As the Dolphins stagger to the 2004 finish line, defensive end Jason Taylor is having a quietly respectable year.

12:14 PM EST on Thursday, December 16, 2004

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

"I know one thing," Jason Taylor said yesterday, "no matter what I've done up to this point in my career and what I do in the future of my career, I'll always be associated with the losing team that the Dolphins had. It's sad, but it's the facts. I've been part of it. I had to stand up and take my share of the blame . . . more than my share of the blame because I am one of the leaders on this team. It is going to affect, I think, how I'm remembered down the road."

AP photo

Jason Taylor, the Miami Dolphins' 6-foot-6, 255-pound defensive end, has been one of the most disruptive and respected players in football. Now, he's trying to maintain his pride and dignity as the 2-11 Dolphins get ready to face the Patriots on Monday night.

A 2-11 season can cause a man to navel-gaze. Especially a man with a wide-angle lens on life such as Taylor. As the Dolphins endure the harshest season in their history, Taylor -- the 30-year-old face of the Dolphins -- is maintaining his pride, dignity and humor as Miami's tiny ship gets tossed.

He arrived in the league in 1997, a third-round pick out of Akron, a college whose reputation at producing big-time players matches its team nickname -- Zips. In 2000, he arrived. Since then, the 6-foot-6, 255-pound Miami defensive end has been one of the most disruptive, respected, liked and feared players in pro football, amassing 62 sacks in the last four-plus seasons (71 overall).

As the Dolphins stagger to the 2004 finish line, Taylor is having a quietly respectable year with 7.5 sacks, 37 hurries, 12 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, an interception and 66 total tackles.

"He has been excellent," Dolphins interim coach Jim Bates said of Taylor yesterday as Miami began preparations to face the 12-1 Patriots Monday night in Miami. "Everybody tries to double-team him. They're chipping him. The tight ends are staying in solid protection. (But Taylor) just has such a high motor and plays the game the way it is supposed to be played. He has always been a big playmaker for us and it's just a joy to watch this guy perform and (see) how hard he practices on the practice field and how he prepares for each ball game."

Had Taylor started sniping, whining and mailing it in weeks ago, he wouldn't have been the first professional player -- or employee in any field -- to do so when things beyond his control ruined his work situation. But it would have been totally out of character for him and many of his Dolphins defensive teammates such as Zach Thomas, Sammy Knight, Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain. As difficult an opponent as Miami has been for the Patriots, the Dolphins' defensive group has been one the Patriots and their staff admire totally.

And their work in this lost season won't diminish that.

"Any time a player plays with that high of energy when we aren't playing to make the playoffs," said Bates, before trailing off. "We're just playing each game as it comes and [it is] nothing like what New England has. They'll be in the playoffs, probably have home-field advantage, and there is a lot for them to play for. For a guy like Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas and several other of our players to go out there and lay it out on the line week in and week out when we're sitting here at 2-11 says a lot for these young men."

Taylor's time in Miami has been successful -- before this season, the Dolphins were 86-58 since 1997 -- but somewhat unfulfilling. Miami has won just three playoff games in his tenure.

"It is very difficult," Taylor acknowledged. "I've been used to winning 10, 11 games a year and having a shot at the postseason and being competitive late in December. The season has taken on a different tone now. I'm not going to sit here and give you a bunch of excuses why. We just haven't played well enough to win. It's as simple as that."

There are reasons for this downfall. Well-publicized ones, beginning with the retirement of star running back Ricky Williams. Despite a noble effort by the Dolphins' defense, Miami has spent much of this season as the worst team in the league because of offensive incompetence. How long it takes the Dolphins to regain a foothold and get back to respectability is hard to gauge. But for Taylor, who is signed through 2009, there is a moderate sense of urgency.

"I have wasted some years," he admitted. "Any time you don't make it to your ultimate goal, which is the Super Bowl, you think about letting a year get by. We certainly let a year get by this year. We just really gave it away. Our chances are over for this season. (But) I think I can play for a while in this league and play at a high level. I'm an optimistic guy. We're going to regroup this offseason. If I'm still here next year, then we are going to give it our best shot and try again."

Taylor -- as he always has -- gave it his best shot this year, as well. And he figures to do the same again Monday night on a national stage against the Patriots. The Dolphins' 2004 season may be a wreck, but Taylor's game and attitude remain intact.