Hey, um, remember when this happened?  Me neither.

(Though honestly, I found the Dancing with the Stars appearance even more questionable than the New York Jets signing to begin with, but that’s besides the point).

It’s now official – Jason Traitor Taylor is coming back for his third stint with the Miami Dolphins.  He said so on his Facebook page and everything.  Aside from bringing leadership and a veteran locker room presence (and perhaps a copy of the Jets’ playbook?), the two-time Defensive Player of the Year is unlikely to see more than 15-20 snaps per game and add a handful of sacks to his 132.5 career total, barring an injury to Cameron Wake or Koa Misi.  The 36-year-old Taylor is clearly at the tail-end of his Hall of Fame career and should serve as the Dolphins’ third-down down pass rusher and outside linebacker.

Either way, pull out that aqua-and-orange No. 99 jersey from the bottom of your drawer (again) and cheer on one of the greatest Dolphins (and worst Jets and Redskins) players of all-time.  It’s yet another reason to forget all about 2010.

Dolfans NYC rode in to the belly of the beast last weekend.  It is our third group to the Meadowlands to watch our Dolphins take on the New York Jets.  The first year there were only a few of us.  Last year we had about a dozen… This year we bought 63 tickets to the game and held a huge tailgate with tons of Dolphins fans from all over the greater New York area.  The size of the group may be different but the results have been the same time. Dolfans NYC has walked out of that stadium with a victory.

When we showed up to Giants Stadium at 11:30 in the morning it was pouring rain. We had bought a little tent but the wind was blowing so hard we didn’t have any idea how we were going to set it up.  We had a bunch of meat in the car that was getting warm so I got out and put everything into these cheap coolers we bought.  The first cooler ripped to bits when I dropped the ice in and started blowing away. After a fierce struggle I got everything into the other cooler and returned to the car freezing and completely soaked.  Around 12 another car showed up and the rain had let up a little bit.  They were ready to face the elements so we tried to set up this tent tying the thing to the cars with ribbon that Michelle bought to hang up balloons. It was a very haphazard set up but it was good enough to get the grill set up.  When the wind picked up a few minutes later the tent almost blew away but we held it down until the wind actually bent the poles so badly that we had to throw the thing away after the tailgate. At some point the rain slowed to a drizzle and a bunch more Dolphins fans showed up and we had ourselves a party.

Thanks to Buffalo Trace Bourbon for providing us with a lot of free booze for the tailgate!

The game itself was a mess but I had 16 tickets in my section and we just happened to luck out and were sitting with another handful of Phins fans.  We had some very big dudes with us and some very drunk dudes with us and we just ruined the game for every Jets fan around us and that is exactly what we came to do.  In the end the Dolphins won and we were completely drenched and freezing, but we couldn’t be more content as we walked out of Giants Stadium singing the Dolphins fight song.

I uploaded all the photos to my other website.  So click here to check out all the pictures from the Dolfans NYC tailgate.

Ps. Check back tomorrow for info about the big party this weekend at Third & Long!  Raffles, free Buffalo wings and serious drink specials from Buffalo Trace!

Just a few more notes on tomorrows game…
It is going to rain tomorrow. If you are tailgating with us, if you have any sort of tent or covering you can bring please do! We will be doing the tailgate rain or shine but if the rain is really bad we might park in a near by parking garage.

Also remember we will have some food and and some booze but we are looking at probably 100 people for this thing assuming the weather isn’t horrible so we need everyone to bring your own food and booze if you can. If anyone has a grill or any of the normal tailgating stuff bring it. We can’t have too much stuff.

One thing we will have at the tailgate will be Orange Miami Dolphins Rally towels. We had the Dolphins send us a box of 50 towels that they were giving out at the last Jets game. We will be giving them out to anyone who bought tickets with us and hopefully we can fly those Orange towels all day.

If you are planning on tailgating with us and have not done so already email DolfansNYC@Gmail.com with your contact info. We will be emailing everyone as soon as we park and know where we are going to be. We are planning on being there between 11 and 11:30. If you can’t get email on your phone give us your phone number and we will text you. We will also be updating the @dolfansnyc Twitter and updating the Facebook group as soon as we park.

