New Face for Taylor

[Jamaican'Skin]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2121073

ASHBURN, Va. -- Smiling and unusually congenial, safety Sean Taylor reported to Washington Redskins training camp Sunday, ending an offseason in which he snubbed his coaches and got arrested in Florida.

"I'm happy to be back," Taylor said as he walked to his car after taking a required conditioning test with the team's training staff.

Sean Taylor
Safety
Washington Redskins
Profile


2004 SEASON STATISTICS
Tot Ast Solo FF Sack Int
76 63 13 2 1 4



Taylor sported a different look and different attitude, at least in the few seconds he was exposed to reporters.

He wore his hair tightly braided under a baseball cap, with green shirt and white baggy shorts. He smiled as reporters walked with him and even paused in his car to give one photographer extra time to take his picture -- a gesture unimaginable when Taylor was boycotting the media for much of last year.

Taylor said he would speak more at length Monday, when the Redskins hold their first practices.

"I'll have something for you in the morning," he said.

Being cooperative won't end Taylor's troubles, however. He is facing a felony charge of aggravated assault with a firearm and a misdemeanor charge of simple battery stemming from a June 1 confrontation near his Miami home. His trial is set for Sept. 12, the day after the Redskins open the regular season. Even if the trial is postponed, the matter will cloud Taylor's season.

Even before his arrest, Taylor upset coach Joe Gibbs by staying away from the team's offseason meetings and practices. Taylor and Gibbs had a long overdue face-to-face meeting Saturday.

"What he said to me made sense, made me feel good as far as the mistakes he's made, what he had to say about it," Gibbs said. "I'm not going to elaborate on what we talked about, but I thought it was a good coach-player conversation."

Gibbs said Taylor "breezed" through the conditioning test, a sign that Taylor kept himself in shape while away. Gibbs reiterated that the Redskins will follow the NFL's lead in deciding whether to discipline Taylor for the arrest, and the league won't act until the case has made its way through the legal system.

"He wants to get back to play football," Gibbs said, "and the rest of his situation is really controlled a lot by the league and a lot by the court system, so there's not much we can say about it."

Taylor endured an eventful rookie year in 2004, including a drunken driving charge that was later dismissed, a fine for skipping the NFL's mandatory rookie symposium, several in-season fines for uniform violations and illegal hits, and the hiring and firing of two agents. He refused to speak to reporters for most of the season and was often surly when approached.

"I think Sean will probably tell you he made some bad choices," Gibbs said.

On the field, Taylor showed promise with his speed, athleticism and his fearless hitting. He had 89 tackles, four interceptions, forced two fumbles and finished fourth in voting for the AP's NFL defensive rookie of the year.

"I want Sean to come in here and take care of his business on the field, and I think he's prepared to do that," quarterback Patrick Ramsey said. "It'll take care of itself from there."


Talyo posing for media? Possibly told by hiw lawyer to do so?