MIAMI -- At the start of a news conference hailing Jason Taylor's return to the Dolphins, he introduced himself as a third-round draft pick from Akron -- which he was in 1997.
Fourteen years later, Taylor seeks a few more sacks and that elusive Super Bowl ring. He'll try for them in the uniform he has worn most of his career.
"This is home," he said. "It fits. It's easy. It works."
But Taylor clashed with Dolphins football czar Bill Parcells and signed instead with their biggest rival, the New York Jets. Even then, Taylor maintained a good relationship with Dolphins coach Tony Sparano.
Parcells' departure last season made Taylor's return possible.
"We can address the elephant in the room," Taylor said. "Do I honestly think I'd be here if Bill was here? No. It's as simple as that. I think it's very easy to see and figure out, and we'll leave it at that."
The Taylor-Dolphins reunion was announced on the Facebook page for his foundation. Hours later, he held a news conference at the team's stadium before an evening practice there, and he'll join workouts later this week.
Former Dolphins teammate Dan Marino tweeted, "Welcome back to Miami (hash)99."
Sparano said Taylor will provide locker-room leadership and be used primarily at outside linebacker in pass-rush situations, which was his role with the Jets. That means spelling second-year pro Koa Misi and lining up on the flank opposite Cameron Wake, who had a breakout season with 14 sacks last year.
Sparano said he had been mulling over bringing back Taylor for a while.
"This guy is a tremendous closer," Sparano said. "He makes plays at the end of games."
The Dolphins terminated the contract of inside linebacker Tim Dobbins, a sixth-year pro who started six games last year.
When the NFL lockout ended last week, Taylor said, he spoke with the Jets first and then the Dolphins. His desire to keep playing is driven in large part by wanting to reach the Super Bowl.
Last year, Taylor made the playoffs for the first time in nine years, and the Jets' loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game left him fighting back tears.
Taylor also was disappointed to have just five sacks in 2010. That increased his career total to 132½, which tied him with Lawrence Taylor and Leslie O'Neal for eighth on the career list. He played in all 16 games for the Jets, including five as a starter.
Conveniently, the Dolphins' No. 99 was unassigned.
Also Monday, the Dolphins signed veteran offensive tackle Marc Colombo.
Colombo, a starter in Dallas since 2006, was released Thursday by the Cowboys. He became expendable after they signed top draft pick Tyron Smith.
Colombo is expected to challenge right tackle Vernon Carey for playing time. A 2002 first-round pick by the Chicago Bears, Colombo has 79 career starts.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
