Where JT, Dolphins agree and disagree

From 7 p.m. until approximately 10 p.m. Tuesday night, I spent time on the phone and in person listening to Jason Taylor, or people close to Jason Taylor, or family members of Jason Taylor, or associates of Jason Taylor. (I admittedly did not communicate Dr. Doolite-style with Jason Taylor's dog.)

When I arrived home I got a call from the Miami Dolphins and spent 45 minutes on the line listening to what they have to say about, you guessed it, Jason Taylor. By the way, 45 minutes on the line with folks representing an NFL team is an aging experience.

Following that I will now share with you what I know and what is curiously not settled as this chapter of Taylor's Dolphins career comes to a close.

What I know:

1. Taylor on Tuesday morning accepted from the New York Jets the only contract offer he had on the table to him. Period. There was a report on the Dan LeBatard radio show here in South Florida that quoted a source saying the Dolphins had an offer on the table for Taylor and he decided to take the Jets offer anyway.

Wrong.

"It was take this or go on a nationwide (Dancing with the Stars) tour with Jerry Rice," said Taylor, who also called LeBatard's source "a liar."

The Dolphins are in agreement with Taylor on this issue. They confirm they did not currently have a contract offer on the table to Jason Taylor.

We're off to a good start.

2. The Dolphins offered Taylor a contract extension in early November of 2009. That was reported here yesterday, Taylor said it in his press conference, and the Dolphins confirm this is true.

And the manner in which the offer came is also not up for debate. It came in a private meeting between Taylor and Bill Parcells himself.

And the offer came in the form of a Post-it note.

Parcells wanted to deal with Taylor directly. No agent was supposed to be involved. That seems to be increasingly the way the Dolphins operate with their veterans. Remember that last year Parcells approached Ricky Williams to discuss his contract?

Williams thought the team wanted to cut his salary. Instead, Parcells handed Williams a note with the figures for a contract extension. The caveat to the note was that Parcells didn't want to go through Williams' agent. And so Williams, needing money, happily left agent Leigh Steinberg out of the loop and accepted the Parcells contract extension on a Post-it note.

Well, the Dolphins tried the same thing with Taylor.

He declined the offer and instead referred the Dolphins to his agent Gary Wichard.

"It wasn't the right time," Taylor said. "I wasn't comfortable with the contract situation coming up then. Maybe I grew up old school, back in the days of Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt and Rick Spielman. We didn't talk contract once the season started. My focus was on trying to get to the playoffs, not on talking money. And why would I do a deal without my agent? Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland have an agent."

3. The Taylor camp believes that once the player declined the Big Tuna's personal offer, that triggered something that doesn't resemble love. The Dolphins do not argue the point that perhaps -- perhaps -- Parcells was not thrilled Taylor rejected his personal overture.

4. The Taylor camp to this minute does not know if the Dolphins would or would not have offered them a contract after the draft. And the Dolphins don't know 100 percent, either. That decision, they say, was going to be made after the draft. And they admit they might have decided not to offer Taylor a contract.

5. The idea about after the draft is troubling but moreso in that there is agreement on it than not. The Dolphins say that after Taylor received an initial offer from the Jets, they were told of the offer from the Taylor camp. No disagreement there. And the Dolphins say their response to finding out those numbers was to inform Taylor and his agent they wished to make their decision on Taylor "after the draft."

And, they say, that as late as Monday, the Taylor camp was "fine" with waiting until after the draft.

The Taylor camp agrees that they were initially "fine" with the idea of waiting until after the draft. No disagreement there, either.

Now here is where we get into disagreements:

1. The Dolphins, far as they know, still believe the Taylor camp was "fine" with waiting for Miami's decision after the draft. The Taylor camp obviously felt that a decision needed to be moved up because the one offer they held -- that of the Jets -- could easily disappear after the draft.

The Taylor camp says it reached out to the Dolphins when it became clear the Jets could pull their offer. The Taylor camp says it requested a decision one way or the other but got no response.

