By ARMANDO SALGUERO
asalguero@MiamiHerald.com
ORLANDO -- Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland has called Jason Taylor's agent one time this offseason but that was about college players. Taylor's name didn't come up during the conversation nearly two months ago and Ireland hasn't called back since.

Coach Tony Sparano, who had a great relationship with Taylor even during the Dancing With The Stars saga two years ago, also had not returned Taylor's messages as of Wednesday morning.

One can understand the team's stance of not publicly commenting about Taylor if they have a strategy for handling his re-signing or even his departure. But to turn your back on a longtime Dolphin and potential free agent answer to your biggest roster need is an undeniable mistake.

So what's going on here?

Is this the way the Dolphins do business?

Is this the way you treat a player who someday will make a push to the Hall of Fame and today can help address Miami's need for a pass-rushing outside linebacker?

No wonder the Dolphins miss as often as they hit when it comes to free agency.

Last season Taylor was Miami's most consistent linebacker. Period. It wasn't Akin Ayodele, Channing Crowder or Joey Porter -- despite everything Peezy fantasized and then told everyone.

Taylor was a good player and one of Miami's best locker-room influences. He was chosen captain along with Jason Ferguson, Chad Pennington and Porter. And when Ferguson and Pennington got injured and Porter went off the reservation, the only player Sparano really talked to about setting the agenda was Taylor.



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