RIP Sean Taylor

I thought long and hard about this post. It seemed, ever since last week, that everyone had an opinion. I didn't want to be just another voice spewing a bunch of nonsense based on emotion. Also, I guess I really didn't know to say.

When I first heard the news that Sean Taylor had been shot in Miami, my first reaction was "Wow". As a Redskins fan, I had just seen my team lose their third in a row and with Taylor already out due to a knee injury, I thought -- can it get an worse.

Initially, when I heard he'd been shot in the leg or groin, I assumed he'd be alright. At worse, I envisioned a long term rehab and he'd be 100-percent by next season. A co-worker of mine, who happens to be a Giants fan, came over to give me some grief about Taylor. We often joke to each other about the Skins and the Giants and this was no different -- at the time. Like most naive Redskins' fans, I tend to see the world through Burgundy and gold lenses and again, assumed, he'd be back in time for the playoffs. Mind you the 'Skins had just lost 3 in a row.

But Tuesday morning, I received a text from my cousin while I was still asleep. It simply said "Another young black man gone too soon. RIP ST21" With sleep still in my eyes, I knew what he was talking about. Sean Taylor was gone -- 24-years-old.

A whirlwind of emotions went through, and continued to go through my head. The hell with football, although being a fan made it hurt more. But here was an athletic, fit and young man gone. And for what? At the time nobody knew. Sure, Taylor had his previous run-ins with the law, but did this have anything to do with the robbery and murder. I didn't know, but many rushed to that conclusion. A man, no matter how much he grows and changes, will always have to deal with his past. It's a sad, but true fact. People will always dig up dirt and try to link the then and now when something goes wrong.

When the details emerged, it hurt even more. Although I was happy they caught the killer, the senseless manner in which it happened, not only resulted in the death of Taylor, but in all, five lives were ruined.

And for what?

From a football point of view, Taylor was one of the best defensive players in the league. One of the hardest hitters, Taylor struck fear in opponents and dared a receiver to run a route over the middle. But in one unfortunate instance, my team's season was shattered, left with an emptiness that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. Fortunately for me, I was able to see him play this season. Who knew that would be my first and last time.

We know not what God has in store for us. At the point where Taylor was turning his life around, he was gone. A beautiful girlfriend and 18-month-old daughter left behind. One of the most talented football players and by all accounts a genuine good guy was taking away from us all too soon.



And for what?