Redskins cut Jason Taylor

Last summer Jason Taylor wanted to spend his off-season ‘Dancing With the Stars’.  This season, he just wants to stay at home with the family.  For that reason he refused to accept a workout provision from the Washington Redskins which prompted the NFL team to release the six time Pro Bowl defensive end. 

The Redskins agreed to keep Taylor’s salary at $8.5 million, but insisted that he take part in 75% of the team’s off-season workouts.  Taylor refused, citing a desire to spend time with his family at his home in Miami rather than devote almost his entire off-season to workouts that would require him to be in Washington.   Taylor’s agent, Gary Wichard, confirmed his client’s reasoning:

"He wanted to spend the offseason with his family. He just kind of chose family over going up there."

Wichard suggested that Taylor’s time on the popular American TV reality show last year underscored his desire to have more free time this off season:

"He had been away for four months in Los Angeles, then he got back to Miami and then he got traded. He wanted to spend time with his three kids."

Despite the disagreement that led to the team and Taylor parting ways, the Redskins had nothing but praise for how he conducted himself during his single, injury plagued season in DC.  Coach Jim Zorn offered these comments:

"Jason Taylor was a real professional during his time with the Redskins. He played hurt, but still gave his best effort to be prepared and play hard every week. We wish him and his family the very best."

The revelation that Washington was willing to re-sign Taylor for the full $8.5 million salary was something of a surprise.  In addition to the injuries that limited his effectiveness he didn’t really mesh with the Redskins defensive scheme.  Taylor had only 3 ½ sacks in a Washington uniform, a disappointment for a player with 120 ½ career sacks.  He also became somewhat expendable when the ‘Skins signed free agent Albert Haynesworth to a 7 year, $100 million contract last week.