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Sean Taylor
proCanes
No. 21 makes right move
May/17/07 10:23 AM | Permalink
Driving from northern Virginia to Baltimore this afternoon for today's Preakness Stakes draw, I still had a hard time comprehending what I was going to say in this blog entry.

Sean Taylor did something smart by reporting to the Loudoun County Parkway on Tuesday for the second week of the Redskins' off-season practices/workouts/rehearsals/recesses. 
  
It boggles the mind, right?

Sean Taylor did something right.

Sean Taylor did something befitting a future leader.

Sean Taylor did something smart.

Sean Taylor did something that showed respect for his head coach.

Maybe the kid is getting it after all.
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Taylor at last reports for work
May/16/07 10:41 AM | Permalink
Safety Sean Taylor was a surprise participant as the Washington Redskins began their second week of organized team activities yesterday at Redskin Park.

Taylor, who had not been in touch with the coaching staff while absent last week, acted as if his return wasn't a big deal even though he and still-absent cornerback Shawn Springs had been the only players missing.

"I don't think there's a problem," said Taylor, who didn't participate in any voluntary offseason work in 2005 and wasn't a regular in 2006 either as his felony assault case made its way through the legal system. "I should've been here with everybody else, but I'm sure I'll make it up the next couple of weeks."
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Joe Gibbs Is Kinda Pissed at Sean Taylor
May/14/07 11:39 AM | Permalink
Earlier here at the FanHaus, we talked about Redskins safety Sean Taylor missing the Redskins voluntary workout last week. There have been rumblings that Taylor is mad about his contract situation. And now there are more rumblings that Taylor is miffed that the Skins failed to re-sign his buddy Ryan Clark last offseason. Either way, Taylor blew off the team.

Well, seems like Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs isn't too thrilled about the snub.

Washington Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs expressed surprise and dismay yesterday that neither starting free safety Sean Taylor nor starting cornerback Shawn Springs attended the first week of voluntary workouts. Springs said yesterday he plans to join the workouts the first week of June.

"With Sean Taylor, I've had no contact whatsoever," Gibbs said. "I'm not aware of anything there. That's about all I can say about it. I've had no contact."
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Uh-Oh! Sean Taylor Shuns Redskin Workout
May/10/07 12:36 PM | Permalink
Of course you can't have everything in Redskin Land. After drafting LaRon Landry to pair up with Sean Taylor in the secondary ... Taylor decides he isn't too cool with his contract. Taylor didn't show up for the Redskins' voluntary workout this week. He and Shawn Springs [who's Redskin career is up in the air] were the most notable absences. 

Yeah, it's voluntary, but the Redskins have been pushing for veterans to show up since they are allowing players to work out on their own time, away from the team. Also, the Skins were led to believe that Taylor was going to attend.

However, numerous players suggested that Taylor likely would not be in attendance, a byproduct of his possible displeasure with his contract. Sources said that team officials were hoping Taylor was merely taking personal time and preparing to join the workouts. Sources added that Director of Player Personnel Vinny Cerrato and Taylor's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had been in discussions in recent weeks regarding a contract extension for Taylor, whose contract expires after the 2008 season.
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Taylor, Springs Skip Team Workout
May/09/07 11:43 AM | Permalink
WASHINGTON — While the majority of the Washington Redskins’ regular players were in attendance at the team’s first organized activities of the offseason Tuesday, two absences were noteworthy: Neither safety Sean Taylor nor cornerback Shawn Springs was at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va.

It is unclear whether Taylor, who works out in Miami, plans to attend the workouts, which will be held Tuesday through Thursday of each week leading up to the June minicamp, with one week off. While attendance is voluntary, the coaching staff has encouraged players to attend, especially since Coach Joe Gibbs agreed to veterans’ demands that they be allowed to do their offseason conditioning away from Redskins Park this past winter.

Taylor attended the voluntary workouts sporadically in 2004 and not at all in 2005, then had perfect attendance last year. Springs, meanwhile, is in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he has been working out for the past three months and enduring an uncertain offseason with the Redskins. In February, the Redskins asked him to take a $2 million pay cut and he refused. In the interim, he has been part of trade scenarios. Springs said he planned to attend the voluntary workouts later in the month, but wanted to remain focused on his Arizona training.
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Sean Taylor To Free Saftey
May/06/07 09:51 AM | Permalink
After enduring a season of pronounced defensive breakdowns that resulted in a 5-11 record, Redskins assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams said at the end of the season he planned to watch more film than he ever had in an attempt to pinpoint the specific problems, large and small.

In his first public comments of the new season, Williams mentioned a change he will make: For the first time in his tenure with the Redskins, his safeties will have traditional designations. Sean Taylor will be the free safety and LSU rookie LaRon Landry, should he win a starting role in training camp, will be the strong safety.

"I think that Sean Taylor's skill is that he can go so far to go and get balls, but we had to use him in the box an awful lot last year," Williams said. "He can do it all. He can do anything you want him to do. I think this young man can do that, too, and I'd like to put Sean Taylor more in the position to get the ball in the passing game."
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Sean Taylor update
Feb/11/07 12:43 PM | Permalink
But there was no confusion about the best play: Sean Taylor, the maverick Washington Redskins safety, broke the unwritten rule about hard hits in an exhibition when he viciously leveled Buffalo Bills punter Brian Moorman on an attempted fake in the third quarter.

(baltimoresun.com)
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Redskins' Taylor added to Pro Bowl roster
Feb/06/07 01:46 AM | Permalink
ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor was added to the NFC's Pro Bowl roster Monday after Brian Dawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles withdrew because of personal reasons.