Why there wasn't one last-minute, last-gasp attempt to keep Jason Taylor in a Dolphins uniform, is unclear to Taylor. In fact, to this day Taylor doesn't know why he didn't get any Miami offer. "If I was told why, I could express it to you," he said. "But I wasn't told."

The Dolphins say there was nothing to express. They were waiting until after the draft.

2. About that November contract extension:

The Taylor side feels Parcells took Taylor declining to deal without an agent personally. The Dolphins side doesn't necessarily refute this as stated above. But ...

Parcells would not allow personal feelings to get in the way of completing imperative football business even if his feelings have a little boo-boo. (Salguero personal opinion: Taylor simply wasn't imperative to the Dolphins. If he was 25 instead of 35, he would have become imperative. But he isn't.)

3. Taylor said that once he turned the situation over to his agent he expected the negotiation to continue but that eventually the offer was pulled. The Dolphins say that once Taylor declined Parcells' offer, it was turned over to Jeff Ireland to handle and that negotiations indeed continued for some time between Ireland and Wichard.

(I'm getting a headache, aren't you?)

4. The Taylor camp is not really going here, but I am: They believe they were disrespected. Taylor, they say, is an all-timer with the Dolphins that, no matter what your football evaluation is, should be respected and treated well based on what he's meant to the franchise for 13 years.

They don't believe either Parcells or Ireland recognized the player's place in team lore and dealt with him poorly by playing the "after the draft" game. Taylor just wanted to know outright if the Dolphins wanted him or not. Black or white. The Dolphins told him to wait until after the draft in 2009, but they also told him they wanted him. They told him to wait until after the draft in 2010, but didn't hint as to whether he was in their plans or not.

Taylor was ultimately frustrated by the gray of "after the draft."

You saw part of that peek through when Taylor said, "I'm happy somebody wants me to play for them. The Jets have given me an opportunity to play and not just an opportunity but they showed me they wanted me up there ... They made it clear what they wanted to do."

The Dolphins? They insist they respected Taylor's historical standing.

But, they add, at the end of the day, they simply made a football decision.

[BLOG NOTE: I know there were issues with all of you being able to post comments on Tuesday. I was flooded with e-mail complaints that the blog was broken. I'm told the issue is being resolved. Personally, I blame it all on the New York Jets.]

Comments

[Craig M]

All thi stuff about 'Taylor leaving with a heavy heart', what a joke!! I'm sure, it was a real tough decision to have to wait a week or two for the team to decide if they wanted to bring him back, or to go play for a team he supposedly hates and fans he supposedly hates. I'm not even sure he was honest about that either.

This guy is no leader! He's a guy who ditched this team two years ago to go do 'Dancing with The Stars' because it was what HE wanted to do and he's a guy who did nothing when there was dissension on the team last year with Porter and others. Parcells knows leaders when he sees them and this guy is no leader. Take your ball and go play in New York! Can't wait to go kick the Jets butts TWICE again this year!

Now can please stop talking this has-been player and start focussing on some of the bright young talent we're going to add on the weekend....PLEASE.....

[Finheavenblows!]

Mando, excellent job getting both sides of the issue to us. You are the source for NFL coverage.

[JUSTIN CREDIBLE]

SO HE COULD PLAY FOR 1 MILLION

[bobbyd12]

Bing Bing Bing 100% correct Waterboy....There is a large amount of UFAs sitting out there waiting till after the draft....Jason would have gotten offers...fact is he tried to push the Dolphins hand by visiting the Jests, and when Parcells didn't budge he was backed up against the wall...Oh well time to move on

[Fxck the wets!]

The funny thing is that the people that are complaining have probably NEVER been to the stadium....

That stadium sure did look mighty empty on a bunch of games. I was there for every one!! and I live in Naples!

[Omar Kooky and Mike Brerapenisface]

When is your vacation Mando? Please get to it as soon as possible because WE need the rest.

[enrique1085]

Not trying to fully get away from the lovely JT drama, but I think we got bigger fish to fry when it comes to this team. Here's Chad Henne's morning tweet:

"Finally got to see our schedule. I'm glad we're opening in Buffalo. I want to redeem myself in the place I had my worst performance as a pro"

I can't wait till tomorrow and next season!!!

