Jason Taylor

No two situations are ever completely analogous, but for those wondering how the Brett Favre situation will play out in the end, look no further than what happened over the weekend to defensive end Jason Taylor. Certainly Taylor is no Favre in terms of the transcendental impact on a region or state, but there are more than a few commonalities. Both have been face-of-the-franchise players, both are future Hall of Famers, both have spent more than a decade with the same team. The biggest difference is that the Miami Dolphins are in the midst of a blow-it-up, start-over renovation that even Taylor's biggest fans in South Florida knew meant his time there was over.

Shocking bulletin from the Big Apple: New York is officially agog at the Jets signing of Tim Tebow. "Linsanity" is so yesterday. Now it's all about "Timsanity. " The New York media is reacting to the Jets' controversial signing in its usual under-stated way. The New York Daily News has a cartoon of the Statue of Liberty on its cover. The New York Post ran a front-page headline that blared: "GOD HIM!" And it's all Tim Tebow, all the time on talk radio and the TV sports show.

Chiefs -- Out: DT Ryan Sims (foot). Questionable: CB Dexter McCleon (groin); WR Samie Parker (knee); T Kevin Sampson (illness). Probable: TE Jason Dunn (knee); RB Larry Johnson (quadriceps); LB Gary Stills (shoulder); G Brian Waters (knee); S Greg Wesley (back). Dolphins -- Questionable: LB Junior Seau (calf); DE Jason Taylor (foot).

Rex Ryan is going to have to be part coach, part chemist this season. The Jets coach, whose team surprisingly came within a victory of the Super Bowl last season, let three locker-room fixtures go — Thomas Jones, Alan Faneca and Leon Washington — and made some high-profile and dicey additions, including Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie, LaDainian Tomlinson and Jason Taylor. The football world will get an up-close view of what unfolds, as the Jets are the featured team on HBO's reality series "Hard Knocks."

1 You should be dancin': Jason Taylor (left) is a game-time decision for the Redskins-Giants opener, but NBC (chs. 11, 4 at 7 p.m.) should invite Dancing With the Stars judges to critique him. 2 Baysox, Part Deux: Game 2 of a best-of-five series between the Baysox and Akron Aeros at 7:05 p.m. in Bowie. Taunt the opponents for not knowing the word is spelled a-r-r-o-w-s. 3 Positive O's news: Guaranteed, the Orioles won't lose today. 4 Game for Gamecocks: South Carolina threw four interceptions last week and still beat North Carolina State, 34-0.

Time: 9, chs. 2, 7.Line: Dolphins by 3 1/2.Vs. spread: Jets 6-6; Dolphins 6-8.Last week: Jets beat Cowboys, 22-21. Dolphins beat Chargers, 12-9.Series: Dolphins lead 34-32-1.Last meeting: Jets won, 28-20, on Dec. 12 at New York.Outlook: The Dolphins are staggering down the homestretch, but they managed to end their three-game losing streak with an ugly but crucial victory over San Diego last week. Beating New York will be tough, however, as the Jets seem to be relishing their spoiler status.

This was the third season in which the Miami Dolphins led the NFL in pass defense. The first two times that happened, the Dolphins wound up in the Super Bowl. Elvis Grbac and the Ravens' inconsistent passing game will be on the spot at Pro Player Stadium, where visitors have found it difficult to throw against a Dolphins defense that includes cornerbacks Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain, middle linebacker Zach Thomas and end Jason Taylor. The Dolphins allowed a league-low 176.8 yards passing this season.

Rex Ryan is going to have to be part coach, part chemist this season. The Jets coach, whose team surprisingly came within a victory of the Super Bowl last season, let three locker-room fixtures go — Thomas Jones, Alan Faneca and Leon Washington — and made some high-profile and dicey additions, including Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie, LaDainian Tomlinson and Jason Taylor. The football world will get an up-close view of what unfolds, as the Jets are the featured team on HBO's reality series "Hard Knocks."

Canton Square has a new resident. If all goes according to plan, Granite Bar and Grill should be opening this week in the space previously known as Rick's Cafe Americain. It's a space that owners Kristi and Jason Taylor are very familiar with; Jason Taylor says he bartended and managed Rick's for more than five years. There's a lot the couple has done with that space. Jason Taylor says he and his wife wanted to give their place a sleek, citified "classy but casual" feel. And the name certainly gives you an idea of how they did it. Taylor says the horseshoe-shaped bar is covered in black galaxy granite.

Shocking bulletin from the Big Apple: New York is officially agog at the Jets signing of Tim Tebow. "Linsanity" is so yesterday. Now it's all about "Timsanity. " The New York media is reacting to the Jets' controversial signing in its usual under-stated way. The New York Daily News has a cartoon of the Statue of Liberty on its cover. The New York Post ran a front-page headline that blared: "GOD HIM!" And it's all Tim Tebow, all the time on talk radio and the TV sports show.

