Where Will Free Agent Jason Taylor Sign?

by Brandon on Apr 7, 2010 11:49 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers Free Agency

If the Green Bay Packers had any interest in signing free agent DE/LB Jason Taylor, or visa versa, then we would have read that Taylor intends to visit Green Bay. After getting strung along by the Dolphins for months, he's finally going to talk to some other teams, starting with the Jets. I'm not crazy about adding a 35 year old veteran who would prefer to finish his career in Miami, but Greg Bedard thinks Taylor would be a good fit for the Packers.

Apparently the Dolphins have made a mess of the entire situation. And the Jets might be able to sign him for as low as $1.5 million.

On a totally unrelated note, The Phinsider could stand to change the title of their Dolphins blog from "the only franchise in NFL history to have an undefeated team" because it sure looks like the 1929 Packers have a zero in the loss column.

Back to Taylor: I gave the idea a thumbs down, but I'm not feeling confident in my decision making of late. Do you think the Packers are making a mistake and they should go after Taylor?

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I'm up for it for the right price. $1.5 million sounds like a good deal for both sides

By signing him, we can focus on an OT in the 1st Round and CB in the 2nd Round. It buys us a little more time on the LOLB position. We’ll also be able to see if Brad Jones will develop or not in a more conservative matter. Asking Jones to start on Day 1 is a bigger risk then most people realize. We have a much more difficult schedule next year. By adding Taylor to handle the strong side, Jones will get some of the load considering Taylor’s age. Jason Taylor is big enough to handle the RT and TE and he’s still quick enough to get after the QB. I agree with Beddard and think it would be a great sign.

If after next year and Taylor retires and we don’t feel that Brad Jones will continue to improve, then we can target an OLB in the following draft in the 1st Round. He’s also a veteran, so his leadership would be a benefit to us.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Apr 8, 2010 7:39 AM CDT reply actions

I agree.

$1.5M seems like an very good price to get some insurance at OLB. I like your idea of Jones giving the old man a break. This both prevents Taylor from getting winded (and beat), and gives Jones some more time in the line of real fire vs. learning in practice.

The best scenario is to wait until after the draft. If we get someone like Kindle, then Taylor is not needed. If we end up picking a Tackle and DB in the first couple rounds, then I say go get Taylor.

by GregR on Apr 8, 2010 8:22 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd be all for signing him if it was cheap, but I doubt it will happen.

And on a side note, if they’re saying the only undefeated team in NFL history, wouldn’t that disqualify the 1929 Packers seeing as there wasn’t an NFL in 1929?

by Charlie Kelly on Apr 8, 2010 8:02 AM CDT reply actions

Good point

I don’t think the wins and losses from the playoffs count in teams records so its really not a true statement anyway.

by TrevorR on Apr 8, 2010 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Actually it's not a good point...

… the NFL was formed in 1922, having previously existed as the American Professional Football Association. So the Packers were an undefeated NFL team in 1929. Not that anyone cares. It’s just like how they only seem to count Superbowl winning teams when they talk about the number of titles a franchise has won…

What begins in fear usually ends in folly.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Apr 8, 2010 9:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Where will Taylor sign??---ESPN of course !! LOL

by Buddyruff on Apr 8, 2010 10:45 AM CDT reply actions

Now that I buy.

He could even dance with Erin Andrews on Dancing with the Stars.

by PackApologist on Apr 8, 2010 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Taylor = older Kampman

Since winning DPOY honors a few years ago Taylor has not really had many great seasons since. He doesn’t have the same explosion he had during his prime and he doesn’t have the speed or flexibility needed to cover. Adding Taylor to our D would make it slower, the exact problem the Dolphins had last year when Taylor didn’t work in an OLB position for them.

Basically, we tried this type of experiment last year with Kampy. It didn’t work. Let’s just draft a young guy who has the physical tools and mold him into place.

by PackApologist on Apr 8, 2010 10:51 AM CDT reply actions

I Totally agree !!

by Buddyruff on Apr 8, 2010 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions

Taylor's quite a bit faster than Kampman still

by Donald Driver on Apr 8, 2010 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Not quite

While Taylor might be quite a bit older, he was actually a pretty good 3-4 LB at one point, whereas Kampman was never really able to properly transition.

by Charlie Kelly on Apr 8, 2010 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

What he was and what he is are two different things

by PackApologist on Apr 8, 2010 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions

…plus we are taking price into account too. If we could have resigned Kamp for $1.5 mill, Thompson would have had him back in Green again for sure. For the price, its something to consider, but I don’t think he’ll have any interest in playing for GB. I also don’t think TT will have ANY interest in Taylor either.

by TrevorR on Apr 8, 2010 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions