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?

[gortiz]

Originally Posted by Jamaican'Skin

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

Probably, and well, it sucks, because he might be putting on an act, but at least he is in here, making an attitude adjumstment, and wearing a skins uniform! The way I see it, he has to start some where, and at least it looks like he is trying!

[monk81]

I hope it is not all postering and coaching by his LAWYER on how to act ...............

[GoSkins!]

Hopefully he can keep up the act for 15 more years.......

[GoSkins!]

Originally Posted by GoSkins!

Hopefully he can keep up the act for 15 more years.......

Just to clarify, I meant 15 years in the NFL... not jail...

[EternalEnigma21]

The guy is facing the possibility of having the best career imaginable, (besides owning a strip club) ripped away from him. I'm sure his attourney and agent are brushing him up a bit to try to make him look a bit more presentable, but it may just be what he needs. I mean, if he gets that push in the right direction and things start going a little better for him... he could decide that he isn't some thug from the hood anymore and there are better ways to approach a situation.

You know he's not getting that contract reworked this season, and a HUGE part of that has to do with his off the field problems. He did play well enough to deserve more money than what he signed for, but no one really wants a case of locker room cancer or the possibility of investing in a guy headed for the pen. Thats going to hurt him worse than a bad year, and to be honest thats the reason a lot of stand up guys behave the way they do in public. It doesn't really matter if its window dressing or not. These guys are in the entertainment business. As long as he doesn't go to prison or turn into a mike tyson, i think we'll be okay.

[1niksder]

Taylor: 'I'm Glad to Be Back'

[diehardskin2982]

Im still a Sean Taylor fine... I be at the open camp supporting him, will you?

[diehardskin2982]

plus check out the interview with him on redskins.com

[MTK]

Of course I don't know the guy personally, but just from what I've seen and heard so far Taylor sure seems alot looser, relaxed and more down to earth. Perhaps this offseason was a real wake up call for him. Hopefully he's starting to come out of his shell a bit. I'm sure he's anxious to get back on the field and forget about his legal issues.

[Gmanc711]

As a Redskin fan, its really nice to read this. I would hope that he learned somthing from his actions this offseason, and tries to right his ship. I would say there is a very good chance he wont be convicted of his charges and will have a second chance at everything. As a human being, I hope he learns from that. As a football player, I hope he continues to grow as well and know that his team is depending on him. Its good to see that he's had a start with that.


On Redskins.com they have a 1 on 1 interview with him too. In all honesty ( I missed the rookie PC), I think its the first time I've heard him speak. Worth checking out.

[12thMan]

I must say that ST seemed sincere. Whether he was "coached" by his agent or lawyer, we'll probably never know. But one thing is starting to bug me a little....why do we automatically classify Taylor as some thug?? I think we use the term loosely. I don't get it. Which one of his offseason or on-the-field acts classify him as a thug? He walked out on the rookie symposium. Okay, not a good thing. He was accused and later acquitted of drunk driving....many of us here have been pulled over one time or another for that, perhaps. And the recent incident in Miami, well we just don't know all the facts yet, nor the outcome. But I think the media tends to paint a perception of who's considered a "character guy" and who's not. He seems to be a bit of an enigma, but I'm not sure he's a thug. If someone shows up at all of the OTAs in the world, goes to the Pro Bowl, gives great interviews and seems to be articulate but later beats on his wife, we'll say he has domestic issues...or he's a wife beater. Just because someone braids their hair and maybe has made some questionable decisions doesn't make them a thug.......just me on my little soap box tonight guys, no harm intended.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I must say that ST seemed sincere. Whether he was "coached" by his agent or lawyer, we'll probably never know. But one thing is starting to bug me a little....why do we automatically classify Taylor as some thug?? I think we use the term loosely. I don't get it. Which one of his offseason or on-the-field acts classify him as a thug? He walked out on the rookie symposium. Okay, not a good thing. He was accused and later acquitted of drunk driving....many of us here have been pulled over one time or another for that, perhaps. And the recent incident in Miami, well we just don't know all the facts yet, nor the outcome. But I think the media tends to paint a perception of who's considered a "character guy" and who's not. He seems to be a bit of an enigma, but I'm not sure he's a thug. If someone shows up at all of the OTAs in the world, goes to the Pro Bowl, gives great interviews and seems to be articulate but later beats on his wife, we'll say he has domestic issues...or he's a wife beater. Just because someone braids their hair and maybe has made some questionable decisions doesn't make them a thug.......just me on my little soap box tonight guys, no harm intended.

Some good points here. It's kind of funny how we spend all offseason bitching about players like TO and ST. Yet Taylor is at camp and TO is expected to show up for Eagles camp tomorrow....and yet Hines Ward, who most everyone considers one of the games "good guys", is a camp holdout.

But whatever, all I care about is that Taylor is in camp and ready to play...at least until Sept. 12th

[12thMan]

My point exactly!

[EternalEnigma21]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

....why do we automatically classify Taylor as some thug?? I think we use the term loosely. I don't get it. Which one of his offseason or on-the-field acts classify him as a thug? He walked out on the rookie symposium. Okay, not a good thing. He was accused and later acquitted of drunk driving.... And the recent incident in Miami, well we just don't know all the facts yet, nor the outcome.

It's a combination of the events which have taken place. I mean look at the guy's media clips. You go on to state: He walks from the Symposium, gets charged with a DUI... Hires and fires 3 different agents, changes numbers with the winds, blows off a hall of fame coach during the offseason (His boss), misses the "voluntary" ota's without even a phone call, and now he's facing a minimum manditory 10yr sentance for pulling a gun on some punk who stole his fourwheeler. Anybody who isn't a thug wouldve probably just called the police. Im not saying I know what happened, but these charges most likely weren't just made up. All of this and the guy has only been in the league for a year.

Don't get me wrong, I like him as a player and its damned nice to have him on our team, and maybe judging the guy isn't our place, but just because he's probably going to get off on the charges doesn't mean he's not guilty. The fact remains something happened that shouldn't have happened and he's facing charges stemming from it.

Look I'm a ST fan but you can't blame people for classifying him as a thug. When you live in the spotlight, you can't just do whatever the hell you want and not expect negative publicity for it.