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AP: 4da199a1-716d-4faf-af32-322d0bfcbcf5
Arizona Cardinals' Chester Taylor gets tackled by Seattle Seahawks' David Hawthorne (57), Clinton McDonald (69) and Red Bryant (79) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Sometimes you need to cut your losses while you can. Admit your mistake and move on. Such is the case for the Arizona Cardinals and running back Chester Taylor.

It was a mistake from the day they signed him and it will continue to be a mistake as long as they keep him on the roster, and this isn't second guessing after Taylor's awful performance in his first significant action in an Arizona uniform.

His career is over, has been for a few years now he just doesn't know it.

Taylor averaged a pathetic 2.4 yards per carry with Chicago last year. In the last four years Taylor's numbers have fallen as fast as the Red Sox wild card lead in September, from 5.4 in 2007, to 4.0 in 2008, 3.6 in 2009 and 2.4 last year.

Against the Seahawks Taylor had nine carries for 20 yards before getting pulled in the middle of a drive for an undrafted free agent named Alfonso Smith.

This after Taylor had four carries for a total of four yards on a drive that resulted in a field goal.

You can say he has only been in the offense for a week, but he has been in the NFL for 10 years. It's not the system, it's his legs. The Cardinals would have beaten Seattle if they had a better option to replace the injured Beanie Wells.

Now I do understand that the Cardinals were desperate to bring in a running back after trading Tim Hightower and having their second-round draft pick Ryan Williams go down for the season with a patella tendon injury, but did they have to sign a 32-year-old retread who doesn't have any tread left on those tires?

Former Sun Devil Dimitri Nance, who had a good camp in Green Bay, was available and still is. Another option is Steve Slaton, who was released by the Houston Texans Tuesday. Regardless, I would have rather seen the Cardinals go with a younger player because no position in this league wears down as fast as running back.

Now the Cardinals will likely give Taylor another chance, but they don't need to. They know what they have in him.

Just look at the NL West Champion Arizona Diamondbacks. They signed or traded for Melvin Mora, Aaron Heilman, Juan Miranda and Russell Branyan, and when they didn't produce they cut their losses buy cutting the players. No sense holding onto unproductive players to save face. You have to strive to be better.

There has to be a better player available right now than Chester Taylor. It's only been a couple games, but I've seen enough. Cardinals need to give Taylor his pink slip.

10 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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  • Abuse
    sundevil7901 wrote...
    RB
    September 27, 2011 2:35 pm
    I'm not so sure you need to give up on Taylor yet, but I agree that we'd do good picking up Nance or Slaton. Heck, pick them both up! Beanie WILL miss more games this year, no doubt.
  • Abuse
    fenix3030 wrote...
    AGREED
    September 27, 2011 2:36 pm
    10000%
  • Abuse
    Azsports wrote...
    Cut Taylor
    September 27, 2011 2:38 pm
    Not often that I agree with Gambo bur he is right on with this. I would take a look at Nance. He looked good in Green & Gold
  • Abuse
    DanTheTimid wrote...
    I'm not expert but...
    September 27, 2011 3:50 pm
    I also completely agree with this. If there are other options available, you've gotta look into them, cause Taylor was at best mediocre, at worst, flat out awful last week. In fact it was kind of a face palm moment for me as I realized that Whiz finally seemed to be committing to the run on a day when he had no one competent to run the ball with. I mean no knock on Chester, I'm willing to believe he was really good once, its just a long proven reality of football that RBs only have a few good years then they break down, and Taylor absolutely looked broken down on Sunday.
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    you guys are idiots
    September 27, 2011 3:57 pm
    I understand where you all are coming from but there isn't any RB with as much experience as Taylor. He's not a running RB he's a pass catching RB. Ive said this when they first got him. It's not his fault the o line sucks and can't set up a screen or run block. Can't blame Taylor for Arizonas loss.
  • Abuse
    theuglytruth wrote...
    Hightower...
    September 27, 2011 4:21 pm
    is doing well. Sure would like to have that guy back right about now.
  • Abuse
    hugUhbear wrote...
    Taylor should go
    September 27, 2011 4:49 pm
    Every run he had against the Seahawks, except 1, he was dancing around. he refused to hit the holes hard and with purpose. He looked like a man trying to get himself into a good position to fall, so that he didn't hurt himself, rather than a man looking to gain yards.
  • Abuse
    houseguy wrote...
    knee JERK
    September 27, 2011 8:25 pm
    i have never seen or heard a sports broadcaster have such knee jerk reactions when things go wrong....when the cards signed taylor you were the first one to say it was a very good signing as a backup to wells.....after being inactive for the first game and having a limited role in game 2....now he is forced into action and would have been better seved if it was a more running by committee. The cards need to cut someone...why not wells?....or better yet....LEVI BROWN...because every week i see him accelling at the art of OLE' vs. the opposing DT
  • Abuse
    azsportsfan92 wrote...
    Taylor's not the problem
    September 28, 2011 2:55 am
    Don't be so harsh on Taylor. Just being a good blocker and pass-catcher was all that was really expected of him. Then Beanie and LSH got hurt and he had to be a feature back. That's like asking a right tackle to switch over to being a left guard; the results are not there! Or, look at Tim Tebow having to become a WIDE RECEIVER when the Broncos had injuries. These things happen in the NFL; it is a physical league. So don't be too judgemental on Taylor, he just did what he does and fans overbelieved his abilities. Instead, look at WHY he had to come in in the first place: Beanie's Health.
  • Abuse
    classic_clay wrote...
    FitzIsMyHero
    September 28, 2011 9:36 am
    "you guys are idiots I understand where you all are coming from" So...are you grouping yourself with the rest of the idiots? I'm not against cutting Taylor, but only if we can pick someone up that would make us better. Beanie will probably be limited this season with injuries and Larod doesn't have the size to pick up the bulk of the carries.
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