MANKATO, Minn. -- For most of his first five years in the
NFL, Travis Taylor has known only disappointment.
Taylor was selected 10th overall by Baltimore in 2000 after an
impressive receiving career at Florida. Stuck in an offense built
on running the ball, and with a revolving door at quarterback,
Taylor never lived up to the billing.
Now he is in Minnesota, hoping that Daunte Culpepper and a
change of scenery will revive his career.
"It wasn't a miss with Travis Taylor being drafted where he
was," Vikings receivers coach Wes Chandler insisted. "He has all
the skills and all the tools. In his coming here, already in his
three weeks here, he's displayed that, 'I've found a home."
His story sounds familiar to Chandler.
He, too, is a former Gator, selected third overall by the New
Orleans Saints in 1978. He had an up-and-down three seasons in New
Orleans catching passes from Archie Manning.
"I was dying," Chandler said. "Here is a guy, third overall,
had a fairly productive college career. Now you're the third pick
and you're in New Orleans and your career is just about shot. All
of a sudden I'm traded to San Diego. You figure out the rest."
Catching passes from Dan Fouts, Chandler made the Pro Bowl in
three of the next five years playing in one of the best receiving
corps of all time.
"But before all that happened I was dead in New Orleans,"
Chandler reiterated. "Now you see my point? This kid was dead in
Baltimore."
Playing with Chris Redman, Anthony Wright, Elvis Grbac, Trent
Dilfer, Jeff Blake and Kyle Boller, Taylor struggled to get going.
He appeared poised to take off after catching 61 passes for 869
yards and six touchdowns in 2002, but that would be his best season
in Baltimore.
Last year, he battled a groin injury and played in just 10
games, catching 34 passes for 421 yards and no scores.
So Taylor he was determined to sign with a team that had a
proven quarterback and a commitment to throwing..
With Culpepper and the Vikings, Taylor found a perfect fit.
"I feel great," Taylor said. "It's a receiver's dream to be
in this type of offense, with this type of quarterback and all
these people around you."
He rattled off the names of receivers Nate Burleson and Marcus
Robinson, tight end Jermaine Wiggins, running back Michael Bennett
and, of course, Culpepper.
While that cast has yet to achieve what Chandler achieved in San
Diego with John Jefferson, Charlie Joiner, Kellen Winslow, Chuck
Muncie and Fouts, it certainly is an upgrade from where he started.
Entering his sixth year as the starting quarterback, Culpepper
has emerged as a bona fide star. There is no comparison with the
Ravens' QBs.
"Archie Manning was a fine quarterback," Chandler said. "But
I went from Archie Manning to Dan Fouts. Look what this kid is
coming from to Daunte Culpepper."
Taylor began as No. 3 behind Burleson and Robinson, but coach
Mike Tice said last week that he is pushing Robinson for the No. 2
spot.
His versatility makes him valuable, said Chandler, who envisions
Taylor having an impact like No. 3 receiver Brandon Stokley did in
Indianapolis last season, when he caught 10 touchdown passes and
opened up the outside for Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.
"Eventually we'll get to where we'll have two vertical guys
outside with Travis inside," Chandler said. "That's a special
package. It's like a jaguar. It's fast and you have a guy who has
good speed who can work inside and win."
Taylor only smiles when he hears those words. Though after
spending five years in the offensive doldrums of Baltimore, the
smile hasn't really left his face yet.
And if it ever does, he doesn't have to go far to seek guidance
from a former player who knows exactly what he is going through.
"I talk to Wes just about every day," Taylor said. "Wes is a
great coach and a great person. He's helped me out a lot on the
field and off the field. If I can come even close to being compared
with Wes Chandler, I'm on my way to a great career."