Unlike The Dude, I’m not much of a sentimental teddy bear when it comes to virtually any player wearing a Dolphins uniform as I’m really all about those colors and that logo [Editor’s Note: I’ll never be like you, DRK!!! NEVER!!!! /storms out the house sobbing, clutching framed picture of JT to breast]. In today’s NFL it is very much ‘easy come, easy go’ but it’s never easy to lose a guy like Jason Taylor. The guy was a badass on and off the field. It’s admittedly tough (during games, I used to mimic that little draw-a-circle-with-your-fingers-then-punch-through-it thing after a sack or big loss), but in a shocking twist, I actually agree with Armando Salguero’s view (read: kill me now) on the duality of the whole thing. True, we’re a little less talented and/or likable as a result of the trade but it’s also nice to get a move on with all the drama and focus on the very tough on-the-field battles and storylines that are sure to develop shortly. We can completely re-focus on the business of football and ignore the massive off-the-field egos that had shaped the last couple of months during the will he/won’t he phase of this ordeal. Will the real Charlie Anderson or Reggie Torbor please stand up???
Here are some reactions from around the league:
• Mike Florio presents 10 bullets on the trade. (Incidentally, it does speak volumes that it was ultimately Parcells that pulled the trigger on this trade and not Jeff Ireland, as noted by Florio on ProFootballTalk. Ireland was not seated at the big kids table yesterday)
• Omar Kelly breaks down the replacements. "There are also a few long-shots to make the roster who COULD potentially step up their game in a major way." Random WORDS CAPS lock ALERT!!!
• Peter King manages to stop talking about Mary Beth, the techno-voodoo wonder that is the modern mp3 player and how incredible that latest Diana Krall CD is to report on the rapid development of the JT trade. Interesting tidbit in that article mentions a rumored three-team trade that would have sent JT to the Giants, Shockey to the Saints and the Saints’ 2nd and 5th rounder to us. Hmmm…
• Jason Cole argues along the same lines as Salguero in that we need to improve for the future.
• Some CBS Sportline writer talks about how JT is better suited for the 4-3 (which Washington runs) than 3-4 along with some other pro-Washington bullshit.
That just about does it. I spent a whopping 20 minutes looking through links that weren’t a variation on gut-busting headlines like "Jason Taylor Gets New Dance Partners In Washington" or hilarious ones like "Taylor Waltzes Out of Miami." So. Original.
As for JT: Shine On You Crazy Diamond
-DRK
