Fred Taylor hasn’t retired from the NFL. But he’s close.
Taylor told the Gainesville Sun over the weekend that he’s “basically retired” from football. That’s a departure from where Taylor was last month, when he said he thought he had two more years left in him.
At age 35, two more years is extremely optimistic, as Taylor was already the oldest halfback in the NFL last year. But after getting just 106 carries the last two seasons with the Patriots, Taylor says he’s healthy and well rested.
Taylor is a free agent who could sign with any team as soon as the lockout ends, and if there’s a team out there looking for some veteran depth, he’d be an option worth exploring. But it sounds like the man who’s No. 15 in NFL history in rushing yards is ready to call it quits.
UPDATE: Taylor tells Ian R. Rapoport of the Boston Herald, “I haven’t decided anything yet.”