Newly acquired Jason Taylor has been introduced by the Redskins at a news conference.  The 33-year-old Pro Bowl defensive end from the Miami Dolphins was picked up Sunday by the Burgundy and Gold for two draft picks.  Last season in Miami, Taylor had 55 tackles, 11 sacks and an interception.  He has been selected for the Pro Bowl six times. 

Taylor fell out of favor with Bill Parcells of the Dolphins for appearing on “Dancing With The Stars” on network television.  While admitting to having ambitions to star in Hollywood, Taylor says he isn’t ready to hang up his helmet and pads yet.  He was acquired after Washington lost Phillip Daniels and Alex Buzbee from the defensive line to injuries Sunday on the first day of training camp.

The Washington Redskins acquired DE Jason Taylor from the Miami Dolphins. The Skins gave up a 2009 Second Round pick and a 2010 Sixth Round pick to get the 11-year veteran.

According to reports the Redskins will not have to negotiate a new deal with Taylor as he will honor the deal he has in place. There still is no guarantee for the the Skins that Taylor will play beyond this year. Taylor has stated previously this would be his last year.

“We’re fortunate there was a guy that caliber on the market when somebody got hurt,” Washington executive vice president Vinny Cerrato said. “Normally, in most years, there’s not a guy of that caliber on the market.”

Taylor has started every game each of the past eight years. He had 11 sacks during the 2007 season, giving him 117 over his career.

“His play speaks for itself. I think it’s easy to talk about Jason Taylor. He’s got statistics and everything else to back up everything that he’s done,” Cerrato said.

He is expected to report to Redskins Training camp on Monday.

In the world of the NFL you always hear about players suffering strange injuries, and the following for sure falls in that category. The Palm Beach Post is reporting that Dolphins QB Josh McCown, who was brought in this past offseason to compete for the starting QB job, injured his index finger doing of all things - chopping wood.

Yes, McCown according to the story, hurt the hand two weeks ago and a TV station reports that he needed six stitches on the finger to sew it up. The Texas TV station says that Josh and brother Luke McCown were cutting firewood when the injury took place. There is no word if the injury is going to sideline McCown for when the Fins start training camp.

One thing is for sure, if it does, it will likely give the early lead in the QB race to John Beck, and maybe even push McCown down past rookie QB Chad Henne, who at some point is expected to be the starter in the future. Let’s hope McCown hires someone to cut his firewood in the future.

We’ve been mowing through the offseason with the best and worst, and to date covered each side of the offensive side of the ball, and have thrown out the five best defenses heading into training camp. Now we finish up our series with the five teams that we feel are going to have the worst defenses as training camp starts in the next few weeks:

1. Atlanta - The poor Falcons were not very good last season, and that fact will be the case again in 2008. In 07 they allowed 355.5 yards per game, and don’t forget they got rid of one of their best defensive players - CB DeAngelo Hall. They will count on 2nd round pick Curtis Lofton to play the MLB spot so Keith Brooking can move to his natural weak-side spot. SS Lawyer Milloy is winding down his career, and the team did next to nothing to improve the D-line. It’ll be a long season for the Birds.

2. Kansas City - In a full rebuild mode in KC, this unit is going to have its issues - again. They moved unhappy but sack happy Jared Allen, and hope that youth will be served on the line, and Glenn Dorsey will live up to the hype. We’ll see. In their 9-game losing streak last year, they allowed over 190 yards rushing in those games, and teams seemed to score in bunches. The starting secondary is old, and by the early to mid-part of the year there will be a lot of changes in this unit.

3. Detroit - The Lions allowed a whopping 377 yards per game last year, and they have plenty of question marks up and down the defense again this year. They traded Shaun Rogers, who underperformed to the Browns, and are counting on players like Cory Redding and pickup Chuck Darby to lead the D-line. They let LB’s Boss Bailey and Teddy Lehman go in free agency, and will have Ernie Sims, Jordan Dizon and Paris Lenon as the starters there. The secondary allowed passers to complete 70 percent of passes last year, a number they have to improve on in 08.

