It's been over a week since Washington Redskin Sean Taylor was shot and killed defending his girlfriend and newborn daughter in his Southern Florida home. The news of his death sent a shock through the football community that bore the force of one his tackles. The Redskins' players, coaches and fans are still reeling from last Tuesday's tragedy. Taylor was a dominant presence on and off the field, a physical threat to any receiver or back who came his way and a motivating force to his fellow players.
The effect he had on his team was made clear as the Skins took the field against Buffalo this past Sunday for their first game since the loss of Taylor. After Washington kicked off to Buffalo to start the game, the Redskin defense took the field with a ten-man set. Taylor's fellow strong safety LaRon Landry stood alone at the rear of the defensive set, and it was clear what the Redskins were trying to say. Something was missing. Although Taylor's replacement, Reed Doughty, took the field on the following play, it was clear that the void following Sean Taylor's death will not be filled any time soon.
The Redskins not only lost a key player from their team, they also lost a friend and an icon of the organization. After recording his first catch of the game, wide receiver Santana Moss pounded his chest and flipped a three-finger gesture toward the sky, honoring number 21. After scoring the Redskins' only touchdown of the game, running back Clinton Portis, who was also Taylor's teammate at the University of Miami, lifted up his jersey, revealing a Sean Taylor T-shirt underneath. The Redskins are paying their respects, but what does the loss of Sean Taylor mean for the organization? Will the Redskins be crippled by the loss or will it drive them to succeed in his honor?
My guess is the latter. Over the summer, the New England Patriots lost one of their defensive backs, Marquise Hill, in a jet-skiing accident. With the 2007 season dedicated to his memory, the Pats fight on, with number 91 stickers on the back of their helmets. In Monday night's game against Baltimore, New England players had a number 21 sticker affixed right above the 91. I envision Taylor's memory will survive similarly to Hill's. Sean Taylor was a motivating force when he was on the field, and he will continue to be one now that he's gone. His spirit will live on in FedEx Field and his drive to succeed will be passed on to those who played alongside him.
Taylor was also a huge part of what it meant to be a Redskins fan. Last season, I went to see the Redskins play the Giants with my friend Justin, who was of course decked out in his white Sean Taylor jersey. We were watching the team warm up, when Justin turned to me and said, "Just look at Sean Taylor. He can do anything. The Giants are terrified right now." Throughout the entire game, I would turn to him and say, "What do you think?" and he'd reply "Sean Taylor touchdown," even if the 'Skins were on offense. That was the effect he had on those who watched him play.
During the Buffalo game, the parking lot was packed with cars, and on the windows of many were written the words "RIP #21." Many fans even painted the message on their faces. The stadium was filled with white, burgundy and black Taylor jerseys. Outside FedEx Field, a temporary memorial was constructed in Taylor's honor. Hundreds of fans gathered by it to pay their respects, leaving flowers, candles, footballs and even personal messages and letters to their fallen hero.
But Taylor's memorial stretched much farther than Landover, Md. Teams across the NFL stuck number 21 stickers to their helmets. Moments of silence in Taylor's honor were held after the national anthem. These signs of respect display something very profound about the NFL community. They are opponents; they train year-round to defeat each other, but at the end of the day, they're still part of the community. They're co-workers. Tensions may grow between them, but events such as the loss of Sean Taylor affect them all.
I'm not a Redskins fan, but it was always a pleasure to watch Sean Taylor play. The hits he laid out in his career were some of the hardest I've seen, and the presence he upheld within the Redskins organization was inspiring. Living in Eastern Maryland for almost half my life, I saw the effect that he had on many of my friends, and I can say with utmost confidence that he will never be forgotten, and he will always live on in the spirit of the old red and gold.
