New England Patriots
Patriots in the hunt for Fred Taylor
02:14 PM EST on Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Jacksonville Jaguars released all-time leading rusher Fred Taylor earlier this week in a salary-cap move, and it looks right now as if the veteran could be headed for the AFC East.
Both the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills are the top landing spots for Taylor, and he is expected to visit both teams this week.
Taylor, who turned 33 last month, is a former first-round draft pick who is entering free agency for the first time in his career, having spent his first 11 seasons with the Jaguars. He is one of the most underrated running backs of his time, having totaled 11,271 yards in Jacksonville and averaging 4.6 yards per carry; he has only one Pro Bowl nod.
New England has had success reviving or extending the careers of veteran running backs, from Antowain Smith to Corey Dillon to Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan.
Currently the Pats have Morris, Jordan, Laurence Maroney and BenJarvus Green-Ellis on the roster at running back, but Jordan becomes a free agent next week and may not return to New England. Maroney is rehabbing a shoulder injury that had him on the shelf for much of last season.
Taylor does have a relationship with Bills' head coach Dick Jauron, as Jauron was on the staff in Jacksonville with Taylor was drafted in 1998.
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