4. Miami - Sorry Fin Fans, the Dolphins D is going to be in a transition mode this season, and that means new coach Tony Sparano is going to have growing pains with this unit. There is talent here, as yougnsters Matt Roth and Quentin Moses should have time to develop on the line. They will miss the leadership of Zach Thomas, and the possibility of them moving Jason Taylor seems high still. The secondary has few playmakers, and the LB core needs more from mouthy Joey Porter and Channing Crowder, who needs to make more plays.

5. Cleveland - While the offense in Cleveland can score with the best of them, the defense still has work to do. This was an area the team looked to upgrade big time this offseason, which is why they traded for the Packers Corey Williams and Lions Shaun Rogers to help on the line. The secondary is a huge problem area, as they moved Leigh Bodden in the Rogers deal, and will need Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald to really step up. This unit can be better, but there’s still much to be concerned about here.

Drexel Perry - Total Titans

Cowboys vs Redskins

Just as the Cowboys and the Indians battled each other in Western movies, the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins have had their share of violent skirmishes on the gridiron.

Highlights of one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries include head-to-head battles in two NFC Championship Games, with the Redskins winning both of those contests (1972, 1982). In 1989, a shocking 13-3 victory over the Redskins gave the Cowboys their only win in Jimmy Johnson’s forgettable 1-15 debut as an NFL head coach.

Toss the W-L records out of the window, because you can expect a full-fledged war each time two of the NFL’s flagship franchises face off during their bi-annual NFC East grudge matches.

Brian Miller - Phinphanatic.com

An AFC East Point Of View

Breaking down rivalries in the AFC East is no easy task. Ask a Bills fan..he says Miami, ask a Pats fan and he says Miami, ask a Jets fan and he will throw bottles and batteries…at Miami. Ask a Miami fan
and the answer is not so clear.

While the Dolphins and Patriots have had some memorable games, the Bills and Jets would probably fall into a more “bitter” rivalry. In the 1990’s the Bills and Dolphins rekindled a dwindled rivalry with
epic games between Dan Marino and Jim Kelly. Despite the Bills and the Bryan Cox 2 finger salutes to the Bills crowd, it is the Jets that make Miami fans and players’ blood boil. A long history that dates
back to the Don Shula led Colts losing in Super Bowl III, the Dolphins and Jets have had some amazing and memorable games. From ultra high-scoring affairs to a fake spike, from a Monday night miracle
comeback to a rain soaked playoff game. If you want rivalry. Bitter hold no bar rivalry, you don’t have to look any further than north on interstate 95.

The NFL has had some great rivalries over the years. The 49ers vs. Cowboys during the 1990s was awesome. The Colts and Patriots in recent years has been the best in the NFL. The historical rivalries that include Packers vs. Bears and Steelers vs. Browns are steeped in tradition. But there is one rivalry that stands far above the others.

A Media Member Who Has Covered the NFL for Over 13 Years

The Raiders vs. Anybody

True, this rivalry isn’t what it used to be because the Raiders are just so bad. Still, no team draws as much ire and vitriol like the Raiders. Maybe it’s the fans – because it isn’t about what they have done on the field in recent years – but teams still enjoy beating the Raiders. A lot. Especially the teams AFC West opponents. And really, that doesn’t seem like it will die down in the near future.

Matt Loede - NFLGridironGab

Pittsburgh vs Cleveland

Being in Cleveland the rivals of the Browns over the years include the Bengals and Ravens, but no rivalry is quite as heated as the one against the city about 90 miles away - Pittsburgh. The Steelers and Browns have had some fierce battles over the years, and despite the fact that the Steelers have owned the series since the Browns return since 1999, this one continues to be a good one, and in 2008 it should only get better.

Maybe former Lions RB Kevin Jones is not as wanted as he may thinks by teams around the league. If that is not the case, why would only four teams, including his old team, have showed up for his workout on Saturday as he shows that he’s fully recovered from a right knee injury suffered last December. On hand to watch Jones work out were the Dolphins, Packers, Steelers and the afore mentioned Lions.

