ASHBURN, Va. -- When defensive end
Jason Taylor gets to
Washington -- and it might be as
early as Monday -- he can thank the
team's executive vice president of
football operations, Vinny Cerrato, for
doing what Taylor could not.
Namely, getting him away from Bill
Parcells.
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The Redskins are getting more
than just a pretty face; they
are getting a sack machine.
(US Presswire)
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Taylor and
Miami's new boss were headed for
Divorce Court, but it was Cerrato who
finalized a separation agreeable to both
parties. He gave the Dolphins what they
wanted -- a high draft pick (a
second-rounder in the 2009 draft) -- and
he delivered Taylor freedom from
Parcells.
I
know, I know, Taylor once suggested he
might not play beyond this season. But
that was before he got away from
Parcells, and, trust me, it's subject to
revision. Veterans like playing in
Washington (Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith,
Darrell Green, you name it), and the
team's 4-3 defense fits Taylor's
considerable skills more than Miami's
3-4.
Plus, I'm guessing the guy has something
to prove. In fact, I'm sure of it after
talking with Taylor's agent, Gary
Wichard.
"Jason's always said he would play in
2008, then take it one year at a time,"
Wichard said Sunday night.
Taylor is expected in Washington soon --
probably late afternoon or Monday night
-- and the timing is perfect. He takes
the place of starting defensive end
Phillips Daniels, who tore his ACL
in the Redskins' first workout on Sunday
and is lost for the season.
In fact, it was Daniels' injury that
prompted Cerrato to swing into action
and explore a trade for Taylor. Within
hours of the setback, he not only made
the Dolphins an offer; he made them an
offer they wouldn't refuse -- throwing
in a sixth-rounder in 2010 to clinch it.
"I think everyone did very well,"
Wichard said. "Vinny did a great job, as
he always does, of focusing on what he
had to do and acting to do it."
Though Taylor turns 34 this season, he
remains one of the game's top defensive
ends. Over the last eight seasons he
averaged 12.5 sacks a year, with a
career-best 18.5 in 2002, and he was the
league's Defensive Player of the Year as
recently as 2006.
So he had 11 sacks last season, his
fewest since 2004. He also led the team
and ranked seventh in the AFC -- and he
did it with a doormat that won one lousy
game.
So don't tell me he's walking the last
fairway.
Plus, nobody in Washington had 11 sacks
last season.
Andre Carter led the club with 10.5,
and you won't find the second-place
finisher until you get to linebacker
Marcus Washington at 5.
