but loyal to him for more than a decade.

There are 31 other teams in the National Football League (30 if you exclude the Patriots), where Phins fans would have preferred to see JT sign. Even if he joined the San Diego Chargers, another AFC team, it would have been ten times better than signing with the JETS.

Now Phins fans will have to watch JT lining up opposite Jake Long and Chad Henne at least two times next season. I cannot imagine the emotions that Phins fans will experience the first time they witness JT coming home to Miami in a JETS uniform.

While it is clear that Parcells showed no respect to JT this offseason, I sincerely believe JT deserves no respect from Phins fans when he suits up as a member of the JETS. After all, haven't we heard all our lives that two wrongs don't make a right?