By Shalise Manza Young
Journal Sports Writer

With the news that defensive end/linebacker Jason Taylor has gotten his wish and is returning to the Miami Dolphins with a one-year, $1.5-million deal confirmed today by his agent, what are the New England Patriots' options now for outside linebacker?

In house, the Pats have Adalius Thomas as a sure starter at the position. Thomas said last month that his right arm, which he broke last season against Buffalo, is healing and his rehab is progressing as expected.

After Thomas, there's a lot of names, but at the moment, none are considered stars. Pierre Woods, who became a starter for the first time after Thomas' injury, has shown some promise, but he had barely settled into his new role when he was lost for the season to a broken jaw.

The Pats brought back Tully Banta-Cain, who departed for San Francisco two years ago with the belief that he'd go from situational player to starter, a jump which never really happened. Banta-Cain's best season was his final one in his previous tour with the Patriots (2006), when he had 43 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

Shawn Crable spent all of his rookie season last year on injured reserve with a calf injury. He has the height and speed New England likes in an outside backer, but is basically an unknown commodity. Undrafted Vince Redd saw some snaps on defense after Woods' injury, but he doesn't have a vast body of work either.

New England also has undrafted rookie Antonio Appleby on the roster.

Some names still available on the free agent market include: 13-year veteran Derrick Brooks (who is undersized compared to what the Pats traditionally have at OLB); Pisa Tinoisamoa, who was cut by the Rams last week; Rocky Boiman, who spent last year with Kansas City; old friend Rosevelt Colvin; or possibly even Willie McGinest. In an nfl.com chat last month, McGinest wrote that he'd like to return to New England to finish out his career; last year with Cleveland, he played in 14 games with 56 tackles and one sack.

One thing is for certain -- the Dolphins are good at playing possum. Just yesterday, head coach Tony Sparano appeared on a Miami radio station and said he and the rest of the team's braintrust would "revisit" the Taylor situation, and the team has seemed disinterested in bringing back the sure Hall of Famer and 2006 defensive player of the year.