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Taylor v. Merriman

On ESPN today, I saw two analysts debate recent comments made by the Miami Dolphins' Jason Taylor, who suggested that San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman perhaps shouldn't go to the Pro Bowl or win the NFL's defensive player of the year award in a year when he served a four-game suspension for steroid use.

"You really shouldn't be able to fail a test like that and play in this league, to begin with," Taylor said Wednesday. "To make the Pro Bowl and all the other awards, I think you're walking a fine line of sending the wrong message."

It's an interesting argument. Wait, no it isn't. Should you really win an award like that if you so blatantly cheated? Probably not. But I don't think Merriman deserves it anyway.

The linked article (by the AP on ESPN.com) suggests that Merriman is Taylor's "chief rival" for the defensive player of the year award. If Taylor's candidacy makes you do a double-take, reconsider. This is not the baffling "The Dolphins are actually good" hype of seasons past. Taylor's play has finally matched his metrosexuality. He's got thirteen and a half sacks and forced nine fumbles. He's even returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns.

Merriman, on the other hand, has sixteen sacks to his name, but is behind with four forced fumbles and one interception. Of course, he also missed four games to the aforementioned suspension, which is the main knock against him. That's a lot of time to miss. (Then again, it also means he's been more dominant when he's on the field. For example, he's had three games of at least three sacks.)

I think it's clear that Taylor has had the better season end-to-end. (And to me, missing four games is significant enough regardless of the reason.) But who says it comes down to those two anyway?

What about Champ Bailey? No, he's not really as invincible as people say, but his nine interceptions lead the league and his twenty passes defensed tie for the best in football. (And he's clutch-six of the picks happened no more than three yards from Denver's end zone.) And, even though he's just a corner, Bailey's 81 tackles-69 solo-far outpace the totals of either Taylor or Merriman, both of whom probably play alongside superior teammates. Bailey's having the best season of any cornerback I've ever seen, and he deserves this year's NFL defensive player of the year award.

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