NFL Player murdered

[The Third Dukes]

Redskins safety Sean Taylor dies a day after being shot

By MATT SEDENSKY, Associated Press Writer

November 27, 2007

MIAMI (AP) -- Pro Bowl safety Sean Taylor died Tuesday after he was shot in his home by an apparent intruder, leaving the Washington Redskins in mourning for a teammate who seemed to have reordered his life since becoming a father.

The 24-year-old player died at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he had been airlifted after the shooting early Monday.

"It is with deep regret that a young man had to come to his end so soon," father Richard Taylor said in a statement on behalf of the family. "Many of his fans loved him because the way he played football. Many of his opponents feared him the way he approached the game. Others misunderstood him, many appreciated him and his family loved him."

A string of mourners, including Taylor's father, visited the player's home and embraced outside. Authorities entered the home, but it was unclear what they were doing.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league will honor Taylor's memory at all games this weekend.

"This is a terrible tragedy involving the loss of a young man who leaves behind many people struggling to understand it," he said in a statement.

Taylor's No. 21 will be painted in a grass parking area leading into Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va. In addition, No. 21 will also be painted in front of the Redskins Hall of Fame store.

Fans already began a makeshift memorial by laying flowers on a field near the front entrance to the practice facility. Several people paid respects at Taylor's parking space.

"This is the worst imaginable tragedy," Redskins owner Daniel Snyder said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Sean's family."

Redskins teammate Clinton Portis also played with Taylor at the University of Miami. He had sensed a new maturity in his close friend.

"It's hard to expect a man to grow up overnight," Portis said. "But ever since he had his child, it was like a new Sean, and everybody around here knew it. He was always smiling, always happy, always talking about his child."

Two bouquets were left by a palm tree outside a front gate of the home. Beside the mailbox, an untouched newspaper lay with news of Taylor's shooting.

Taylor's death comes nearly a year after Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting following an argument at a Denver nightclub on Jan. 1. University of Miami defensive lineman Bryan Pata was shot to death in November 2006 several miles from Taylor's home in an unsolved killing.

Doctors had been encouraged late Monday when Taylor squeezed a nurse's hand, according to Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins' vice president of football operations. But family friend Richard Sharpstein said he was told Taylor never regained consciousness after being taken to the hospital, and he wasn't sure how he had squeezed the nurse's hand. He said Taylor's father told him the death occurred about 5:30 a.m.

"Maybe he was trying to say goodbye or something," Sharpstein said.

Taylor, the fifth overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft following an All-American season at Miami, was shot early Monday in the upper leg, damaging the key femoral artery and causing significant blood loss.

"According to a preliminary investigation, it appears that the victim was shot inside the home by an intruder," Miami-Dade County police said in a statement. "We do not have a subject description at this time."

The attack came just eight days after an intruder was reported at Taylor's home. Officers were sent to the home about 1:45 a.m. Monday after Taylor's girlfriend called 911.

Sharpstein said Taylor's girlfriend told him the couple was awakened by loud noises, and Taylor grabbed a machete he keeps in the bedroom for protection. Someone then broke through the bedroom door and fired two shots, one missing and one hitting Taylor, Sharpstein said. Taylor's 1-year-old daughter, Jackie, was also in the house, but neither she nor Taylor's girlfriend was injured.

Police found signs of forced entry, but have not determined if they were caused Monday or during the previous burglary.

The shooting happened in the pale yellow house Taylor bought two years ago. In last week's break-in, police said someone pried open a front window, rifled through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed.

Taylor starred as a running back and defensive back at Gulliver Prep in Miami. His father is police chief of Florida City.

A private man with a small inner circle, Taylor rarely granted interviews. But, behind the scenes, Taylor was described as personable and smart.

After Taylor was drafted, problems soon began. Taylor fired his agent, then skipped part of the NFL's mandatory rookie symposium, drawing a $25,000 fine. Driving home late from a party during the season, he was pulled over and charged with drunken driving. The case was dismissed in court, but by then it had become a monthslong distraction for the Redskins.

Taylor also was fined at least seven times for late hits, uniform violations and other infractions over his first three seasons, including a $17,000 penalty for spitting in the face of an opponent during a 2006 playoff game.

