Former Florida Gator running back and now 12-year NFL veteran, Fred Taylor, is my favorite football player. In fact, I have a huge poster of him in my cubicle. I love his style of play and his attitude on the the field. As a Jaguar fan, I was devastated when they let him go in the off-season in favor of a younger Maurice Jones-Drew. But at the same time I was happy for Fred to move on in his career and pursue an opportunity to win a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots.

The Patriots have to be thrilled with what the 33-year-old Fred Taylor is bringing to the team. Through the first three games of the 2009 season, Fred has 38 carries for 176 yards (4.6 ypc) and two touchdowns. That’s already more touchdowns than he scored in the entire 2008 season as a Jag. In week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons, the Patriots ran Fred 21 times on their way to a 26-10 victory. It looks like Tom Brady and Randy Moss aren’t the only keys to success for the Pats.

Throughout his career Fred Taylor has never had the respect and publicity he deserved from the fans and media. The players knew what he was capable of, but because Fred suffered a few injures while he was young and ruined fantasy football teams he was labeled “Fragile Fred.” It’s great seeing him succeed now in a new system as he marches toward new rushing records and ultimately the Hall of Fame.

Taylor currently ranks 15th on the list of all-time rushing leaders. There are only two active players ahead of him. Of the 14 players ahead of Fred Taylor on the NFL all-time leading rushers list, only Jim Brown (5.2 ypc) and Barry Sanders (5.0 ypc) rank ahead of him in overall yards per carry average. During his 12-year career with the Jacksonville Jaguars and now the New England Patriots, Fred has managed to average an amazing 4.6 yards per carry average.

Last week’s game was just a glimpse of what we will see from Fred Taylor in 2009. Barring injury, he is capable of rushing for around 1,000 yards and 8-10 touchdowns in the high powered Patriots offense.