The deal came 10 days after Coach Tony Sparano said he, Jeff Ireland and Bill Parcells would revisit the possibility of bringing back Taylor, who spent one forgettable season in Washington.According to The Associated Press, agent Gary Wichard said Taylor told him this week to tell the Dolphins to make him an offer they could live with because it was the Dolphins wanted to play with all along.
Forget New England and the idea of playing for Bill Belichick. Forget Tampa Bay and the idea of being reunited with former Dolphins defensive coordinator Jim Bates.
Taylor, plain and simple, wanted to the play for the Dolphins.
“My heart has always been in Miami, and so I’m truly excited to call myself a Dolphin once again,” Taylor said in a statement. “I was presented with a number of different opportunities, but in the end the combination of this being the best situation for my family, my love for this community and my tremendous loyalty to a great organization made this an easy decision.”
Taylor might have been born in Pittsburgh, but he's clearly a South Florida guy. That's where his family lives, that's where his foundation is set up.
Taylor made clear his feelings earlier this offseason when he was quoted as saying, "I'll always be a Dolphin."
Still, there remained some doubt all along as to whether Parcells, Ireland and Sparano wanted him back after the developments of last spring when Taylor skipped offseason work to participate on "Dancing With The Stars."
Through it all, it was suggested that Taylor wanted to be traded to a contender, a demand he never publicly expressed.
He got his trade early in training camp when he was sent to Washington, but Taylor battled injuries and suffered through a miserable year, finishing with only 3.5 sacks.
In the meantime, Taylor watched his former teammates produce the amazing turnaround from 1-15 to 11-5.
Taylor was released by Washington this offseason after he declined a request by the Redskins to have a clause put in his contract, which was to pay him $8.5 million this year, requiring him to attend offseason workouts.
The decision by Taylor came down to a desire not to be away from his family.
That same desire was why he wanted to sign with the Dolphins, and Wichard told AP: “Jason told me, ‘Tell the Dolphins whatever fits their budget, I’m ready to play. There were no negotiations. It was always going to be Miami.”