LOMBARDI'S WAY: Jason Taylor to the Ravens?

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Lombardi's Way - LOMBARDI'S WAY: Jason Taylor to the Ravens?

Rumor packs more bark than bite

Posted On: 5/24/08

Written By:

Tony Lombardi

LOMBARDI'S WAY: Jason Taylor to the Ravens?

Jason Taylor to the Ravens… Hmm, is this fantasy football? Well not according to ESPN 1300’s Damon “Bulldog” Yaffe who reported on his appropriately titled blog Dog Droppings that Taylor is heading north:

"Current Miami Dolphin (DE) Jason Taylor wants to be a Baltimore Raven and everything is pointing towards the fact that he will become one soon. I was contacted earlier today by a local source who stated to me that 'you really need to look into the Jason Taylor situation; a number of Ravens are trying to talk him into coming to Baltimore and he has told a few of them that he will push Miami for a trade and would love to be in Baltimore' the source also noted 'official talks between the Dolphins and Ravens have already taken place on a possible deal' & the Ravens really think he will be a good fit here in Baltimore'. "

Clearly Taylor would be a fit. He is a stud athlete with a great motor and work ethic who plays hard to the whistle. He’s a leader and a solid citizen as evidenced by his Walter Payton Man of the Year Award given annually to a player in recognition of his volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field.

The New York Giants showed the world that even the most dominating offense can be beaten if you smack around the opposing quarterback. And boy don’t those DB’s look a lot better when the quarterback is under siege and wouldn’t THAT be a fit here in Baltimore given the problems in the secondary last season?

Just imagine Terrell Suggs, Antwan Barnes, Trevor Pryce and Bart Scott getting after the quarterback with the support of six-time Pro Bowler Jason Taylor. You think Ben Roethlisberger wants to see that twice per season?

It is a match made in heaven but unfortunately it won’t happen.

It won’t happen for 3 reasons: Taylor’s age; Taylor’s probable salary requirements and Taylor is represented by Gary Wichard who just happens to be the agent for Terrell Suggs.

At 34, Taylor has probably played his best football already. If he leaves the Dolphins he will want to land in a place that is Super Bowl ready. Even the most optimistic Ravens’ fan would have to concede that the Ravens are not Super Bowl ready.

Moreover, the Ravens’ capologist Pat Moriarty doesn’t have much breathing room with the team’s cap at the moment. What is left will be used to sign their rookies and then leave a bit of space for any in season requirements that may surface due to injury. Tight end comes to mind.

And then there is the issue of Terrell Suggs and his contract status. Suggs and Wichard would lose leverage if suddenly Taylor appears on the team’s roster. Why would Wichard do that when there are other teams arguably far more Super Bowl ready than the Ravens that may have the prerequisite cap space? Why would Wichard undermine his own efforts with Suggs? Wouldn’t it make more sense for him to place Taylor with a team that is not negotiating with another of his high profile, high priced pass rushing specialist free agents? A team like the Chargers or Cowboys would make more sense.

The Chargers would place Taylor closer to Hollywood where he could conveniently pursue his post-NFL aspirations. The Cowboys would place Taylor closer to his brother-in-law Zach Thomas. Both teams would place Taylor closer to a coveted Super Bowl ring.

The guess here is that Yaffe’s source had at the very least some distant connectivity to Wichard. Agents love to float their players’ names out to the media and create rumors. The rumors bring attention and they can help to shake up a stagnant trade market.

And here’s a final thought on the topic. If one of the driving forces behind the team’s alleged interest in Taylor is rooted in the team’s player’s collective desire to bring Taylor here, isn’t that reason enough to nix the deal? Getting rid of Brian Billick in part was due to the team’s need for a cultural cleansing and place the control of the team back into the lap of management and not in the lockers of the Ravens’ infamous locker room posse.

Remember the players’ yearning for Corey Fuller and Deion Sanders and Steve McNair?

I rest my case.

Well, time for me to go…there are a few dog droppings out back stinking up the joint.

Those little doggies can be fun but sometimes they sure can make a mess.