The Spitting Ejection

I don't think anyone here is defending Taylor's actions as acceptable. Taylor was flagged for UC and ejected. End discussion. Should he be suspended for another game? That will be for league officials to decide, not us. If so, the Redskins will have to go to Seattle and GW will have to run the defense w/o him- just like he ran the defense w/o Springs Saturday and w/o Walt Harris earlier in the season, and more recently w/o Carlos Rodgers. Taylor or not, we'll have a solid defense courtesy of GW come Saturday.

For those of you who wish to crucify Taylor as a street punk, thug, etc. bear in mind that sportsmanship has been an "optional" part of this game since it's history. Players have done some of the most rude and unsportsmanlike things to each other in order to get a competitive edge or punish the opponent (that is, until new rules were enforced to stop that behavior). For examples see Joe "Turkey" Jones, Conrad Dobler, Andy Lambert, Mike Curtis, Jack Tatum, Bill Romanowski, Steve Wisniewski, Rodney Harrison, Johnny Sample, and let's not forget our favorite Cowboy, Roy Williams, who made a living off 'horse-collaring' ball carriers. While I'm not condoning Taylor's actions I am saying that due to the nature of the sport, don't expect these guys to throw a teaparty at midfield after the coinflip. Football is by nature an agressive, violent, and physical sport. There's a lot that goes on between the end zones during a game- Taylor was the one that got caught.

The only thing that upsets me about the incident is the fact that dual UC penalties were not assessed, which I felt would have been appropriate under the circumstances. This is the second time that an opponent has taken a swing at a Redskin player without any punishment being dealt. The final game of the season an Eagle lineman took a swing at Joe Salave'a and no flag was thrown there either.

While I disagree with Taylor's alleged actions, I totally agree with your post.

This type of thing has gone on for eons in the NFL and every other level of competition. In my opionion Taylor isn't a dirty player, but he committed a dirty "deed", if you will.

I like how GW stands by ST. It's weird, he speaks of him almost like a son.

ST almost cost the skins the game with his stupid selfish penalty. No way would that long bomb at the end of the game been open for TB of ST had been in the backfield. Luckily the ball was dropped. I hope ST can stay focused on what he is supposed to be doing vs the seahags.

Looks like he has a good chance of playing next week:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/08/AR2006010801114.html

He said, she said. Blah, blah, blah.

We won, ST gets fined. We move on!

Let's move on people! Nothing to see here!

He said, she said. Blah, blah, blah.

We won, ST gets fined. We move on!

Let's move on people! Nothing to see here!Exactly. Sean Taylor will be scoring a touchdown or laying a bone crushing hit sometime Saturday afternoon. I'm more worried about his court date scheduled on Jan. 17 and whether or not he'll be able to play the Bears.

A lot of hostility on an issue that is yet to be resolved. I think you have those defending him because they believe he didn't do it, and since they cannot see it on the replay, think Mike Carey is out of his mind. And you have those who think once a thug always a thug... Honestly, I think some of Taylor's spit does hit Pittman, however everything is not black and white.

There is gray in there somewhere...I think you have 2 very emotional players, who bust their arses play after play, get after each other. I think there was a lot said between these 2, and if anyone has ever gotten emotional and heated, they know there is the slight chance that your mouth fills with saliva. In trying to get the last word, a bit of saliva comes out with the next dis, and all of a sudden Pittman is throwing rights, and Carey is throwing flags. Taylor gets tossed because he got heated, and probably should have backed off and let his Superman like speed and power take over. However, in the heat of the moment, he let emotions get the best of him. I honestly believe if it was intentional, you would have seen Pittman's head jerk back a lot more than it did (if it did). However, if it's just saliva as Taylor's yelling and jawing, it's quite possible that you cannot see it on the replay, and Pittman does get hit.

Not sure what you guys were looking at, but it looked like a pissed off Taylor being led off the field. And once he was ejected, what's the use in a team who has the lead trying to argue with the officials? G-Dub came to his defense after the game, and after talking with Taylor.

Bottom line is something happened out there, and the only 2 people who really know the truth is Sean Taylor and Michael Pittman.

Not that I believe this...but here's my conspiracy twist on it. To that point, Sean Taylor had 7 tackles (4 solo, 3 assists) and was all over the place, even taking out his own player for a bit (Walt Harris). He's been playing balls to the wall for the last few weeks, and has been a force behind a defense only getting better and better.

You have a backup tailback in Michael Pittman, who is known to be a hot head (yes he did beat his wife, but that's irrevalent on the field), and plays with a lot of emotion. Pittman, perhaps thinking to himself, or overhearing his teammates speaking on how much involvement Taylor is having, decides he's gonna try to push Taylor over the edge. Knowing that Taylor is a fireball, he's gonna goat him into doing something stupid. Pittman figures, the worst that could happen to him is he gets ejected, which fires up his team, and leads them to overcome the deficit and win the game.

Pittman waits for the right time, starts jawing with Taylor, and a bit of spit comes out with the words. Without hesitation, he takes a swing at Taylor, all the while screaming, he spit on me, knowing full well that Carey will toss him.

Far fetched, maybe, but with the playoffs on the line, and probably the best raw talent on the field keeping your team down, anything can happen.

Exactly. Sean Taylor will be scoring a touchdown or laying a bone crushing hit sometime Saturday afternoon. I'm more worried about his court date scheduled on Jan. 17 and whether or not he'll be able to play the Bears.

Will he be doing that or sitting in the locker room midway through the 1st quarter because a seabag goaded him into another stupid penalty? Its a fact the seabags will try to get ST to make another bonehead move like he did in TB, hopefully ST can play a little smarter this week.

as much as i like to believe it,im not buying the conspiracy thing at all.2 heated competitors going at,no more,no less.but like the old saying goes,"theres no spitting in football"

That would have to be pretty quick thinking on Pittman's part and in the heat of the battle I doubt he would be that calculated.

I don't think he HURLED at the guy. You would have seen that. In the process of trash-talking, his words probably got a little wet, just like Bill Cowher. If that is what the ref saw, he has to kick him out of the game. But at the same time, you can't let a player take a punch at another. Pittman should have been penalized also. Taylor does not have a history of spitting on players. That was alleged by Cinncinnati. He probably is just like Cowher and his words get a little wet when he is excited. He needs to cut the trash-talking and let his big hits do the talking.