Jason Taylor is a Dolphin once again.
The 36-year-old defensive end signed a deal to return to the team that drafted him in 1997, where he will shore up Miami's pass rush and serve as a mentor to young teammates Cameron Wake and Koa Misi.
"I understand how old I am," he said Monday afternoon, proclaiming himself happy to be back in the uniform he wore for his first 11 years in the NFL, and again for the 2009 season.
"This is home," he said. "It fits. It's easy. It works."
Tayor said he heard from the New York Jets after the lockout ended, and was interested in returning to Miami's longtime conference rival for a second season until he got a call from the Dolphins.
"The change of heart was simply Tony [Sparano] reaching out and having interest," he said, declining to revisit drama that surrounded his last departure, when the Dolphins reportedly stopped returning the future franchise honor roll-er's calls.
He did, however, address a little previous drama when pressed by NBCMiami.
"Do I think I'd be here if Bill Parcells was still here? No. It's as simple as that. I think it's very easy to see and figure out, and we'll leave it at that."
Taylor first announced the signing via his Jason Taylor Foundation Facebook page.
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"Jason is coming home to MIAMI and will once again proudly wear the aqua and orange! He hasn’t told anyone yet, so let’s just keep this between us! Shhh!" the post read.
Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed.
Taylor started his career with Miami after the team drafted him in the third round of the 1997 draft out of Akron.
He's played in six Pro Bowls during his first stint in Miami from 1997-2007, also winning the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the year. In his first 11 seasons, Taylor amassed 117 sacks and co-anchored the Dolphins defense with his brother-in-law, linebacker Zach Thomas.
After a season in Washington, Taylor played with the Dolphins a second time in 2009, collecting seven sacks and 42 tackles in a supporting role.
Taylor left again, under not so happy terms and played with the New York Jets in 2010, to the consternation of many Dolphins fans upset the former franchise face was effectively shunned by then-team president Bill Parcells.
If Taylor comes cheap and gives the same type of production he did with the Jets, he could be a steal for Miami.
Miami also signed offensive tackle Marc Colombo to a deal Monday, Sparano said.