Now, very important. I know with the weather and the Dolphins record some people are trying to get rid of tickets. If you bought your tickets with us you are with a group of Dolphins fans. Do NOT sell your tickets to stub hub or let them fall into Jets fans hands. That would be really unfair to the rest of the group. People bought these not so great 300 level tickets so they could be surrounded by Dolphins fans, people want support in enemy territory. If you have extra tickets please post a message on the Facebook group. If anyone needs tickets, please check the Facebook group. Hopefully we can figure this out.

AGAIN… If you need tickets, please check the Facebook group! Someone will be able to help!

And finally… I just wanted you guys to check out this song by a Miami rapper named Solo D. He writes a song every week about the Dolphins upcoming opponent. His song about the Jets game is amazing. We have already hit him up about doing an official Dolfans NYC song.

Can’t wait until we take over Giants Stadium tomorrow. Go Dolphins!

I really don’t have anything to say about the horrible tragedy that befell Dolphins fans everywhere on Sunday.  The defense embarrassed the team and the fans and the Jets are getting three Pro Bowl type players back in the next few weeks. So I am going to cry myself to sleep and you should check out the photos from the meet up at Third & Long below. If you want to download a photo just click it and it will take you to the Flickr page.

[tylr-slidr userID=”” groupID=””]http://www.flickr.com/photos/dolfansnyc/sets/72157624931959707/[/tylr-slidr]

This is it. This is the game I have had my eye on since the schedule came out. Primetime game against our most hated rivals. Our first home game and a chance to shut Rex Ryan up for a little bit. We are actually favored to win this game and most people are picking us, but I think we are really still underdogs. No one really expects Miami to be 3-0 headed to the MNF game vs New England… But I do.

I am usually pretty pessimistic when it comes to out Phins, they have disappointed too many times, but the Jets are a team I think we match up well against. I simply don’t think the Jets can score against us unless it’s on defense or special teams and I think the Phins have shown that they can put points on the Jets defense.. and that was before they lost some of their star players. Vontae will lock down Edwards if he plays and they are going to have to run on us. I guess we will see what happens. I think we win 13-9 or something boring like that…

The Dolphins will be wearing Orange on Sunday and they are asking the fans in Miami to do the same. I am asking you guys also to wear Orange if you have it. I personally only have an Orange Seau jersey and I will not be wearing that, but I am pretty sure I have an Orange Dolphins shirt somewhere. Also the Dolphins Defensive players have been encouraging people in Miami to howl on big defensive downs. A Dolfans NYC regular named Yonathan led the charge on Twitter for this and it has steamrolled into something that should be pretty fun on Sunday. If anyone is going to the game make sure you Howl like crazy when the Phins need you. I am sure I will be doing some howling myself at Third and Long.

Also, another reminder about tickets for the Jets/Dolphins game in Miami. We have already purchased more than 20 tickets for the game and we want to buy more but we need your money. The tickets are all 300 level endzone tickets, but we will all be sitting near each other. We are trying to buy three full rows. If you want tickets email DolfansNYC@gmail.com to find out how to pay for them online or bring me or Michelle $112 on Sunday at Third & Long.

Lastly, I just wanted to thank everyone for the big crowds we have been having at Third & Long. It’s really great to watch the game and get crazy with fellow Phins fans. I know this game against the Jets is on TV and you can watch it in the comfort of your living room but this is a big game for us and we need you guys out. Let’s cheer our boys on together. I am not %100 sure but I think we will be doing a raffle this week as well. Should be a lot of fun.

Okay, that’s it. I will see you guys out this Sunday night at Third & Long at 35th and 3rd ave. Go Dolphins!

Short Michelle and I will be in Ireland for the next four days – but don’t worry, we’ll be back in time for Sunday night’s game against the New York Jets.  Unfortunately, we won’t have time to film and edit a fantasy football video this week, so here are my picks for Week 3. 

I’m Sorry… How did we do in Week 2?  Pretty, pretty good.  If the Jets and Patriots had both somehow found a way to lose, it would’ve been a perfect week all around. 