[Waterboy]

JTs powerplay backfired. You dont force the hand of the Tuna.

I hope JTs agent milks this contract since it will be the last one his client signs.

[bobbyd12]

Round one, Sergio Kindle, round 3 , Cam Thomas...Those are my first two picks

[The Knight that says Nuts!]

Do Jeff Ireland and Taylor's agent speak the same language? It doesn't seem like they are.

Either Ireland is totally inept and unable to deal with agents or this agent is double-talking his player out of town without the player knowing it.

My opinion is the guy that didn't know he couldn't cut Joey Porter because of cap issues was at fault.

Nuts!

[manzana]

fxck the wets you f'kin babboon , julie a dude posting as a chick, imbecile hahahahahahahahahhaha

[ceviche]

Is it my imagination or is finheavensblows a Mando groupie,hee hee. Mando could commit murder and the groupie would back him up.

[enrique1085]

And now back to the drama... here's Henne's thoughts on lossing JT and offseason moves.

"The offseason is a roller coaster! lot of ups and downs. ups - Karlos & Brandon. downs - losing JT & Teddy. And now for the draft. "

[carlito from golfito]

Enrique,

good stuff... I am also a fan of opening in Buffalo

[Craig M]

Bobby,

You've seen the light!!....I thought you were a Derrick Morgan guy!!...I think Kindle's going to be great for this team!!

I like Cam Thomas too but I'm just wondering if he is the best of the likely available NT's in the third round. Some have said Joseph and some have said Troup. Don't know them well enough to have a valid opinion.

[carlito from golfito]

Bobbyd12,

I would also be happy with Kindle and Cam Thomas... that combo would definitely help the fins alot... Cam Thomas might go in the 2nd though

[Esteban]

The Redskins were offering 7 million? i live up here and got the impression they weren't offering much at all for him.

[Craig M]

I live just on the other side of the Canadian/US border. Will definitely have to think long and hard about going to that game in Buffalo. Anybody coming up for the game? Buffalo fans are like to be in a foul mood that day. They sure do hate the Dolphins in Buffalo but we always get a lot of Miami fans out for the game.

[GatorPhin]

I grew up watching JT playing with the phins and i have to say i'm sad to watch him go. But football is a business and business is business. i think some people fail to realize there's a business aspect to the NFL. We grow emotionally attached to players beyond their years. The FO has been moving to inject youth into the team. Yea, I'm with the next guy wanting JT to sign a contract with the phins but the FO has a plan and they are sticking to it. This year's draft has one of the deepest OLB, DE prospects. And the FO has been adamant about talking with JT after the draft. I'm not upset with JT or the FO they have their principles and they are sticking to it. People complain that they signed ferguson and pennington given their situations and though it may seem as though its the FO looking out for 'their own' i disagree. How hard is it to find a quality qb? How deep is this draft for a starting NT? I believe had JT stayed he would've gotten a contract after the draft, but thats all moot now. I will be very very upset if they don't give JT a 1-day contract to retire a phin tho.

[bobbyd12]

Fxck the wets...thk u for being there!!! My biggest biatch on this blog is 49,000 season tickets in a Tri-County area of over 6 million people!!! Denver has an 8 year waiting list, Green Bay, someone gotta die and the greatest city in the South, u can buy tickets at the ticket window at 1:05. It's a disgrace. And ur right about people on here saying they are not renewing, which is a lie because the renewal date has already passed or are not going to the games anymore have never gone in the first place....bunch of B/S

[Waterboy]

I dont think Thomas will be available mid RD 3.

We might have to trade up in RD 3.

I will go for Kindle or My name is Earl Thomas.

Still need a FS that can tackle and knock down passes.

[Fxck the wets!]

manzana,

Wow that was such an origional comment! You sure showed me you moron! Yeah, I asked Julie to marry me for real!

Hey dumb axx the word gullible is written on the ceiling!

