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Phil Taylor is going to be fine -- he thinks.
One of the last remaining stories before the draft is the condition of the right foot of Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor, probably the best nose tackle in this draft. Ten days ago, it was reported Taylor had a problem with two bones growing together in the foot, a problem surgery was unlikely to help. But last week, Taylor was examined by San Francisco team doctors and given an X-ray, and he said he was told the foot was not a problem. In fact, the team gave the foot a clean bill of health, and the only health-related question the Niners had was about an old shoulder injury that also isn't considered a problem.
"That report came out of left field,'' Taylor said. "I haven't had any pain in my foot. There's nothing wrong with it. And those doctors [in San Francisco] confirmed that, so now nobody should have any questions about it.''
Taylor could get picked anywhere between 21 (Kansas City) and 32 (Green Bay). It's unlikely, given the number of 3-4 teams late in the first round, that he'll last until the second round. He can play the nose or, in a pinch, defensive end in the 3-4, or tackle in the 4-3, though it's most likely he'd be a match for a 3-4 team that likes to use its nose in a versatile way. Vince Wilfork sliding outside in New England comes to mind. Taylor's been linked to the Jets (picking 30th), which would be a good fit with Rex Ryan. He might be a poor man's Haloti Ngata.
"I don't watch much football on TV,'' Taylor said, "but I know what the Jets do, and that'd be a great fit for me. I'd love to be there.''
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/04/26/mail/index.html#ixzz1KjH5lSE4