Start ‘Em:

David Garrard, Jax QB:  Garrard has thrown 15 TD passes and nine INTs in his last nine home games, compared to just four TDs and a whopping 9 INTs in his last nine road contests.  He’ll face the Eagles, who gave up 335 passing yards to the legendary Shaun Hill, in Jacksonville this week.

Darren McFadden, Oak RB:  McFadden has averaged 152 total yards per game in 2010 and has been powerfully running over defenders.  Where was this last year when I drafted you, Darren?  McFadden is a must-start in all leagues — he faces a Cardinals defense that was shredded for 186 yards and 3 TDs by Falcons backup RB Jason Snelling last week.

Dez Bryant, Cowboys WR:  Did you know that the Houston Texans have allowed the most passing yards (822) through the first two weeks than any team in NFL history?  Joey Galloway (yes, he’s still alive) burned their secondary for a 62-yard catch on Sunday.  Just imagine what the speedy Bryant can do.

Bench ‘Em:

Eli Manning, Giants QB:  The Titans haven’t faced any real NFL QBs yet — Jason Campbell, Dennis Dixon, Charlie Batch — but they’ve still allowed only one TD pass and caused six fumbles in two games.  Manning could be in for another long day.

Brandon Jackson, Packers RB:  Jackson salvaged a terrible game with a TD for fantasy owners, but FB John Kuhn finished with more rushing yards on fewer carries.  Against a Bears defense that has allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league (56 on 1.4 yards per carry), neither Packers RB is even a worthy flex play.

Jets Wide Receivers – This isn’t just a ‘homer’ pick.  Take out a late-game miscue against the Bills, the Dolphins are allowing less than 90 yards per game to WRs.  Play Braylon E-DWI-rds at your own risk.

Think ‘Em:

Sam Bradford, Rams QB – I’d never advocate playing a rookie quarterback on one of the worst teams in the league, but the Redskins have allowed over 390 passing yards per game through the air (Matt Schaub threw for a ridiculous 497 last week) and the second-most fantasy points to QBs.

Keiland Williams, Redskins, RB – Despite scoring a pair of TDs on Sunday, Clinton Portis has averaged 3.1 yards per carry on the year and is always on the injury report.  Backup Larry Johnson had two carries for negative seven yards (how is that even possible?) and has since been released.  While Williams is yet to carry the ball, he could end up being the Redskins’ starter before too long.  

Golden Tate, Seahawks WR – The rookie WR was cut in a lot leagues after being inactive in Week 1, but he made his presence felt last Sunday with a 52-yard catch and a 63-yard punt return.  He’s expected to have a bigger role going forward and certainly has more potential than Mike Williams (still can’t believe he’s a starter in the NFL).

I think we’re done here.  Remember to check DolfansNYC.com – the official home of Miami Dolphins fans in New York – for all of the latest team news, and send us an email if you’d like to be included in an upcoming video.  And of course, stop by Third and Long on 35th Street and 3rd Avenue to watch the games with the rowdiest fans around.  Go Dolphins!

DolfansNYC had a little run in at the 2010 NFL Draft with none other than Paul “Fitzy” Fitzgerald.  Fitzy is some sort of YouTube clown who likes to dance around and make jokes about football.  He was wearing a very cute Brady throwback, which I am sure confused him at first since he probably wasn’t aware New England had a football team before 2001.  Anyway, this guy overcame all the “18 and 1” and  “Fuck Tom Brady” chants long enough to ask some football fans some questions.  I asked him one myself “How’s Wes Welker’s knee doing?”  He had a cute response I am sure, but I try not to pay attention to what anyone from Boston has to say.

Eventually we came together in our hatred of the Jets, and I led DolfansNYC in a lovely J-E-T-S Suck Suck Suck chant around the 3:25 mark in the video. In all seriousness, Fitzy, aka Nick Stevens is a pretty funny dude and this video is well worth watching. Enjoy.