[Waterboy]

Post of the day nominee

"Fins offered JT an extension last year. JT declined. Fins asked JT to wait until after the draft to assess their situation. JT declined. JT thought he could force the Dolphins hand by playing footsie with the despised Jests. When the Jests gave him an ultimatum to sign before the draft, he buckled. We are in April, to say that JT was out of options and was forced to take whatever offer he could get at this point, is asinine. JT tried to strong arm the Dolphins after rejecting their earlier offer, when that failed, he spitefully signed with the loathsome Jests. Anyone who believes that the Dolphins are in the wrong here is either a JT ball washer or terribly misinformed"

[Standley23]

Ask any self respecting Packers fan what they want when they play their rival in the Vikings? Beat them down and in process ruin Farves day, if that means sacks, hard hits, Ints! Same thing applies now to Eagles fans when dealing with the Redskins and Mcnabb. You Don't think Jets fans gave Pennigton shyte when he came to Miami?? So how is this any different? Its not!

[Account Deleted]

JT needed more money and we needed to get younger at OLB, end of story.

But here's a new story. "Parcells deals with veteran negotiations on post it notes". WTF is that?! That looks grrreeeaaaatttttt in the eyes of veteran free agents doesn't it?

Doesn't this directly hurt the Dolphins ability to sign veteran free agents? It is completely disrespectful to ask a player to keep his agent out of the loop during contract negotiations. Why would any vet want to deal with that BS? What if Huzienga wrote an offer on a post it note to Parcells while asking him to leave his agent home? Bill would've walked in a heartbeat but he expects players to do it?

This doesn't sit right with me and definitely damages my respect for BP from here on out. This is not the professional way to conduct business and he knows it. The ONLY thing that gives me hope this is the exception rather than the rule is that the two players involved in the post it thing were problem players in managements eyes. One a repeat drug offender and one a dancing with the stars team deserter.

[AlphiePerez]

good riddance, everyone seems to be forgetting that he left here for the cash only to find the grass was not greener on the other side a few years back, then he comes back with his tail between his legs, had he won in Washington like he thought he was going to he'd have never come back

[Craig M]

Waterboy,

?I've read conflicting reports on Cam Thomas. I like him personally but I've read that some people put Joseph and/or Troup ahead of him? Thoughts? I'll be a little surprised if he's not there for us in the third. They may choose to trade one of their sixths or sevenths to move up to take him, if they are convinced he's the guy.

[bobbyd12]

Craig M, actually I'm a Huge McClain fan and can't see how you don't pick him if not there but on my draft board he is gone....I am going with my gut and what I believe Parcells loves, and that is Kindle...and Cam in third...I'm set for our first two picks

[Waterboy]

NY Scott,
We recently signed Brandon Marshall and Dansby to super high contracts. I dont think luring FA is a concern...

How come when Ricky accepted the post it deal, everyone was on the Parcells is a hero train.

JT was expendable was offered a new contract raised his salary from 1.1 to 1.5 mill and he wanted to "take advantage" on an uncapped year.

JT got greedy and now is a greenie.

[Craig M]

NYScott,

Do you think it hurt Parcells in his negotiations with the first or second best player in FA this year, Dansby? How about the contract they quickly put together for Marshall?

'Nough said.....

[dphins1]

Mando, heres the thing for starters i think you can put the blame on taylors agent he was worried about getting paid, Taylors has been in the nfl for 13 years so i dont think it was a money issue, i am sure the doplhins would of came around, but its too late now so good luck in the future hopefully the 2 games a years i hope we imbarrash the jets and i hope when he retires he doesnt try and retire as a dolphin.

[Just Because]

Bootang/Rob go back to the "breakfast, appetizer, main course" blog and you will see Chris Cordero has the Dolphins taking Teo- Nesheim.

Good player....

[yosh_mane]

The Dolphins organization might have treated JT with disrespect given hes been one of the city's all time greats...BUT... If JT is guna trash talk the jets and their fans the way he has the last 13 years and says hed rather retire than play for the jets, well than man up to your word... Im sure a team will need him once somone gets injured in middle of season...

[Waterboy]

Craig, I hear Troup is going up the boards. I do remember that Cam Thomas was down here for a visit.

