The Final Chapter

Taylor was carried off the field Sunday,
following Miami's 19-17 win.

Sunday not only marked the final game of 2011-12 season for the Miami Dolphins, but it was the final four quarters in the illustrious career of 15-year veteran Jason Taylor.

Taylor, 37, announced Wednesday, Dec. 28 of his intention to retire following the Dolphin's Week 17 game against the New York Jets, the team he played for just a year ago, ending one of greatest careers in NFL history.

The former Akron standout was drafted by Miami in the third-round of the 1997 NFL Draft, 73rd overall. That season Taylor appeared in 13 games, 11 of those coming as a starter. It wouldn't be until the the turn of the century that Taylor would really make his mark on the NFL. In 2000, it was the first time in Taylor's career he started all 16 regular season games and he rewarded then-first-year head coach Dave Wannstedt, recording 14.5 sacks and being named to his first of six Pro Bowls.

Two years later, Taylor led the NFL and tied a Dolphin team record with 18.5 sacks. That alone earned him the '02 AFC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Following three more fantastic seasons in South Beach, Taylor had the best season of his career in '06. Taylor sacked opposing quarterbacks 13.5 times that season while forcing nine fumbles, recovering two fumbles and intercepting two passes, both in which were returned for touchdowns.

That campaign not only earned Taylor his second AFC Defensive Player of Year Award, but he was also named the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, an award given out annually to the the league's top defensive player.

Prior to the '08 season, Taylor was traded to the Washington Redskins in exchange for Washington's second-round pick in '09 and sixth-round pick in '10. But Taylor was ineffective most of his stay in the nation's captial, playing in only 13 games, the lowest total since his rookie season. That season Taylor would also start a then-career-low 8 games and see only 3.5 sacks next to his name at the end of the season.

The Redskins released the All-Pro in March of '09 and shortly there after, Taylor would sign on for his second stint with Miami.That was short lived as well, as Taylor signed with the division rival Jets following the '09 season.

There Taylor would reach the AFC Championship game for the first time in his career, but New York ultimately fell short and Taylor's longtime dream of playing in a Super Bowl came crashing down.

Following the heartbreaking loss, Taylor decide to return to where it all began for one final hurrah. Taylor started only one game for the Fins this season, but managed to rack up 7 sacks. And in his last game as a professional, Taylor went out a winner.

Despite Taylor's fumble return for a touchdown being overturned, the 6-foot-6 linebacker pressured New York quarterback Mark Sanchez into throwing his third interception of game and sealing Miami's sixth and final victory of the season, 19-17.

In the traditional victory formation, Taylor lined up as a tailback for the final two plays of the game, watching the clock tick away on his NFL career and after many hugs and tears, the soon-to-be Hall of Famer was carried off the field.

Taylor finishes his career with 773 tackles, 47 forced fumbles and 29 fumble recoveries. He is the all-time leader in NFL history with 6 fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns and second in fumble recovery yards with 246. Also retiring as the active sack leader, Taylor is sixth on the all-time list with 139.5 sacks.

The sun has finally set on a Dolphin now ready to explore the rest of the deep blue sea.

Newton's Law

Newton will lead an inexperienced Panthers
team into the NFL regular season.

When Cam Newton arrived in Carolina earlier this summer not only did he become Jimmy Clausen's newest teammate, but biggest rival. Clausen didn't buy into all the hype and his colligate accolades, refusing to surrender his jersey number 2 to the former Auburn Tiger standout, a number Newton he worn while playing in Alabama.

He will however be surrendering his job as the Panthers starting signal caller.

Despite being trounced by the defending American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers 33-17 in their fourth and final preseason game Thursday, first-year head coach Ron Rivera named Newton his starter under center for their Week 1 season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, Sept. 11.

Newton orchestrated a nine-play, 71-yard drive in the first quarter that saw him run for 19 yards and was capped off by throwing his first professional touchdown pass. A 10-yard strike to tight end Jeremy Shockey, tying the score.

Newton's final preseason numbers consist of him completing 24 of 57 pass attempts for 300 yards, 1 TD with 0 interceptions. Much like in college, Newton used his speed and athleticism to move through defenses, scrambling for 86 yards and a score.

Throwing Newton right into the fire has become a theme over the last couple of seasons, with many teams believing in their rookie quarterbacks and it yielding results.

In 2008 two rookie quarterbacks stepped into the lime light for their respective teams and thrilled NFL fans. Matt Ryan took over for the suspended Michael Vick in Atlanta and led the Falcons to an 11-5 record along with a playoff berth. Joe Flacco did the same in Baltimore after being drafted in the first-round out of Delaware, leading a veteran team all the way to the AFC Championship game.

Following in his footsteps would be current New York Jets' quarterback Mark Sanchez. New York drafted Sanchez with the fifth overall pick in 2009 and then help guide them to the AFC Championship game, somewhere they have been both years Sanchez has maned the huddle.

Although both Flacco and Sanchez were beneficiaries of having top notch defenses on their side en route to their deep postseason runs.

The Lions' Matthew Stafford was yet another rookie quarterback that was set to start for his team in '09, but was limited to just 10 games after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury early.

In his sophomore season, Bradford looks to seize
control of a weak NFC West.

St. Louis' Sam Bradford is the most recent rookie to post an impressive first-year campaign, throwing for 3,512 yards with 18 TDs and 15 INTs. While Bradford did not lead the Rams to a playoff appearance, he was however named the NFL's AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, becoming the fourth quarterback in the last 7 years to do so and the first since Ryan received the honor in '08.

Just like every first-year player, Newton is going to have his fair share of rookie mistakes and breakdowns, but with the explosiveness of running back DeAngelo Williams and rare combination of speed and power of linebacker Jon Beason, the Panthers' stock could be well on the rise.

The Cam Newton Era in Carolina is underway.