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Originally published Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 12:00 AM

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NFL Commentary | Dolphins' Jason Taylor deserves freedom

Jason Taylor's brother-in-law has been freed from the Miami Dolphins, but Taylor remains left behind, staring at Zach Thomas with envy through...

By Dan Le Batard

The Miami Herald

MIAMI — Jason Taylor's brother-in-law has been freed from the Miami Dolphins, but Taylor remains left behind, staring at Zach Thomas with envy through the prison bars.

Junior Seau and Wes Welker and Chris Chambers were granted get-out-of-jail-free cards. But defensive end Taylor, who has suffered in Miami more than any of those players did, remains in solitary confinement, no matter the warden.

Cold as it was on the part of the 1-15 Dolphins, firing a local icon Thursday, linebacker Thomas put the "free" in free agency. Thomas called journalists personally, one by one, to thank them for covering him over the years — and kept calling back if he happened to miss them. Rare is the sports exit that carries his kind of grace.

It feels as if it is time to liberate Taylor. Would you blame him if he went public with wanting to flee this NFL wreck? If he became trade-me loud like NBA players Kobe Bryant or Jason Kidd or any of the others in sports who haven't suffered as many management betrayals as Taylor has over a decade of his wasted prime?

The Dolphins wouldn't be obligated to move Taylor even if he did that. They should only do so if they can get something good and young and hopeful.

But you can't blame Taylor if he decides to be selfish. We are all selfish about our teams. Owners. Coaches. Players. Fans. But only players get killed for it, for some reason.

It must be difficult for someone as opinionated and honest as Taylor to keep quiet. You had to be in that locker room after games and see how often and how long he had his bald head buried in his hands to know how losing hurts him.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

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