It was a football decision for both sides, plain and simple. The Dolphins wanted the leverage of waiting until after the Draft, while Jason Taylor jumped at an offer he feared wouldn’t be there come April 24.

The 35-year-old linebacker claimed that the New York Jets were the only team that showed interest in signing him, and wanted to continue playing football at the risk of waiting for the Dolphins to make up their mind. A part of me hates him for choosing to go to a rival he’d publicly hated and ridiculed for a dozen years, whose fans, in his own words, “take the ‘cl’ out of class.”

But as Taylor himself has shown, there’s no such thing as loyalty in sports, and I don’t fault him for going to a team that wanted him more (although it still troubles me that Taylor would be satisfied with getting the only ring of his career as a member of the Jets).

I fault him for berating the Dolphins front office for not showing him the respect he deserves when he’s continuously failed to give them the same courtesy.

Two years ago, after the Dolphins finished 1-15, Taylor wanted out of Miami in order to play for a Super Bowl contender in the latter stages of his career. The 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year opted to compete on Dancing With the Stars rather than attend the team’s offseason conditioning program, enraging new head of football operations Bill Parcells. Despite having two years left on his contract, Taylor announced that he only planned to play one more season.

When he was shipped to the Washington Redskins in July 2008, he quickly reversed course and said he’d honor the remaining two years of his deal. Despite his worst season in a decade — just 3.5 sacks in 13 games — the ‘Skins, who finished last in their division, wanted to keep Taylor for another season. But in a feud reminiscent of Dancing-gate, he refused to work out with the team during the offseason in order to spend time with his family, and was soon released.

In May 2009, he signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins, insisting that his heart was always in Miami. After Taylor turned down an extension in November because he felt “it wasn’t the right time,” he said Miami withdrew the proposal and never spoke to him again.

But according to a recent report, he actually declined another offer after the season, which included a significant raise, and the team was unsure if he wanted to continue playing after he underwent late shoulder surgery. By the time he was finally ready to talk, the Dolphins wanted to wait until after the Draft before making a commitment to a player who was on the downside of his stellar career.

Regardless of who’s to be believed, Parcells is as old school as they come and doesn’t let fan sentiment or presumed loyalty influence his business decisions. Hell, he cut Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, who’d just set the NFL rushing record, shortly after coming over to the Dallas Cowboys. Parcells likely believed the team was better without the aging Taylor, even as a situational pass rusher, and certainly wasn’t going to reward him after he turned down at least one confirmed offer.

Watching Taylor line up against Dolphins in Jet green next season will be heartbreaking for many fans, many of whom will never forgive him. The irony is, he essentially chose to sign with the AFC East version of the his old Redskins squad, a New York team that has acquired numerous over-the-hill players to assemble a paper champion that’s destined to finish around .500.

Thanks for the memories, JT, and good luck with your future acting career. And thanks for at least not pulling a Brett Favre and dragging this soap opera through the entire offseason.

I bought a Ted Ginn, Jr. jersey before the start of the 2009 season and targeted him in the middle rounds of my fantasy football drafts.

It’s easy to forget now, but after Ginn’s terrific sophomore campaign, he had “third-year breakout” written all over him.  In 2008 — when the Dolphins went 11-5 and won the AFC East — he led the team in catches (56), receiving yards (790), return yards (711), and all-purpose yards (1,574; 18th in NFL), while scoring four touchdowns (two receiving and two rushing).  Those numbers may not jump off the page, but they stacked up very favorably to several All-Pro wide receivers who blossomed after their second seasons, including Steve Smith (1.0) and Santana Moss (not to mention, Steve Smith (2.0) and Sidney Rice last season).

Of course, Ginn didn’t come close to living up to the expectations thrust upon him as the Dolphins number one WR, taking a major step backwards to the point of being benched in favor of rookie Brian Hartline.  Ginn had only 38 receptions on the year, tied for 69th among WRs, and his 11.95 yards per reception tied him for 68th with 74-year-old 32-year-old Laveranues Coles.  He dropped nine passes — Dolphins fans would argue that’s actually being generous — which tied him for fourth in the league behind Dwayne Bowe (11), Vernon Davis (11), and Santonio Holmes (10).

