Jamaar Taylor to retire after 2 seasons

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Oft-injured Giants receiver Taylor to retire

By Len Pasquarelli

ESPN.com

Barring a change of heart, once-promising New York Giants wide receiver Jamaar Taylor will retire from the NFL following only two seasons and just 13 appearances, but having suffered too many knee injuries.

Taylor, 25, was a sixth-round choice in the 2004 draft, a player possessing prototype size and great speed, but coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2003, his senior season at Texas A&M. New York signed him to a four-year, $1.48 million contract that included a $100,000 signing bonus. Taylor was to have had a base salary of $425,000 for 2006.

He played in eight games as a rookie, then underwent another surgery on the same knee last spring, at which time he seriously considered retirement. Taylor returned for the 2005 season but appeared in just five games, and didn't catch a single pass, and was eventually placed on the injured reserve list.

There is no denying Taylor's immense physical ability, and in his brief playing time, his potential as a deep threat has been demonstrated. Although he registered just six receptions in 2004, Taylor averaged a gaudy 24.3 yards per catch, with two receptions of more than 40 yards.

Of his six catches, four resulted in first downs.

The hope of New York officials and coaches over the past two seasons was that either Taylor or another often-injured wide receiver, Tim Carter, would emerge as the team's No. 3 wideout. A second-round pick in the 2002 draft, Carter re-signed with the Giants this spring as an unrestricted free agent.

New York used its second-round choice in this year's draft to select wide receiver Sinorice Moss, and the former Miami star is the early favorite to win the No. 3 spot.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.

[Maxman]

Wayne Chrebet had a better career and was not even drafted.