Jason Taylor a Starter Again? Odd Situation in Miami Could Pave the Way

DAVIE, Fla. -- When Jason Taylor returned to the Dolphins in May, he agreed to become a third-down, pass rush specialist. Matt Roth was entrenched as Miami's starting strongside linebacker, meaning Taylor would serve as the backup.

But after five practices at the Dolphins' training camp, Roth finds himself playing the role of a spectator while Taylor works as the starter.

Roth has been dealing with a mysterious injury that has the team baffled -- and maybe a little angry. After Miami's first practice on Sunday, Roth told coach Tony Sparano that he had an illness. Roth didn't complete his conditioning drills, and Monday, the team put him on the PUP/non-football illness list.

Roth had offseason surgery on his groin but has told Sparano it's fine. Roth's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told a Miami-area television station, though, that Roth has a groin problem.

That was news to Sparano, who on Tuesday said Roth will get further tests.

"No, no further clarity with Matt," Sparano said. "We're going to investigate."

This is the type of drama a team like the Dolphins doesn't need right now.

Sparano is a man who doesn't put up with games -- an attitude shared by one of his bosses, vice president of football operations, Bill Parcells.

The Dolphins are coming off an 11-5 season, where they won the AFC East and surprised everyone by grinding out games behind a rookie head coach. Sparano is no rookie when it comes to dealing with madness. He coached in Dallas from 2003 to 2007, and dealt with Terrell Owens for two of those years.

So Roth's situation is wearing his patience.

"Going into the conditioning tests, in my mind, he was healthy," Sparano said. "At the end of the conditioning tests, it didn't go well. We sat down and we talked, and he said he was sick."


Roth finished fifth in total tackles for the Dolphins last season, and second in sacks with five, so his absence is noticeable.

This is where Taylor comes in.

Nobody has more sacks since 2000 than Taylor with 104 . He is 14th on the all-time list among sack leaders with 120 1/2.

Sparano knows what he has in Taylor, who looks bigger and faster in some of the practices here than he did when he was in Washington last season. He should help the defense improve on the 40-sack total it registered in 2008.

Taylor is on the backside of his career, but he's probably better than Roth.

Roth needs to be honest with Sparano, and let him know what's really going on with his health. At this point, Sparano and the entire Miami organization is searching for answers.

Sparano even said Roth had some blood work done. Blood work for a groin injury?

Roth is not expected to practice at all Tuesday, and he's questionable for Miami's lone practice on Wednesday, too.

Maybe things will get better in the next couple of days for Roth and the Dolphins, who have been essentially drama-free since former head coach Cam Cameron was let go following the 2007 season. If not, Taylor appears ready to step in.

"I have been pleased in two practices because we had full pads on, and we were running a lot of power football plays that the outside linebackers need to be able to take on, and I was pleased with what Jason did out there," Sparano said. "So, I am not sure what [we] lose or gain at the end of all this. I am certainly not going to say [we lose] because I have a lot of confidence in Jason Taylor as well."