Why Is Taylor's Death So Troubling To Us?

[12thMan]

If any current Redskin had suffered this untimely and tragic death, I know we'd all be mourning and very sad today. But is it possible, as much as we hate to admit it, there's something a little more hurtful, if you will, about Sean Taylor's death. How did we come to like a player so much in such a short period of time? How did we seemingly look beyond his past transgressions and cheer so hard for him and got excited when he was in the lineup?

I hate to say it, but save maybe a guy like a Clinton Portis or a Jason Campbell, do we still mourn like this? To this extent? Why is this death, Taylor's death, so damn devastating? It's like one minute the guy is about to return from a knee sprain and the next minute he's gone. I can't fathom this.

Was Taylor just an athlete? More than an athlete or something we fixed in our minds and we're sorry to see a bad ending to our fairytale? I don't know...I'm just trying to get it all out.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

For me, it's how senseless it was. It's the fact he was murdered. It could have been the lowest of the low on the depth chart and I'd still feel similarly today.

I say similarly because ST was in our hearts and minds throughout the past few years. He was one of the first names of the Gibbs Era. I think that's what makes most people a little more attached to him.

[MTK]

I think it would be devastating if any current Redskin player died.

I think many were rooting for him because he appeared to have straightened out his life. He was so young and had so much potential.

It just hurts from so many angles.

[Cowell]

For me, I think it was a combo of that fact that when I played football I looked at Sean Taylor and tried my best to be like him. Sean was not just my favorite Skin but he was my favorite player before he was on the Skins and I'm not a Hurricane fan.

What else really got me was that he just had a kid and the fact that he won't get to see her grow up, that's a punishment no one deserves. And he died protecting his family which to me is a very honorable death.

[SkinsFan6388]

it would be troubling if any of our skins died as previously stated. this death was so senseless and he was only beginning to see his true potential. theres no doubt he was on his way to being one of the most feared defenders in the league. but more importantly the man was only 24 yrs old, and had a child that will never know her father. it personally kills me inside to think about what was lost and what could have been.

[firstdown]

Not sure if I could answer that question and its one I do not want to find out the answer. People will say its not about football but ST brought so much excitment to the game everytime he stepped onto the field that cannot be replaced. I know that I only know ST as a football player and now I'll never have the chance to see him play again and I will greatly miss that.

[GMScud]

He was Gibbs first draft pick in his second tenure. There was so much talk about him. I think the way he grew and matured drew me to him. I've always loved the player, but he was becoming a true man before our eyes. His growth on and off the field, the fact that we had a unique opportunity to have the best player at his position in the whole league... He also saved his baby and fiancee's life. He stood between the attacker and his family. In that sense he is a hero.

Everyone here knows Redskins football is about a hell of a lot more than what happens on the field 16 Sundays a year. It's about family and tradition. Our franchise was a mess when Gibbs came back. Taylor and the organization have grown and stabilized together. Taylor is part of this family and always will be. I think the caliber of player, his growth as a man over the past few years, his quiet confidence and how much his teammates loved him, and the circumstances of his death all snowball into a massive wave of emotion.

Maybe I'm just rambling. I don't know exactly why I'm so devastated by this. But I am.

[vaoutlaws2006]

The senseless part about this is what makes it so hard on me. And his age 24 years old...he had so much more life to live and to have it cut short in such a senseless act is what has me so messed up.

[atomicnixon]

I don't know why Sean Taylor's death has had such a profound effect on me. I am only a senior in high school, but all day long its been like I just wanna cry. Cry for Taylor, his family, the Redskins, and the NFL. Its been a really crappy day.

[MTK]

Needless to say he was a fan favorite. His style of play and his reckless abandon with his body made it very easy to get on his bandwagon. I've always loved the tough guys like Riggo and Taylor. Guys like that played the game the way it is supposed to be played. 110 mph, 110% effort, leave it all on the field.

[bridaman51]

Sean was different. I remember early on I was not a huge fan of his. I unknowingly thought he was a selfish player, out for himself, did not care about anyone else. I constantly was finding myself hoping he would not be another Ray Lewis. But then you watch him play. He played so hard, he always gave 100%, never quite. I started to admire the guy, I found myself telling my kids that is how you play, square up and hit someone, you cant play with fear. Then this pas preseason I went to camp with my kids and I payed special attention to Taylor. I saw the focus in his eyes, I say the enthusiasm and the love he had for the game. I did not have to talk to him I did not have to shout at him, I just knew by looking at him. Seeing him in person and watching the MEAST play ball is simply amazing. It would be hard to lose any Redskin in these circumstances no matter who it is. But maybe it is the fact we watched this man grow before our very eyes. I feel bad that I ever judged the way I did, I am glad however to have seen the error in my ways and realize that Sean was more than just a Redskin.

[mheisig]

It's troubling for a number of reasons, and I think particularly troubling given the circumstances.

He was the best player on the defense, if not the whole team, so obviously someone everyone paid a lot of attention to. I think, like Matty mentioned, he seemed to be getting his life straightened out and really getting on the right track. I think everyone loves to see someone pull themselves out of a mess and really make a better life.

The most poignant, painful aspect for me is that he's my age, he's got a daughter the same age as my daughter, and he died defending his family.

Not to speak poorly of anyone else, but there are famous figures who have died under less than stellar circumstances. Fights at strip clubs, overdose on cocaine, you name it.

Sean died while he was at home, with his family, trying to protect he people he loved. It doesn't get more tragic or heart rending than that.

[12thMan]

You know for me...I don't know...but it's like Taylor was right in between true greatness. I mean Hall of Fame greatness. He was beyond the collegiate level, and so we knew for sure he could compete at the professional ranks at a very high level. Then on the other hand, he wasn't quite there yet. It was the "on his way" that kills me so much. As bright as his star was beginning to shine, you knew it was only going to get brighter. That's the tragedy. We never got see that brightness fulfilled, and its fuc*in killing me.

[TampaDude]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Needless to say he was a fan favorite. His style of play and his reckless abandon with his body made it very easy to get on his bandwagon. I've always loved the tough guys like Riggo and Taylor. Guys like that played the game the way it is supposed to be played. 110 mph, 110% effort, leave it all on the field.

+1

Well said!

[VTSkins897]

i think understand somewhat where you're going with this. my brother and i had just agreed when were in tampa before the game that he was our favorite player...

there's just something about sean and actually seeing, albeit from simply a fans eyes, him grow. as i look at pictures you really get a feel for just how young he is, he even seems younger than 24.

i guess i cant really explain what im thinking very well