Taylor Ends Holdout, Becomes Highest-Paid NFL Defensive Player

Lawrence Taylor became the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL today when the perennial All Pro linebacker ended a 45-day holdout and signed a new three-year contract.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but Taylor’s agent, Joe Courrege, said he is the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL, meaning that $1.6 million is the likely figure.

“Nobody gets exactly what they wanted,” Taylor said at a news conference that was supposed to be for coach Bill Parcells to discuss this week’s season opener against Philadelphia.

“It’s not like that. I’d look kind of stupid bitching at the money I will be making because it is good money,” said Taylor, who said he always knew he would sign with the Giants.

The question now is: Can Taylor play Sunday in the season opener against the Eagles?

Taylor left no doubt that he will, and Parcells said he would be remiss if he did not play Taylor if he was ready.

The Giants have asked the league for a two-week roster exemption for Taylor so he will not count on the 47-man roster. The exemption will run out early if Taylor plays.

During the holdout, there were several reports and rumors about Taylor’s future. One had the Giants trading him to Philadelphia.

There was also a report out of Houston saying Taylor would be part of a three-way trade involving Houston, the Giants and Dallas.

Chris Doleman of the Minnesota Vikings is reported about to sign a contract that would pay him as much as Taylor’s reported salary. Reggie White of the Eagles will make $1.51 million this season.

The major concern for the Giants and Taylor is his prior problems with substance abuse. If he violates the league drug policy one more time, he could be banned for life.

Taylor, 31, has actually violated the substance abuse policy three times. The first time came when he went into rehabilitation in 1985, but that didn’t count because the league policy was not in effect yet.

His first official violation has never been disclosed while the second was discovered before the 1988 season. Taylor was suspended for the first four regular season games that year but returned and had 73 total tackles and 15 1/2 sacks in 12 games.