Another strategy for this fins is to take several shots of long term NT prospects in RD 5-6-7. If you draft 2 or 3 of these big guys, one might pan out and make the team.

So its an exciting time to be Fin Fan. JT who?

[Hypnotoad]

Let's see. The Regime was DESPERATE to bolster their defense and decided not to even throw Jason Taylor a bone. What does that say about JT? No too mention his contract is heavily incentive laden. an Marino had a chance to go to the Vikings and he didn't. I'm not buying this JT P.R. trash. He rented himself for the money just like any typical football player. This regime wants to win. There is no playing around with them. For any of you who hate this regime now maybe we should go back to Nick Satan or Cam Camaron and his family. Time to stop being drama queens like JT. Wake up people!

[bobbyd12]

I believe Cam will be there unless there is a run on NTs

[Craig M]

Bobby,

No chance of getting a second round pick back? Would you be opposed to trading down and getting Graham or Hughes and maybe nabbing someone like Cody in the second round? Might be tough but it also might be another solution to fill the holes.

I also think McClain would be a great pick but I agree, I think he will be gone to Jacksonville, Denver or the Giants in a trade-up before he gets to us.

[dcgator]

Thanks Mando.

I thought it wasn't about money with JT. If it was fair he should have taken it. If it wasn't he should move on. If he wanted to cut his agent in he could have.

But, I bet he has a couple of big days against us. If we split with them this year I will be happy.

[JerseyPhins]

i just wish we would have made more out of that #2 pick from Washington

[Waterboy]

Id take Mclain if the following happens

1) No Trade Down Partner
2) Berry and Thomas are gone
3) I could trade Clam Chowder for a 3 Rd pick

[JHS]

Instead of listening to all the so called experts on this blog and we all consider ourselves experts. Lets take a close look at the real experts. The NFL. The NFL thinks so little of the Dolphins chances of getting to the playoffs, we were only given one prime time game and that was against the JETS. The Jets were given five prime time games.

We will be lucky to get three or four regional games. The NFL looked at the Dolphins players, the trifecta and our schedule and concluded we basically suck. As Parcells so verdantly claims "you are what your record says you are" and we are a 7-9 team. And until that changes we are a team with a losing record. We should have kept JT and put Parcells and company down the road. Then hire Bill Cowher.

[Fxck the wets!]

We need some real fans on this team! In NY, they are charging them a license fee of 10K or 15K for the right to buy a ticket. Do you think that would work here? Hell no! I am by no means a rich guy. I pay my season tickets in the 4 quotes plan (around 2K). I also go to school full time and work full time, so TIME is an issue for me. I go to all the home games; including the Monday night ones. It doesn’t matter how tired I am the next day at work and then school. I am there like a true fan! I want this team to win, and the FO is doing a great job. JT is old, and we are building a dynasty! So deal with it! If you don’t like the patient-slow-building process, go root for the Wets then! We don’t need you bandwagon—jumping—wannabe fans!

[bobbyd12]

Waterboy, unless they tradde down and pick up a two or extra 3, I think the Fins are going to pick a FS late and let the Clemmons, Culver, draftee battle it out...No doubt anymore about OLB pick first and one in the later rounds...we will wait and see very SOON

[Waterboy]

JHS,
Clevand Browns in 2008 had 5 primetime games and went 4-12.

Call me when the Jets go 8-8 and Fat Rex starts leaking lard

[Standley23]

36 hours from now JT will be nothing but a memory and everyone bashing the FO will be back on the wagon after the Draft!

[dolfanSF]

nice detective work, Mando.

GO DOLPHINS!!!

BTW, schedule looks pretty tough. hopefully Farve doesn't return so we can start the season 2-0. Cause we're going to need it.

[Waterboy]

Ben Roethlisberger will be suspended 4-6 games for violating the NFL personal conduct policy, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter.

The conditional suspension can be reduced to four games based on Roethlisberger behavior and compliance with clinical evaluators.

The Steelers were reportedly bracing for an eight-game suspension, so this news may come as a small relief.