1 You should be dancin': Jason Taylor (left) is a game-time decision for the Redskins-Giants opener, but NBC (chs. 11, 4 at 7 p.m.) should invite Dancing With the Stars judges to critique him. 2 Baysox, Part Deux: Game 2 of a best-of-five series between the Baysox and Akron Aeros at 7:05 p.m. in Bowie. Taunt the opponents for not knowing the word is spelled a-r-r-o-w-s. 3 Positive O's news: Guaranteed, the Orioles won't lose today. 4 Game for Gamecocks: South Carolina threw four interceptions last week and still beat North Carolina State, 34-0.

No two situations are ever completely analogous, but for those wondering how the Brett Favre situation will play out in the end, look no further than what happened over the weekend to defensive end Jason Taylor. Certainly Taylor is no Favre in terms of the transcendental impact on a region or state, but there are more than a few commonalities. Both have been face-of-the-franchise players, both are future Hall of Famers, both have spent more than a decade with the same team. The biggest difference is that the Miami Dolphins are in the midst of a blow-it-up, start-over renovation that even Taylor's biggest fans in South Florida knew meant his time there was over.

Willis McGahee gets a chance to change his history against the Miami Dolphins, the Ravens' opponent Sunday. In six career meetings with the Dolphins, the running back has eclipsed the 100-yard mark just once and posted one rushing touchdown. As a member of the Buffalo Bills, McGahee averaged 3.4 yards per carry against his former AFC East rival, which lagged behind his average against the New York Jets (5.1) and New England Patriots (3.8). "I've had some good games," said McGahee, who has compiled at least 85 rushing yards in four of the six games against his hometown team.

Canton Square has a new resident. If all goes according to plan, Granite Bar and Grill should be opening this week in the space previously known as Rick's Cafe Americain. It's a space that owners Kristi and Jason Taylor are very familiar with; Jason Taylor says he bartended and managed Rick's for more than five years. There's a lot the couple has done with that space. Jason Taylor says he and his wife wanted to give their place a sleek, citified "classy but casual" feel. And the name certainly gives you an idea of how they did it. Taylor says the horseshoe-shaped bar is covered in black galaxy granite.

Chiefs -- Out: DT Ryan Sims (foot). Questionable: CB Dexter McCleon (groin); WR Samie Parker (knee); T Kevin Sampson (illness). Probable: TE Jason Dunn (knee); RB Larry Johnson (quadriceps); LB Gary Stills (shoulder); G Brian Waters (knee); S Greg Wesley (back). Dolphins -- Questionable: LB Junior Seau (calf); DE Jason Taylor (foot).

This was the third season in which the Miami Dolphins led the NFL in pass defense. The first two times that happened, the Dolphins wound up in the Super Bowl. Elvis Grbac and the Ravens' inconsistent passing game will be on the spot at Pro Player Stadium, where visitors have found it difficult to throw against a Dolphins defense that includes cornerbacks Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain, middle linebacker Zach Thomas and end Jason Taylor. The Dolphins allowed a league-low 176.8 yards passing this season.

They are respectful of each other's Pro Bowl talent, so much so that neither would say much except how good the other player is. Ravens left tackle Jonathan Ogden and Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor will square off during Sunday's wild-card playoff game at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. When speaking of Taylor, one of the league's fastest pass rushers, Ogden, as he usually does, took the high road. "He's a good player," Ogden said. "I've just got to go out there and get it done.

Willis McGahee gets a chance to change his history against the Miami Dolphins, the Ravens' opponent Sunday. In six career meetings with the Dolphins, the running back has eclipsed the 100-yard mark just once and posted one rushing touchdown. As a member of the Buffalo Bills, McGahee averaged 3.4 yards per carry against his former AFC East rival, which lagged behind his average against the New York Jets (5.1) and New England Patriots (3.8). "I've had some good games," said McGahee, who has compiled at least 85 rushing yards in four of the six games against his hometown team.

They are respectful of each other's Pro Bowl talent, so much so that neither would say much except how good the other player is. Ravens left tackle Jonathan Ogden and Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor will square off during Sunday's wild-card playoff game at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. When speaking of Taylor, one of the league's fastest pass rushers, Ogden, as he usually does, took the high road. "He's a good player," Ogden said. "I've just got to go out there and get it done.

The Miami Dolphins beat the Ravens at their own game last night. Unleashing a pass rush that sacked quarterback Tony Banks six times - including twice on the goal line - the Dolphins dealt the Ravens a 19-6 dose of reality before 73,464 and a national TV audience at rain-soaked Pro Player Stadium.It was Miami's defense that dictated in this game, and the Dolphins' offense that proved troublesome. "Every aspect of the game, they physically beat us," Ravens coach Brian Billick said.