Jets sign Taylor, who says he has plenty left

Jason Taylor compared his split with the Dolphins to something most men his age have gone through at least once.

"It's like someone dating a girl for so long and you guys break up," he said Wednesday. "They still hold a piece in your heart. But at the same time, it's time for a new chapter."

The first words were authored Wednesday, when the longtime Dolphin officially signed with the Jets, whose fans he verbally sparred with during most of his 13 seasons in the NFL.

Taylor, given a two-year deal that will pay a base salary of roughly $1.75 million this season, said he's totally committed to the Jets and doesn't harbor ill feelings toward their fans. The 35-year-old linebacker plans on immediately participating in the voluntary offseason conditioning program, proclaimed his surgically repaired shoulder ahead of schedule and believes he can flourish in Rex Ryan's defense.

He thinks he can put up more than the seven sacks he had last season. He's ready to wreak havoc on quarterbacks - even if some Jets fans aren't ready to welcome their old nemesis yet.

"As far as the things that have been said in the past, we had a good time with it and we went at it a lot of time and added some fuel to the fire," Taylor said. "Me being up here now may or may not add more fuel to the fire. But as far as Jets fans are concerned, I'm one of you guys now. I'm part of the team and I'm trying my best to win a championship for these guys."

Taylor, who expects his shoulder to be 100 percent by training camp, thinks he still has a lot to offer. Most teams apparently didn't think so. He was spurned by the Dolphins and signed with the Jets because they were the lone team to make him an offer.

Playing mostly strongside linebacker last season didn't maximize his pass-rushing strength. But he'll be moved around the field more with the Jets and is looking forward to shutting up the naysayers.

"I'm 35 and people say I can't do it anymore because I'm too old and washed up and can't get to the quarterback anymore," Taylor said. "The fire is still burning, trust me. It's burning hot."

Hot enough to bring him to the most unlikely of places in search of a coveted ring.

"I'm here for one reason," he said. "I'm here to play the best that I can to try to help win a Super Bowl. And if that happens this year, I mean people in Hollywood spend a lot of time trying out to figure a way to end a movie or people spend a lot of time trying to end a book. And what better ending is it than to win the Super Bowl?

"And to do it here, it would be pretty ironic. But it would be awesome."