Word is the Browns were also in the mix, not being at the workout but asking for a tape of the workout. “All the teams basically said they were amazed by what Kevin can do,” said Dr. D.S. Ping, who has been helping Jones rehabilitate his knee. Jones did the basics, including a shuttle run on wet grass which he did in 4.3 seconds. He also ran around cones and caught passes.

Jones had said earlier in the offseason that there were numerous teams interested in his services, and that money was going to be a big factor. He made it known that he was interested in playing for his hometown of Philly, so one has to wonder if Pittsburgh, at least in the same state, has some sort of inside track. The Steelers did dump RB Najeh Davenport Friday, maybe in looking at taking a run at Jones.

There are still other backs on the market, including Shaun Alexander, Cedric Benson, Ron Dayne, Travis Henry, and Chris Henry, for teams to choose from.

It is hard to believe, but it appears that no less than seven teams are interested in the services of former Saints and Browns OL LeCharles Bentley, who asked for and got his release from the Browns two weeks ago.  Bentley feels that he is healthy and can be a starter on a team this season, but it’s going to up to the team that he eventually signs with to figure that out.

Adam Schefter of NFL Network put out a list of the seven teams, breaking down as follows:

Buffalo - The Bills O-line was better in 07 than 06, but could use some help.  They need to make sure to get Jason Peters signed, and they have Melvin Folwer as their center, a good, but not great player.

Cincinnati - They need some help up front, and if Bentley is going to line up at center, it’s a position they can use, with right now Eric Ghiaciuc listed as the starting snapper.  Staying in the North means he can stick it to the Browns as well.

Miami - Bentley can teach some traits to #1 pick Jake Long, and probably take some playing time away from center Samson Satele.  The line needs some experience, and Bentley can add that.

Oakland - The silver and black were 6th in the league in rushing last year, and while they could use some depth, I can’t see him wrestling away a starting job on this already pretty good line.

Pittsburgh - The issues on the O-line were well documented for the Steelers in 2007, and now that Alan Faneca is gone, it’s still a problem spot.  They will have 2-3 new starters on the line this year, and while they already brought in a center in Justin Hartwig, Bentley might be an interesting fit here.

St. Louis - This is the top spot in my opinion for Bentley to land.  The Rams lost out on Barry Sims this week to the Niners, and have been looking hard at the O-line market since they were so banged up there last year.  Mark Setterstrom will be the center in 08, and he can be displaced if Bentley signs.

San Francisco - This may have been a more pressing need before they got Sims this week, but the Niners want to upgrade the O-line still, and would love to add someone like Bentley that can teach youngsters like Chilo Rachal and last years #1 Joe Staley.

Seattle - Walter Jones is coming off another shoulder surgery, and the middle three spots are trouble issues, which is why Bentley is getting consideration here. Center Chris Spencer has offseason thumb surgery, making a run at Bentley even more of a possibility.

For some reason Daunte Culpepper must think he is a better QB than he is. Otherwise, why would have he recently turned down a reported one-year offer to go play for a playoff contender - the Green Bay Packers. The story hit a few days ago about Culpepper turning the offer down, but the QB today confirmed it.

“It just wasn’t good for either side,” said Culpepper. “I hope that, you know, that’s what I want (to be a starting QB), in a perfect world. But we’ll see what happens, I’m just waiting for the right situation for me. I’m in talks with a couple of different teams right now.”

Let’s see, Culpepper didn’t exactly light it up last season when he played for the Raiders. It took him awhile to finally get a shot at the starting job, only getting it when Josh McCown got hurt. Then, when he did have a chance to play, he was blah at beat. He played in 7 games, throwing for 1331 yards, 5 TD’s and 5 picks. He had an average QB rating of 78.

The former Vikings and Dolphins QB is his own agent, and if he likes it or not, he’s costing himself money by thinking higher of himself then he is. The 31-year-old has been a shell of a QB since tearing his knee three years ago, and he’d better stop turning offers down - before he finds himself watching games from his living room this fall.