 | Miami Dolphins GM talks draft, Jason Taylor |
Veteran Jason Taylor's future in Miami, just like last year, is connected to how the Dolphins use their top draft picks. `We have to evaluate things after the draft,' GM Jeff Ireland said.
The news conference was arranged so Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland could answer questions about the upcoming NFL Draft, a point he was sure to bring up after three consecutive inquiries into his interest in re-signing Jason Taylor.
``I thought this was a predraft press conference, fellas,'' Ireland said Thursday.
Then again, Ireland's most resonating comments about Taylor happened to be directly tied to the intended subject of the afternoon: The star linebacker's fate, just as it was last year, is connected to how and when Miami uses its top draft picks April 22.
``We have to evaluate things after the draft,'' Ireland said. ``That's where we're at.''
If the Dolphins don't land an outside linebacker with the ability to make an immediate impact as a pass rusher (just like last year), they would be willing to bring back Taylor for another season (just like last year).
Ireland said he has expressed those intentions to Taylor's agent, Gary Wichard, and coach Tony Sparano has told Taylor the same thing. Beyond that, Ireland said the Dolphins would not be discussing publicly anything more about the situation.
``This organization knows exactly our stance on it,'' Ireland said. ``Jason and his agent know our stance on it, and I'm not going to air our business to the media. They know exactly what our stance is.''
There is still one major difference between this year and last year. As Ireland was speaking, Taylor was deep into the second of a two-day visit in New York with the Dolphins' AFC East rival.
Ireland, however, did not sound concerned about the possibility of losing Taylor to the Jets.
``He's a free agent right now, and we've told him exactly what our stance is, and he's free to do what he needs to do,'' Ireland said.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/08/1569647/miami-dolphins-gm-talks-draft.html
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