Huizenga won't interfere in Taylor matter
Posted on Tue, May. 20, 2008
By BARRY JACKSON
With Dancing with The Stars having ended Tuesday,
Jason Taylor plans to return to South Florida later this month and speak with the Dolphins. But though owner Wayne Huizenga said this week he would be happy to talk with Taylor if he wants to play elsewhere, he made clear he is not going to tell Bill Parcells how to handle the matter, and feels no need to smooth over the Taylor/Parcells relationship.
Huizenga said neither Taylor nor agent Gary Wichard have called him to request a trade and he expects Taylor will play for the Dolphins next season. Though Taylor has never said it publicly, numerous media outlets have reported Taylor wants to play elsewhere, with one close associate reiterating that returning to a rebuilding project is not a good fit for him.
''I like Jason -- he's a great guy and I would do anything for Jason,'' Huizenga said by phone. ``We all want to do what's right for Jason. . . . [But] as far as I'm concerned, he's happy [here]. He is a fantastic player. How could you not want him on the team?''
If Taylor asks him for a trade, how would Huizenga handle it?
''If Jason wanted to do that, we would consider it,'' Huizenga said, adding no meeting with Taylor has been scheduled. ``I would tell him that I would talk to Bill and [coach Tony Sparano]. I would not make that decision.''
What would the Dolphins be willing to accept in a trade? ''That's not my decision,'' Huizenga said. ``That's for the experts -- you're looking at Bill and Tony.''
As numerous reports indicated, Taylor told people he was unhappy that Parcells gave him the cold shoulder when he visited team headquarters last month. Taylor told
ESPN he has spoken with Parcells for only about 30 seconds since he took over. But Huizenga indicated there's no need to intervene in their relationship because ''I don't believe'' there's friction. ``They are fine.''
Despite Parcells' earlier assertion that Taylor would not be traded, a high-level NFC executive said the Dolphins called his team before the draft, asking if his franchise would be interested in acquiring Taylor, but wanted at least a second-round pick. All Dolphins players are required to attend a minicamp June 6-8.
LINK
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fo...ry/540757.html