Reiss: Patriots Still Interested in Taylor

From Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe:

The Patriots have reached out once again to free agent defensive end Jason Taylor in an attempt to woo him to New England, according to an NFL source. The club did not draft a pass-rushing outside linebacker last weekend, and Taylor could help fill that void.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft has said if Taylor, 34, wants to play in New England, it could happen.

The team appears to be stepping up its recruiting efforts, as the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported yesterday that the Patriots have “strong interest” in Taylor, who plans to make a final decision within two weeks.

Taylor has also spoken with the Dolphins, although they haven’t been aggressive, and the Buccaneers are another option, the Sun-Sentinel reported. Tampa Bay’s defensive coordinator, Jim Bates, has ties to Taylor from his tenure as Miami’s defensive coordinator.

I guess this means that I was wrong in my draft day theory.  I felt that when the Patriots passed on taking an outside linebacker day one, that meant that the team had some confidence in Pierre Woods/Shawn Crable.  Still, I’d love to see Jason Taylor brought in, just not in an every down role, and not for much more than the minimum.