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For weeks, Las Vegas-style neon signs pointed to Jason Taylor joining the New England Patriots.

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	Jason Taylor would like to play for the Dolphins again.

They need an outside linebacker. Patriots owner Robert Kraft twice declared he'd gladly give Taylor a Gillette Stadium locker stall if he wanted one.

And what free agent wouldn't be flattered? The Patriots are a Super Bowl contender that could bring Taylor a championship in the gloaming of his career. Taylor is good friends with Tom Brady and Wes Welker. Patriots coach Bill Belichick gushes over Taylor's pass-rushing skills.

Taylor and the Patriots seem like such a perfect fit.

The problem with that proposition is the man who must sign the contract. Multiple sources close to Taylor say he doesn't want to be a Patriot nearly as much as he wants to return to the Miami Dolphins.

While the Dolphins have been cool about the possibility of bringing him back, they're warming up to the idea.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, on a Tuesday morning radio show hosted by former Dolphins tight end Joe Rose, said the front office would revisit Taylor's availability this week. Sparano's tone sounded borderline apathetic, but there's a real possibility a deal could be struck.

The draft is complete. Most free agents have been signed. Teams are starting to gather for full voluntary workouts.

Why would Taylor prefer to be on the field when the Dolphins assemble Monday for their first organized team activity? Why not the Patriots? Why not the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Green Bay Packers, where his old defensive coordinators work?

The paramount reason is family. Taylor's wife and three children remained in South Florida last summer after the Dolphins sentenced Taylor to a lost season with the Washington Redskins.

Taylor has remarked how miserable he was away from home. When the Redskins approached Taylor about modifying his contract to include a clause that would insist upon 25 offseason workouts in Ashburn, Va., he balked. They agreed to part ways. He would have made more than $8 million this year.

"He wanted to spend the offseason with his family," Taylor's agent, Gary Wichard, told the Associated Press at the time. "He just kind of chose family over going up there."

Taylor's contract with Miami would be considerably less than $8 million. We're talking a one-year deal with a low base salary and worthwhile incentives. New England's offer wouldn't be extravagant, but insiders predict it would be more lucrative than Miami's.

Not only would the Patriots likely pay him more, they'd probably play him more. The Dolphins don't appear to need him as badly.

The Patriots' depth chart suggests they'll fill Mike Vrabel's void with the likes of Pierre Woods, Tully Banta-Cain and Vince Redd. In the spot opposite Joey Porter, the Dolphins have Matt Roth coming back and signed Canadian Football League phenom Cameron Wake.

But Sparano's stated philosophy on pass-rushers is that you can never have enough of them. Factor in Taylor's leadership abilities and there's no doubt he'd be worth the relatively modest contract it would take to sign him.

Taylor, who will turn 35 in September, might be relegated to passing downs -- second-and-long, third down -- and lining up at left outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment rather than his usual right end position in a 4-3.

But he apparently is OK with all of that if it comes to pass.

He still should be productive in that role. He's said to be eager to prove himself all over again. He notched a paltry 3.5 sacks for Washington, but he was the NFL's defensive MVP three seasons ago. He had 11 sacks in his last season with Miami.

Taylor has mended his relationship with Dolphins football operations boss Bill Parcells. Any disagreements over "Dancing With the Stars" have been put to rest.

A year away purportedly has given Taylor a greater appreciation for being a Dolphin, especially after watching them win 11 games and the AFC East title without him.

That's why predicting whether he has a better chance to win a championship with one club or another is irrelevant. Last season reminded Taylor nothing is guaranteed.

Just because a juggernaut looks like a surefire Super Bowl contender doesn't mean it'll make the playoffs. Just because a rebuilding club is coming off as 1-15 season doesn't mean it can't win the division.

"I'll always be a Dolphin," Taylor said in April. "There was no bigger fan last year than me. I'm leaving the field from Redskins games and running to see what the Dolphins are doing and checking my phone throughout the day. Those guys on that team will tell you: I was in contact the whole time.

"No one was happier when they went to New York and beat those guys."

Given the circumstances, signing with New England would be Taylor's personal consolation prize.