[bobbyd12]

JHS, in what world do you live?? Dolphins got 3 Prime Time Games not One... People like u amaze me, are u smoking crack or are u just so incredibly stupid that u don't think anyone looked at the actual schedule. LMAO at ur dumb A'S...by the way Chicago had 5 Prime Time Games last year, how'd that work out??? Time to go back to ur fantasy blog

[D-dense]

Well I think the trifecta got it wrong, but it's no surprise. We gone from an 11-5 team to dismal. Our selection of Pat White no 2 overall last year should have been an indication of how bad the trifecta drafts and keeps talent. We got a team full of convicted DUI offenders and woman beaters. How the Tuna got all this talent will play out this year. The trifecta needs to improve or they can start contacting their agents. Taylor deserved their respect and I for one hope he finds it, but I still hate the Jets.

[calabasa]

I asked Julie to marry me for real!

Posted by: Fxck the wets! | April 21, 2010 at 10:18 AM

Are you G@Y? You little monkey go away. You sound like the imbecile you truly are.
Dont mess with me or Justin will take care of you!!!!!!

[Fxck the wets!]

Standley,

I want their best players to play. I rather win having the toughest and most dominating team!

[MaCo]

JT will have a good season, but the Jets won't even make the playoffs. Sanchez is not even an OK QB, and I believe he'll kill them down the stretch.

[Account Deleted]

Guys, when I said veteran free agents I meant guys who were over the age of 32 or so. I should've specified that. But also no way anyone is going to preach to me about what this regime is doing or how they're doing it! :) I've been sticking up for Parcells and company more than anyone in here and you all know it. I've been giving Mando crap for two years now about the way he disects this regime.

But I'm also not a company shill and you know what, at some point everyone makes mistakes. And if you guys don't think it's a mistake to ask players to leave their agents out of negotiations while using post it notes in doing so, I have to strongly disagree.

Like I said, it could be a "problem player" issue and I understand that. Lets hope this IS the exception and not the rule.

[Haawks]

Let me see
Starting Outside probowl linebackers
Porter, Taylor
They are no longer on our team
And what did we get in return for them
NOTHING
If I managed my business this way I would end up broke!

Shame on you dolphins! Yes that is a little d out of disrespect!

[hermano]

The little pansy fxck the wets works as a cook at Chilis and going to tech school at night. WOW WEE, good for you. You are a fkin great guy, bwahahahhahahahah

[Phinsfan]

Bottom line is that Taylor made a decision to play for the lousy stinking Jests instead of retire with some pride. If money means that much to him then he made his choice, what ever happened to that acting career he was using as a negotiating ploy a few years ago. Then he sends his half witted brother in law Zach Thomas on the radio to trash the Dolphins, real classy there. I guess once you become a Jest player you also lose your class. His press conference shed no more light onto the situation and just made him look like a little cry baby that did not get what he wanted. Good Luck JT, hope you do really bad in NJ and we will boo you to no end when you come down here to play in September.

[Tom hartman]

I think it's funny Taylor talking about the good old days of Jimmy Johnson and DW....those are the regimes that showed no respect to Marino.

Taylor had his chance in November, and decided to play hardball and turn it over to his agent, hoping to squeeze some more money out of the Dolphins. After all, if it was about just wanting to feel "Wanted" he would have accepted Parcell's offer.

Sorry I'm on the Dolphins side on this one.

TH

[Account Deleted]

And D-dense I hope that was a joke post. "We went from 11-5 to dismal". NO, we went from 1-15 to respectful BECAUSE of Sparano,Ireland, and Parcells. So we went from 1-15 to 11-5, the biggest franchise turn around in NFL history. Get your facts straight.

[JerseyPhins]

Haawks- are you in the business of managing a pro football team??

[bobbyd12]

JHS I still can't get over how stupid u are...Let me hold ur hand, Sundat Sept 26 Vs. Jets Prime Time....Monday Oct 4th Vs. Patriots Prime Time... Thursday Nov 18th Vs. Bears Prime Time...1+1+1=3...Take another hit off that pipe