Dolphins to honor Hall of Famer Jason Taylor on Sunday,
DAVIE — When Jason Taylor receives his ring Sunday to commemorate his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it will be easy to conclude that the most-decorated defensive player in Dolphins history has it all.
The ring will be a perfect match for the gold jacket he’ll be wearing. If Taylor likes, he can glance over his left shoulder and see his name on the Dolphins’ Honor Roll at Hard Rock Stadium. The organization also is throwing a party in his honor.
What more could the Dolphins do for him?
Glad you asked. Although no one has worn Taylor’s No. 99 since his final season with the Dolphins in 2011, that number is fair game, at least officially.
So what the Dolphins should do, during the ring ceremony at halftime of the Dolphins-Broncos game, is have Stephen Ross or Jimmy Johnson
(his presenter at the Hall of Fame) step up to Taylor, hand him a framed No. 99, and tell him that number is retired.
No one can say the Dolphins haven’t been kind to Taylor. They’re literally rolling out the red carpet this weekend, including a by-invitation party in his
honor Saturday evening.
Retiring his number would be the pleasant surprise Dolphins fans could use these days. Remember how the Patriots flicked the Dolphins aside last weekend like a little brother? The most sacks Taylor recorded against any single quarterback was 11.5. The QB: Tom Brady.
Taylor had 139.5 sacks in 15 NFL seasons, won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2006 and the Walter Payton
Man of the Year Award in 2007. He even pitched in during training camp after he retired, giving pointers to the Dolphins’ linemen.
Meaning: He has been exceptional both on the field and in the community, where the Jason Taylor Foundation continues tireless work on behalf of children.
That’s the thing about Taylor. He’s retired and he isn’t. Each week, the Dolphins put out a lengthy news release in advance of their game. Years after his last game, Taylor still appears in the release a dozen times, whether it’s comparing Cameron Wake’s sack pace to J.T.’s, John Denney’s longevity to J.T.’s, or Reshad Jones’ defensive touchdown rate to J.T.’s. Taylor is even there in Spanish: “Más touchdowns defensivos en la historia de los Dolphins.”
For an organization that embraces history like few others, the Dolphins have retired a tiny number of jerseys: 12, 13 and 39. (Hey, confused millennials, that’s Bob Griese, Dan Marino, Larry Csonka, in that order.)
That’s a small number, as it should be. Sunday, it should grow by one.
Jason Taylor was known for going all-out in his playing days. For making the biggest splash at the most opportune time.
Now, it’s the Dolphins’ turn.