Taylor returns to Dolphins
Jason Taylor seeks a few more sacks, and he plans to get them with the Miami Dolphins.
The NFL’s active career sacks leader, preparing for his 15th season, signed Monday with the Dolphins. He became a free agent when the New York Jets released him in March.
Taylor, who turns 37 on Sept. 1, spent his first 11 seasons with the Dolphins and has kept a home in South Florida. He played for Washington in 2008, rejoined the Dolphins in 2009 and played last year for their biggest rivals, the Jets.
Taylor’s return to the Dolphins was announced on the Facebook page for his foundation. Hours later, he held a news conference at the team’s stadium before an evening practice there.
A year ago, Taylor had hoped for an offer to remain with the Dolphins, but he clashed with football czar Bill Parcells, who has since departed. Taylor maintained a good relationship with Miami coach Tony Sparano.
Taylor’s desire to keep playing is driven in large part by wanting to play in a Super Bowl. Last year he reached the playoffs for the first time in nine years, and the Jets’ loss to Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game left him fighting back tears.
The linebacker-defensive end was also disappointed to have only 5 sacks in 2010. That increased his career total to 132, which tied him with Lawrence Taylor and Leslie O’Neal for eighth on the career list. He played in all 16 games for the Jets, including five as a starter.
The six-time Pro Bowler holds Dolphins career records for sacks (124), opponents’ fumble recoveries (27), fumble returns for touchdowns (6), defensive touchdowns (9) and interceptions by a defensive lineman (7). His best season was in 2006, when he was the NFL defensive player of the year.
Ÿ Veteran offensive tackle Marc Colombo has signed with the Dolphins, who again tapped the Dallas Cowboys pipeline to acquire a player. Colombo, a starter for Dallas since 2006, was released Thursday by the Cowboys. He became expendable after they signed top draft pick Tyron Smith.
Colombo, a 2002 first-round pick by the Bears, is expected to challenge right tackle Vernon Carey for playing time.
Colts sign Anderson:Former first-round draft pick Jamaal Anderson has agreed to terms with the Indianapolis Colts and is expected to arrive at training camp today in Anderson, Ind.Agent Joel Segal confirmed the deal, but would not disclose terms of the contract.The Atlanta Falcons took the 6-foot-6, 289-pound defensive lineman with the No. 8 overall selection in 2007. But the Arkansas alum never lived up to expectations. In 47 career starts, he had 83 tackles and 4 career sacks.Indy has been looking to upgrade its defensive line and the hope is Anderson could help stop the run. The Colts took defensive end Jerry Hughes with their first-round pick in 2010 and defensive tackle Drake Nevis in the third round this year.Vikings adjust:The Minnesota Vikings have restructured the contract for receiver Bernard Berrian and placed left tackle Bryant McKinnie on the non-football injury list. Berrian and McKinnie both sat out the first day of training camp Monday in Mankato, Minn. Berrian is coming off a disappointing season and was entering the fourth year of a six-year, $42 million contract. The Vikings are up against the salary cap, so reducing Berrian#146;s $6.2 million cap number was a priority. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Berrian says he is #147;very happy#148; with the new contract that will allow him to become a free agent one year sooner, in 2012.Coach Leslie Frazier was vague when describing McKinnie#146;s situation. He did not specify an injury, but says the team does want him to lose weight.Light re-signs with Pats:A person with knowledge of the deal says the New England Patriots have agreed to terms with offensive lineman Matt Light on a two-year contract.Light would earn up to $12 million, with $7 million guaranteed. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced.A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Light has been protecting Tom Brady#146;s blind side for 10 years. He started every game last season at left tackle.Bunkley to Denver:Defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley has been traded from Philadelphia to Denver for a 2013 draft pick, two days after the Eagles had agreed to send the former first-round pick to Cleveland.Bunkley didn#146;t show up in Cleveland, but Eagles general manager Howie Roseman says Bunkley will report to the Broncos.#147;I think that he enjoyed it a lot here and I think part of the reason was this all shocked him,#148; Roseman said of Bunkley#146;s no-show in Cleveland. #147;He was a first-round pick. I think he thought he#146;d be here for his whole career. I think he liked the kind of the energy that#146;s going on here and he wanted to be a part of it.#148;Barnett boffo on Bills:Having been only with one team for eight years, linebacker Nick Barnett didn#146;t know what to make of the Buffalo Bills when they invited him for a visit shortly after he had been released by the Green Bay Packers. The more Barnett learned about the team and community, the better he liked it #8212; including the three-year, $12 million contract he signed Sunday.#147;I like where this team#146;s headed,#148; Barnett said after watching the Bills night practice at their training camp facility in suburban Rochester, N.Y. #147;You#146;ve got a lot of potential on that defense. The schematics are very similar to what we did in Green Bay. I thought it was a perfect fit for me.#148;The deal came two days after Barnett was released by the Packers.Loyalty sticks with Nicks:The New Orleans Saints were willing to draft Carl Nicks when his off-the-field problems left other teams wary. Now an emerging star at left guard, Nicks decided his allegiance should remain with the team that gave him his first shot in the NFL, at least for one more season.Nicks, who has thrived in a starting role for most of his first three pro seasons, arrived at Saints headquarters on Monday, four days into training camp, and signed a restricted free agent tender worth about $2.61 million for this season.#147;They took a chance,#148; Nicks recalled in reference to his 2008 arrest for failing to leave the scene of a party police broke up while he was at Nebraska. #147;I had a lot of questions coming out of college and Payton drafted me, Mickey drafted me, so my loyalty stands with these guys first and foremost.#148;Roethlisberger re-work:Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has agreed to restructure his contract to help the team get under the $120.4 million salary cap by Thursday. Roethlisberger#146;s agent says the team approached his client about the move. Ryan Tollner adds that the restructuring would not affect the length or the terms of Roethlisberger#146;s current eight-year, $102 million deal signed in 2008.The Steelers entered training camp about $10 million over the salary cap and last week released veterans Max Starks, Flozell Adams and Antwaan Randle El to shed payroll.FBN28534000New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, right, and wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who signed with the team Sunday, chat during their first practice together Monday in Florham Park, N.J.Associated PressFBN