Taylor makes a fresh start

Former Dolphins' No. 99, defensive end becomes No. 55 with Redskins

ASHBURN, VA. -- Jason Taylor entered the locker room Tuesday morning ready to suit up for his first practice of training camp, just like he'd done before each of his past 11 NFL seasons.

This time, however, instead of finding a blue-and-orange Miami Dolphins uniform waiting for him, there was a burgundy-and-gold Washington Redskins outfit with an unfamiliar number.

"Some of the guys in the locker room noticed I was uneasy with it at first," Taylor said, joking. "I was looking at the helmet and trying to figure out what it was and all that."

Taylor successfully put on the uniform, the first time he'd practiced with the team since being acquired from the Dolphins on Sunday for a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-round choice in 2010. He took the field in a No. 55 jersey, a change from the No. 99 he'd always had in the NFL.

Andre Carter, Taylor's new defensive end partner, already wears No. 99. Carter was willing to talk about a number swap, but Taylor didn't press the issue.

"I thought about it last night," Taylor said after his first practice Tuesday morning. "I talked to my wife and decided we'd let 99 stay in Miami and start a new chapter up here."

Taylor's last chapter in Miami was a dramatic one. He appeared on the TV show "Dancing With the Stars" this offseason and did not participate in Dolphins workouts. There appeared to be a rift with Miami's management.

Taylor played down those difficulties in his first news conference as the newest member of the Redskins on Monday.

"From my point of view there was no animosity, no hard feelings," he said.

Regardless, now Taylor is in Washington with a new number and a fresh start.

The No. 55 is normally reserved for a linebacker, and Taylor is primarily a defensive end. But Taylor occasionally dropped back into a linebacker position in Miami, and he is listed as a linebacker-defensive end on the Redskins' roster. He wore No. 33 at the University of Akron but was No. 55 in the 1997 Senior Bowl.

The jersey was just one of the changes Taylor needed to adapt to. At breakfast Tuesday, unfamiliar faces sat at the tables. Taylor recognized offensive lineman Todd Wade, who played four seasons in Miami, and found a seat next to him.

"It's kind of like being a rookie," Taylor said. "But I'm not buying doughnuts or carrying anybody's pads. I'm still one of the old guys around here."

Taylor's first practice with the team was uneventful. He participated in individual drills during a rain-shortened morning session but did not join in when the team started pitting offense versus defense. Instead, Taylor stayed close to defensive coordinator Greg Blache and listening to the defensive calls. In the afternoon, Taylor did get some work in full-squad 11-on-11 drills.

Taylor totaled 117 sacks -- best among active players -- as No. 99 for the Dolphins. The Redskins believe that dominance will continue.

"People are going to know who No. 55 is real soon," quarterback Jason Campbell said.