Cleveland Browns
Phil Taylor - #98 - DT
| Status | Active |
| Height/Weight | 6' 3"/ 335 lbs. |
| Birthday | 04/07/1988 |
| Birthplace | Clinton, MD |
| College | Baylor |
| Years played | 3 |
| Drafted | 2011, 1st round, 21st pick by Browns |
2012 STATS
| Tack | FF | Int |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 0 | 0 |
Browns-Saints first-quarter notes
Here's notes on the first quarter of Browns-Saints from a Cleveland perspective.
Browns-Saints prediction
The Browns, heavy underdogs again, can compete with the Saints, but their chances for the outright upset seem slim, writes PFW's Mike Wilkening.
Identifying the top 10 kickoff returners
As kick returners make a big impact on games, PFW talked to multiple NFL insiders and came up with the 10 best kickoff returners in the league today.
Flashback: Browns' recent Week Seven performances
Take a quick stroll down memory lane with PFW for a recap of the Browns' Week Seven contests each of the last five seasons.
Improved control key in Hodges' good start
A little less power on his kicks and a good deal of persistence has helped Browns P Reggie Hodges to his finest season to date.
Browns-Saints matchup of the day: Saturday
Here's a closer look at a matchup to watch in Sunday's Browns-Saints game, namely Saints QB Drew Brees vs. Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.
Browns WR Cribbs should play Sunday
Browns WR Josh Cribbs practiced on Friday and should play on Sunday against the Saints.
Report: Browns QB McCoy to start
Browns QB Colt McCoy will start his second consecutive game on Sunday against the Saints, according to an ESPN report.
Browns-Saints matchup of the day: Friday
Here's a closer look at a matchup to watch in Sunday's Browns-Saints game.
Five questions with former Browns LB Dale Lindsey
PFW recently caught up with former Browns LB and current New Mexico State assistant head coach and LBs coach Dale Lindsey to get his thoughts on his nine-season career (1965-73) in Cleveland. Among the topics discussed with Lindsey, who has ...
Will NFL's hitting video scare players straight?
In the NFL's new getting-tough-on-headhunters video campaign, league football operations head Ray Anderson dictates the difference between clean and dirty. Warning: The distinction is slight.
Browns-Saints matchup of the day: Thursday
Here's a closer look at a matchup to watch in Sunday's Browns-Saints game.
Browns-Saints matchup of the day: Wednesday
Here's a closer look at a matchup to watch in Sunday's Browns-Saints game.
Browns' pass defense has tall order vs. Saints
The Browns' pass defense needs a strong showing for Cleveland to have a chance at an upset of New Orleans.
PLAYER NEWS
Taylor will start in his season debut against Baltimore after missing eight games.|||||||
The massive Taylor underwent offseason surgery after tearing a chest muscle while lifting weights in May. Taylor will start because Ahtyba Rubin will miss his second straight game with a calf injury. Taylor is expected to be limited as the Browns try to win their third straight home game.
Taylor needs surgery to repair a torn chest muscle and will be sidelined for months.|||||||
Taylor tore his left pectoral muscle on Thursday lifting weights. Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Taylor, who started all 16 games as a rookie last season, will have an operation next week. Shurmur said Taylor will "miss months, not weeks" but wouldn't speculate if the 335-pounder will miss the 2012 season.
A person familiar with the negotiations says the Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms on a contract with Taylor, their first-round draft pick.|||||||
Taylor will immediately report to the Browns, said the person who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the team has not yet announced the signing. Taylor, the No. 21 overall pick, missed the team's first four practices of training camp in a holdout. The holdup was over a fourth guaranteed season for the rookie, who is expected to start in first-year coach Pat Shurmur's 4-3 system.
After making two trades, the Browns plugged a monstrous hole in their new defensive front by drafting the 6-foot-3, 330-pound Taylor with the No. 27 overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday night.|||||||
Taylor was dismissed after two seasons at Penn State for off-the-field incidents, but general manager Tom Heckert said the Browns have no concerns about him being a character problem. Taylor didn't go into details about his troubles at Penn State. "I was young, I made a mistake and I've moved on from it," he said. "I went down to Baylor and made the best of a second chance and I'm happy to be here right now."
