On March 2, just three days after landing All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, the Redskins cut Taylor when the six-time Pro Bowl defensive end rejected their demand that he participate in 25 sessions of their offseason conditioning program that begins on March 16 at Redskin Park and usually runs Monday-Thursday for 13 weeks.

The Redskins had wanted to turn Taylor's $500,000 bonus for being on the roster on March 3 into a workout bonus. In effect, Taylor would've been paid $20,000 a day to be on hand with his teammates. But he chose to remain in South Florida with his wife and three children.

"We're disappointed that Jason's not going to be with us, but we didn't ask him to do anything that we didn't ask of all of our guys," a Redskins official said. "He's a 35-year-old guy coming off a major injury. It wouldn't be fair to everybody else if he didn't have to be a part of the program."

Taylor's release capped a very disappointing 71/2-month tenure that began when the Redskins acquired him from Miami last July 20 for a second-round draft pick in 2009 and a sixth-rounder in 2010, hours after losing four-year starting right end Phillip Daniels to a season-ending knee injury on the opening snap of training camp.

Not only was the active sacks leader uncomfortable at the run-oriented right side, he sprained a knee in preseason and then needed emergency surgery to save his left leg after he was kicked in the calf during a Week 3 victory over Arizona. Taylor needed a follow-up procedure a month later and was never the force he was for the Dolphins, recording just 3.5 sacks.

"It was really frustrating for Jason to have all the adversity," Redskins coach Jim Zorn said at last month's scouting combine. "He battled his way through and I tip my cap to him. It was a disappointment for him to not be as disruptive as he wanted to be."