Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor thinks the team can win with Chad Henne at the helm, and says the Miami QB is more talented than his counterpart with the New York Jets.
"We need to grow and we need to continue to change, and I think Chad has grown immensely since I left here a year ago," Taylor said in an interview with NBC Miami. "I saw a kid in New York, Mark Sanchez, that is young, I don't think he's as talented as Chad Henne."
Taylor, who came back to the Dolphins this season after a year with the rival Jets, says there's one man to blame for his departure to New York last season: Bill Parcells.
"You know I'm very comfortable and confident in saying he's the reason why I left Miami," Taylor said. "For whatever reason, Bill and I didn't see eye to eye or I don't even know if we had a chance to see eye to eye, because we never really communicated like that. It was just Bill didn't like me, didn't want me around or whatever."
When Parcells left the team after last season, Taylor says a surprising phone call from Head Coach Tony Sparano helped bring him back to Miami.
"I was curious at first, but with one piece of the puzzle kind of being out of the picture, it didn't...I don't wanna say it didn't surprise me, because I was still surprised, but I thought it would be a lot more productive phone call then if you know it was like it was a year ago," Taylor said.
Taylor, a 15-year NFLer and 6-time Pro Bowler, has played for some colorful coaches, but says former Fins coach Jimmy Johnson was his favorite.
"I love Jimmy Johnson, very very difficult coach, but I learned a ton from him," Taylor said. "He gave me an opportunity, he drafted me, he threw me out there as a puppy and said 'go play.'"
And boy, did he play. Taylor is currently the NFL's active career leader in sacks, and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.
But asked whether he deserves to be in the NFL Hall of Fame, Taylor stays humble.
"No, not yet. Not till they call your name," Taylor said.
Until they do, Taylor continues to do what he does best as a football player, husband, father and philanthropist for his Jason Taylor Foundation.
The 37-year-old says he can still contribute on the field before retiring.
"I do wanna retire as a Miami Dolphin," he said. "I do not plan on leaving here again. Miami is home."