Taylor endured a yearlong legal battle after he was accused in 2005 of brandishing a gun at a man during a fight over allegedly stolen all-terrain vehicles near Taylor's home. He eventually pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors and was sentenced to 18 months' probation.

Investigators work outside the home of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor in Palmetto Bay, Fla. Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. Taylor died early Tuesday one day after being shot shot in his home.

AP - Nov 27, 1:10 pm EST

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Taylor said the end of the assault case was like "a gray cloud" being lifted. It was also around the time that his daughter was born, and teammates noticed a change.

On the field, Taylor's play was often erratic. Assistant coach Gregg Williams frequently called Taylor the best athlete he'd ever coached, but nearly every big play was mitigated by a blown assignment. Taylor led the NFL in missed tackles in 2006 yet made the Pro Bowl because of his reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the league.

This year, however, Taylor was allowed to play a true free safety position, using his speed and power to chase down passes and crush would-be receivers. His five interceptions tie for the league lead in the NFC, even though he missed the last two games because of a sprained knee.

"I just take this job very seriously," Taylor said in a rare group interview during training camp. "It's almost like, you play a kid's game for a king's ransom. And if you don't take it serious enough, eventually one day you're going to say, 'Oh, I could have done this, I could have done that.'

"So I just say, 'I'm healthy right now, I'm going into my fourth year, and why not do the best that I can?' And that's whatever it is, whether it's eating right or training myself right, whether it's studying harder, whatever I can do to better myself."

[NobBe Nobbs]

No, no, this guy was like Roy Keane - a game-changer who could and would knock your teeth out if you got in his way. I will always remember the way he just knocked the fuck out of Brian Moorman in last year's Pro Bowl, it was glorious.

[OGpistolpete]

He was truly becoming a star in the league. Sad, sad that he had to leave us. RIP Sean Taylor.

[sahyder1]

The dude had some major problems which is crazy too since all indications are that he had a very good background growing up.

[Vendetta]

His dad is a police cheif.

[Hellfire]

I wouldn't say that he had major problems. From what I heard his problems all stemmed from a high school rivalry or something of the sort, and it just got out of hand.

[Typical Phenom]

I wouldn't say that he had major problems. From what I heard his problems all stemmed from a high school rivalry or something of the sort, and it just got out of hand.

[ROC]

Holy hell. This is very terrible news especially since I had hope that he was getting better after hearing that he had movement despite the coma and any sort of death especially for a young man like he was is completely unjust and tragic.

Admittedly, I wasn't huge on him but it's truly a loss for the game and an unfortunate incident.

[RawisJericho]

At such a young age Taylor was a star in the National Football League. He was one of the most feared football players in the NFL and yet he was only 24 years old. It's a shame to see this man go at such a young age, I hope that the Redskins make the rights moves this week and win the game in Taylor's memory. Go Redskins!

[gunnar hendershow]

This is a terrible shame. RIP.

[Hugar Twriker Eats Spam]

Such a shame. Now I am not much of a redskins fan but I was really looking forward to watching the maturation of both Taylor and Landry to see just how nasty a pair of Safety in this leauge could be. For in three to five years when both Taylor and Landry had plenty of experience the Redskins defense was going to be beyond nasty.

[Hellfire]

I was talking about the ATV incident. The spitting and on the field incidents are something different. I just chalked it up to him being a fierce competitor and getting too fired up over stuff happening.

[IAceI]

Being a Redskins fan, and Taylor being my favourite sports person I took this pretty badly. What I find worse is that American Media (so I'm told) and others are turning around and saying stuff like "He had it coming." Now I know the majority of the media seem against the Redskins but to pick out his faults following his death is pretty depressing. He'd really matured, mainly thanks to his baby daughter being born and for his life to come to an end now is horrible.

He was always a fantastic safety, one of the biggest hitters on the go and his instincts on the field were pretty much second to none. Really upset to see his life ended, and even though a Superbowl this year wouldn't mean anything to me hopefully we can go out there and put in some sterling performances in his memory - it's what he'd want.

[mikevandam]

I just found this from his memorial service. Very touching. Joe Gibbs, Levar Arrington, Clinton Portis even Randy Shannon from the University of Miami

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d804c9655

Edited December 5, 2007 by mikevandam