Despite his struggles on offense, however, Ginn was sensational on special teams.  While his critics often lamented him for avoiding contact by running to the sidelines, Ginn led the league in yards per touch (17.9), ranked fifth in kickoff return yards (1,296), fifth in yards per return (24.92), 10th in all-purpose yards (1,826), and tied for fourth in non-offensive touchdowns (2).

He single-handedly led the Dolphins to a road victory against the New York Jets on November 1, 2009, becoming the first player in NFL history to record two 100-yard return TDs in the same game (and in one quarter, no less), on a day when the Dolphins mustered just 104 total yards on offense.  I proudly wore my Ginn jersey, just as I did on every other game day, and heard his name praised for perhaps the only time that season.

The very next week, the Dolfans’ love-hate relationship with Ginn was right back on, as he was yet again getting blamed for a loss to the New England Patriots.  He managed just one catch for seven yards, dropping several passes late in the game, and wasn’t as dramatically effective in the return game.

Once the Dolphins acquired Brandon Marshall from the Denver Broncos last week, Ginn became immediately expendable.  The San Francisco 49ers acquired him for a fifth-round pick (145th overall), hoping to use him as a situational deep threat while reviving one of the league’s worst return games.  Still only 25 years old and among the fastest and most athletic players in the league, he leaves Miami with 128 catches for 1,664 yards, a modest 34.7 receiving yards per game average, and five receiving touchdowns over three seasons.

For Ginn, it’s a fresh start in a place where he doesn’t have to deal with the giant shadow of being selected ninth overall in 2007, and hearing the boos that have haunted him since draft day, when fans were hoping to land Brady Quinn (how did that one turn out?).   While he certainly didn’t produce as well as expected, he was routinely forced to play a role that wasn’t suited to his strengths and became the scapegoat for the team’s offensive struggles.

Could Ginn have been better utilized in the slot and opposite Marshall, a true number one possession receiver?  Could he have stretched the field and found himself wide open down the field when Marshall faced double teams?  At the very least, could a proven return specialist, whose role will now need to be filled by the undoubtedly slower Davone Bess, Patrick Cobbs, and Brian Hartline, have made the offense more productive and dangerous than any player the Dolphins can draft in the fifth round?

“I wouldn’t say a sense of relief, but it’s always good to have a new start,” Ginn said. “Leaving Miami, I don’t hold any grudges, no bad feelings about anything. My time was up there. I enjoyed it there, and now it’s time to move on.”

I truly hope that he does well in San Fransisco, and while I’ll always cheer for Miami, I’ll be sure sure to wear my Ginn jersey the next time he plays against the Dolphins.

The Dolphins are planning big things for the fans for the upcoming draft.  I just got this in my inbox from the Dolphins.

MiamiDolphins.com will provide live video coverage as General Manager Jeff Ireland hosts his annual pre-draft press conference on Thursday, April 8, 2010, at 12:30 p.m. After the press conference at 1:00 p.m., Ireland will take part in a 30-minute Live Video Chat with Dol-Fans. We ask that fan please be sure to submit your first name, city and state with their question. To submit a question for the Dolphins General Manager, please go to www.MiamiDolphins.com/AskJeffIreland.

Its not often that the Dolphins give access to Jeff, much less fan access, so I hope you guys take the chance to send in a quesiton or two.  I know I have a lot to ask… although very little of it has to do with the draft.

I think my first question might be HOW THE HELL DO YOU LET JASON TAYLOR VISIT THE STINKING JETS!!!?!?!!!??

Good lord, my heart is breaking today.  Let’s just hope this is a smoke screen that actually works in getting JT signed for another two years.  I want him to retire a Phin and it’s not like we are swimming in pass rushers…

On a club update, we are trying to organize a trip to watch the first round of the draft live.  We wanted to do a draft party, but I think we instead are going to bring out a group to the draft.  Hopefully we will have t-shirts by then! Get excited.

And lastly, remember to check out Run Ricky Run on ESPN on April 27th.  It should be really intresting.

Go Dolphins!