Friday, December 30, 2011

Taylor to play last game, Tomlinson "could be" too

BY NICK ST. DENIS

One of the era's best defensive players will be competing in his last NFL game Sunday, and an all-time great will be lining up across the way in what could be his final outing.

Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor officially announced Wednesday that he'll call it quits after Sunday's bout with the Jets, and Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson told reporters Thursday that he "could be" playing his last game, as well.

"... there is definitely a thought that this could be because you never know how things shake out,” Tomlinson said. “For me, it just depends on the situation. I’ve said that before. I would love to keep playing, but if the situation is not right, then I won’t. This possibly could be my last game.”

Tomlinson will go down as one of the greatest backs of all time, as he currently sits with the second-most rushing touchdowns and third-most overall touchdowns in NFL history. He'll have a little longer to make his decision if the Jets win and a few other things play out in their favor.

Taylor has 139.5 career sacks, which ranks him sixth all-time. He's currently the NFL's active sack leader.

"This organization here in the near future is going to make some changes and I think part of those changes is needing to address some personnel positions," Taylor told the media Wednesday. "This is the right time for me to go ahead and go and allow this organization to grow and improve.”

Playing his final game against the Jets is only fitting for Taylor, as he spent most of his career competing against Gang Green twice a year and talking a lot of trash to Jets fans before suiting up in New York for a season last year.

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