Fish out of water

In a league where mimicry is king, who is Redskins owner Dan Snyder to buck trends?

The New York Giants' three-headed defensive end rotation of Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora won the G-men the Superbowl back in January, and has since sent the league into a pass-rush frenzy. Their NFC East rival, the Washington Redskins, has seized the opportunity to follow the leader.

Upon the season-ending injury of end Phillip Daniels during 7-on-7 drills recently, the Redskins traded for Pro Bowl end Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins. Miami's trade of the former Defensive Player of the Year is perhaps the least surprising bit of news in the NFL since Brett Favre's announcement that he's considering coming out of retirement. The Redskins sent their 2009 second-round pick along with a sixth rounder in 2010 in exchange for Taylor.

So who came out on top in this trade? For once, I'd say that Snyder made a rational decision, balancing both a need for caution and a pressing sense of urgency. The Redskins clearly got the better end of the deal. Moreso, I might say that Taylor came out a winner as well, getting away from a 1-15 team in an offseason boiling over with controversy onto a generally competetive team.

The Redskins ended up with an upgrade at the position (whether the trade talks were in place before or after Daniels' injury), replacing an injured player who only had 2 sacks last year to a 6-time Pro Bowler with 11 sacks to his credit in 2007. With Taylor agreeing to continue the rest of his two-year contract without alteration, he's the perfect way to bolster the Skins' defense, which ranked near the middle of the league in almost every category, in the short term.

What does this trade further highlight? Miami lord emperor vice president of football operations Bill Parcells is becoming less of a brilliant strategist and more of a stubborn mule with each passing season. Parcells has had a wonderful time finding a whipping post with which to assert his dominance upon arriving at any of his new locations. I could understand the release of veteran MLB Zach Thomas. But apparently that wasn't enough for the Tuna, who felt the need to alienate and ultimately drive out the only great player on a downright miserable defense. He may be pushing for youth with the newly acquired future draft picks and Matt Roth and rookie Phillip Merling filling the starting roles at ends in the 4-3, but he surely won't stay with the Dolphins long enough to see the fruits of that labor -- as unlikely as they are to materialize as a positive force.

Miami is plagued with a secondary with little talent and no depth. Take away a Jason Taylor-caliber pass rusher and you're left with a defense standing ready to make even whoever starts for the Jets or Bills look like a superstar. It's painful to even think of what Tom Brady and the Pats will do to that squad. Miami might as well start planning their #1 pick in the 2009 draft now.