As far as NFL rock bottom is concerned, getting released by an 0-6 team has to be in the conversation. That is precisely what happened to Leonard Taylor, who the New York Jets let go in mid-October.
Up until that point, the sophomore defensive tackle had appeared in two games for the team and recorded three tackles in 47 defensive snaps. However, his production was apparently not at satisfactory levels for what was at that point a winless football team.
For Taylor, however, getting released proved
to be a blessing in disguise.
Two days afterwards, after all, he was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad. Since then, the 23-year-old has received regular in-game opportunities, including in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos. Taylor was on the field for 16 defensive snaps and four more on special teams; one of those turned into the biggest play of his career.
Lining up alongside the field goal block team, Taylor was tasked with rushing Broncos kicker Wil Lutz’s potential game-tying 45-yard attempt. We’ll let him take it from there.
“It’s field goal, we line down, I’m next to Cory [Durden],” Taylor explained in the locker room after the game. “All I know is we’ve seen the ball move and then we got some knock back. Then next thing I know, I just jumped in the air and I got a taste of the ball. I got a hit of the ball, but it was exciting. Just the rush and the adrenaline coming through my body knowing that I helped the team.”
Taylor was able to get his right hand into the air high enough to touch Lutz’s kick, and the ball ended up sailing way past its intended target. As a consequence, the Patriots retained their 10-7 lead — one they would hold on to until the final whistle.
Now, three months after leaving the Jets, Taylor will get a chance to play in the Super Bowl.
“It means a lot because I started with the Jets at first. A lot of ups and downs coming here,” he said. “Came to this organization, they let me in with open arms. Everybody was nice to me, got an understanding of everything I had to do. It’s amazing to go from a losing team to a winning team, then we’re going to the Super Bowl like that. I was dreaming about that since I was a kid, since I started.”
