Despite a flurry of rumors and even inaccurate media reports, the Dolphins in fact did not trade Jason Taylor on Saturday.
The Dolphins didn't even field calls for Taylor, according to general manager Jeff Ireland.
''Didn't get any calls,'' Ireland said when asked how much activity there was in advance of a possible trade. ``There was no discussion.''
Several Internet reports had the Dolphins trading Taylor to Tampa Bay for various draft picks. The reports were obviously wrong.
''I was not aware of it,'' Ireland said. ``I was aware of it after the fact, but obviously it was strictly rumor.''
This much is not rumor: Despite vice president of football operations Bill Parcells saying that the only way Taylor doesn't play for Miami this year is if he retires, the Dolphins are indeed open to trading Taylor.
Ireland spent part of last week calling other NFL teams to gauge interest in Taylor. And managing partner Wayne Huizenga told Palm Beach radio station ESPN 760 he would be open to trading Taylor.
''I like Jason a lot,'' Huizenga said. ``I think everybody likes Jason. I want what is best for Jason. And if he wants to go where he's got a shot at getting a Super Bowl trophy, I'm all for that. He deserves that.
``If we can get him placed in a spot where he can go to the big game, then we would do that.''
INCREASED WORTH
The Dolphins didn't do that Saturday, but that does not close the issue. The NFL allows trades through October, and it is possible Taylor's worth increases today and after this draft.
A team interested in Taylor can offer the Dolphins a 2009 draft pick for the defensive end. That might be more palatable to another team because it would get a good player this coming season in return for future considerations.
It might also be good for the Dolphins if that future consideration is a high enough draft pick. The Dolphins were said to be asking a first-round pick for Taylor, which clearly would be the starting point of trade talks but not the end.
Huizenga maintains conversations between Taylor and the Dolphins have not included a formal trade request.
'We've had a lot of conversation, but we never got down to say, `Trade me,' '' Huizenga said. ``I'm sure he'd be happy staying with us, and we'd be happy keeping him.''
But that might not necessarily be the case.
Taylor, currently enjoying a stint on Dancing With The Stars, expected to return to the Dolphins soon after May 20, when the show is scheduled to wrap for the season. But a visit to the Dolphins practice facility two weeks ago might have changed those plans.
Taylor visited players in the locker room and was received warmly during that visit. Then he tried to visit with coach Tony Sparano and Parcells. But Sparano only talked to him about his missing the offseason program. And Parcells wouldn't talk to him at all.
Taylor was livid when he left the Dolphins training facility that day over the perceived disrespect.
Parcells could not be reached for comment about the matter and Taylor's agent, Gary Wichard, did not return a phone message left on his cellphone.
Whether Taylor is with the team or not in 2008, the Dolphins seem to be preparing for a future without the 33-year-old Taylor. They picked Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling with their first pick of the second round Saturday.
COMBINATION PLAN
Merling was asked what player he has most closely molded his game to.
''I mirrored my game after a combination of different people because I didn't want to be stuck in one box,'' Merling said. ``I wanted to be like a Jason Taylor, a Julius Peppers, a Richard Seymour -- just somebody who is well-rounded, somebody that could get to the quarterback, somebody who could drop into coverage.
``I didn't want to be labeled as an extreme pass rusher or as a run stopper or just an athlete. I wanted to be everything out there. So I modeled my game after a couple of guys in the NFL.''
