Remembering Sean Taylor

5 years ago today, one of the best and most promising young players in the game was tragically murdered far before his time. Taylor was murdered during what was reportedly a middle of the night home robbery.  Shot in the leg by a man he had met and knew. Taylor bled out and died before paramedics ever had a real chance to save him.

I don’t want to delve to far in to his death because that seems to be a polarizing issue with some fans, many of whom have a misguided view of professional athletes with checkered pasts. I want to remember the player he was on the field more than the person off it.

Anyone who tells you Taylor wasn’t marching towards greatness is kidding themselves. At the time of his death, Taylor was just coming into his own. In his last full season (2006) he had racked up 111 tackles and forced four turnovers. Not to shabby when you are the only player on a defense worth worrying about in the secondary. When Taylor died, he was on his was to his second 100+ tackle season and was tied for the NFC lead with 5 interceptions. He had 6 total turnovers. Taylor was considered to be one of the hardest hitting players in the league and many were comparing him to arguably the best FS to ever play the game, Ronnie Lott.

Who knows if Taylor would have ever lived up to those comparisons, but I know I would have liked to find out. I have never been a redskins fan, but I am a football fan and Taylor was a fun player to watch. He played the game the way it was meant to be played. Fast Physical and with a certain level of barbarianism.

R.I.P. Sean Taylor.