Millions will watch as Dolphins' Jason Taylor gives dancing a whirl

MIAMI (AP) - When Jason Taylor takes the stage to face network TV cameras and dance the fox trot, he figures his jitters will be Super Bowl-size.

"I'll be shaking," he says.

Still, the Miami Dolphins defensive end is glad he accepted an invitation to perform on "Dancing With the Stars." He'll be among the contestants when the show begins its sixth season Monday night.

Taylor says he's having "a blast" learning to dance, despite an arduous practice regimen that involves six hours a day in the studio, with sessions likely to become longer as the competition proceeds.

He says his feet hurt - and that's not all.

"You're using a different muscle group in dancing. It's different from football," Taylor says from Los Angeles by phone. "I'm learning there are a few joints and muscles I didn't realize God gave me."

The hit ABC show has featured former NFL players before - Emmitt Smith won his competition, and Jerry Rice was a popular contestant. Among those competing against Taylor this season will be Grand Slam tennis champion Monica Seles and Olympic skating gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi.

But Taylor is the first active NFL player to take part.

"He's the first guy I asked who is playing right now," says Deena Katz, the show's senior talent producer. "Jason was my dream. He's one of those guys everybody knows who he is. I thought, 'I'll ask him,' but honestly I never thought he was going to say yes."

Taylor says he has watched the show, but when approached about taking part, he first declined. His wife urged him to reconsider, and he wavered for more than two months before deciding to give it a whirl.

Why his reluctance?

"I don't dance," he says. "I don't dance at clubs. I don't dance at bar mitzvahs. I don't dance at weddings. I just don't dance.

"For whatever reason, I decided to give it a shot. I figured I'd put myself out there a little bit and stretch the limits and challenge myself to do something I wouldn't ordinarily do."