Pastabelly's Tip Sheet on Taylor, 'Skins, Free Agent Safeties

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Washington Redskins officials have been openly supportive of second-year free safety Sean Taylor, who faces two felony counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and a misdemeanor count of battery, and who will be arraigned on June 24. But here's something notable: Team personnel officials this week began checking out free safeties, making calls and doing research on players still in the free agent pool, those who might be cut before camp, and those who could be available in trades. Maybe it's just coincidence, perhaps a case of the Redskins simply interested in bolstering the position, or just conducting due diligence. Then again, Washington could be preparing for the possibility of not having Taylor available. It would be difficult for the Redskins to release Taylor, given the salary cap ramifications of such a move, but his contract does include default language that might allow the club to recoup some of his bonus money in the event he is convicted. By the way, the top safeties still available in free agency include Lance Schulters, Tony Dixon, Cory Bird, Reggie Tongue, Eric Brown and Anthony Floyd.