Dolphins fans, enjoy this year, it could be JTs last!
By Brian Miller
If you could travel back in time to the start of the final season of Dan Marino, you would cherish every throw, every strut, every play. You would tape each game and watch it back and just take in what was the greatest Dolphins player in history.
This very well could be that year for Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas. So Dolphins fans, enjoy this year, it could be their last.
Jason has teetered on the retirement issue the last two seasons, but this past off-season almost saw him walk away at what could only be the high point of his career, the reigning league defensive MVP. Instead he came back. With the play of this team now, the future of the All-pro DE will once again be in doubt after this season is over.
Both want a Super Bowl ring and neither will get that in Miami. A lot of work needs to be done for this team to reach that level of play, it is hard to imagine that it would happen in a time frame that would allow either of them to remain here. It is a shame really, but neither did the aforementioned Dan Marino. Jason will not leave the game as the leagues all-time sack leader, and many will question his statistical rankings when his turn comes up for HOF consideration. But make no mistake, the Jason Taylor that we all know, is leaving soon.
In the case of Zach Thomas, the talk has really never been about hanging the cleats up, it has been about trading. The interior LB still has the same motor and drive to play the sport at an All-pro level. He still statistically puts up numbers consistent with the league leaders. It is that drive and that production that could enable the Dolphins to trade the LB. It is that desire to play that may enable Zach to accept the trade. In any case, it would not be surprising to see someone new in the middle of that unit next year.
The Miami Dolphins once again have serious issues on the offensive side of the ball, a situation that so far has netted the Phins only 13 points a game when it really counted. The Dolphins defense has been unable to stop the run, unable to stop the pass, and unable to put pressure on the QB, a Jason Taylor/Zach Thomas specialty. That specialty has eluded Jason in two games against offensive lines that are not at the top statistically in the league…at least last year.
Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas are great players and will be missed when they finally hangs up their cleats or play somewhere else. Their names will undoubtedly be immortalized on the Dolphins “Ring of Honor”. The question is when?
This year we as fans should take a step back and watch these two outstanding Dolphins, they may not be here this time next year.