Taylor, who will be making his first Pro Bowl appearance, was a first alternate when Pro Bowl rosters were announced in December. He had an erratic season--making only one interception for a defense that ranked 31st in the league--but he led the Redskins with 129 tackles and showed ability to intimidate wide receivers with jarring hits.

Taylor, the No. 5 pick from Miami in the 2004 draft, joints left tackle Chris Samuels as the Redskins' representatives to the Pro Bowl, which will be played Saturday in Honolulu.

(AP)
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Redskins Sean Taylor's problems are now between the lines
Dec/22/06 02:09 PM | Permalink
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Sean Taylor got fooled twice on the same play.

He bit when Donte' Stallworth faked an out pattern, then bit again when Donovan McNabb faked a handoff. A few seconds later, Stallworth was racing toward the end zone with Taylor trailing helplessly in his wake, having caught a deep pass from McNabb over the middle for an 84-yard touchdown.

This was the year Taylor was supposed to be the beast, "the best player in the NFL," according to teammate Clinton Portis. The Washington Redskins safety, who was in constant trouble during his first two seasons, finally had his legal problems behind him and was free to concentrate on terrifying receivers, quarterbacks and running backs league-wide.
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Skins' Taylor does talking on the field
Dec/01/06 07:01 AM | Permalink
ASHBURN - The Sean Taylor almost no one sees stood in front of his locker Wednesday as a small procession of news people came by, one by one, to offer congratulations on his being named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Taylor turned to face each person, flashed a bright, friendly smile, and replied, "Thank you very much."

But when someone asked for a few minutes of his time, a few words of wisdom, Taylor smiled again, shook his dreadlocked head and turned away.
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Redskins' Taylor Put On the Hits Sunday
Nov/30/06 08:07 AM | Permalink
When the Washington Redskins drafted Sean Taylor fifth overall in 2004, they envisioned afternoons like Sunday. Taylor would help stifle the run, hit like a linebacker, bruise receivers and track down long passes for interceptions. On Sunday, Taylor did all of that in a 17-13 victory over Carolina, but it was the highlight of an otherwise pedestrian season.

Taylor struggled along with the entire defense, languishing in coverage, racking up personal fouls and seemingly being out of sorts at times as the Redskins won only three of their first 10 games. On Sunday, he seemed at ease, dancing along with the rest of the players during timeouts and working with new starting safety Vernon Fox, who was filling in for injured Troy Vincent. With about two minutes to play, Taylor made a swooping, one-on-one tackle on wide receiver Drew Carter, driving him to the ground two yards shy of the marker on fourth down. When the Panthers drove again a minute later, Taylor read quarterback Jake Delhomme's long pass and intercepted it in the end zone to cement the victory.

"That game was testament to him as a player, his all-around tackling and going after the ball," Fox said. "You got to see every facet of his game Sunday, and we're just hoping that as the weeks continue to progress you'll see more of that. He's a great player, and when he's clicking on all cylinders you get to see those types of performances."
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Sean Taylor Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week
Nov/29/06 04:18 PM | Permalink
Taylor posted six tackles, an interception and a pass defensed in Washington's 17-13 victory over Carolina. He made two key plays down the stretch to contribute to the win. He prevented a crucial first down with 2:16 remaining when Carolina's Drew Carter caught a short pass on 4th-and-6 but got stopped by Taylor two yards short of the marker. Taylor then sealed the win with an interception on the Panthers' final drive.

(seattlepi.com)
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Taylor remains work in progress
Nov/29/06 08:09 AM | Permalink
There was the third-and-8 play on which he covered for the cornerback and interrupted a potential drive-extending completion. 


There was the third-and-14 play on which he gathered a head of steam and stopped the running back 8 yards shy of a first down. 


There was the fourth-and-6 play on which he made an athletic, open field tackle, again stopping the play short of a first down. 


And there was the victory-cementing interception with 55 seconds left.

Four keys plays in the Washington Redskins' 17-13 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. All made by safety Sean Taylor.
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FBN Redskins Taylor's Troubles
Nov/22/06 11:00 PM | Permalink
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Sean Taylor got fooled twice on the same play.

He bit when Donte' Stallworth faked an out pattern, then bit again when Donovan McNabb faked a handoff. A few seconds later, Stallworth was racing toward the end zone with Taylor trailing helplessly in his wake, having caught a deep pass from McNabb over the middle for an 84-yard touchdown.

This was the year Taylor was supposed to be the beast, ``the best player in the NFL,'' according to teammate Clinton Portis. The Washington Redskins safety, who was in constant trouble during his first two seasons, finally had his legal problems behind him and was free to concentrate on terrifying receivers, quarterbacks and running backs league-wide.
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Taylor no match for Giants WR Burress
Oct/09/06 10:05 AM | Permalink
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Unlike much of the NFL, the New York Giants did not shy away from Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor in Sunday's 19-3 victory. Rather, when they had the chance to exploit him in pass coverage, they went right after him with Plaxico Burress.

Burress, who caught seven passes for 69 yards, got the majority of that yardage on a play on which he torched Taylor in man-to-man coverage. Later, he beat Taylor on a 2-yard scoring reception, the game's lone touchdown.

With the score tied at 3, Burress beat Taylor deep down the field and hauled in a 46-yard pass that led to a go-ahead field goal.
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Redskins notebook: Reputation may hurt Taylor with refs, but Skins like his style
Sep/18/06 08:12 AM | Permalink
IRVING, Texas - Is Sean Taylor's hard-nosed reputation working against him and the Washington Redskins?

The Redskins sent one of two personal fouls called against Taylor in the fourth quarter of Monday night's loss to Minnesota to the league office for review. The 15-yarder was called as a helmet-to-helmet hit on Marcus Robertson, and it kept the Vikings from having to punt from the shadow of their own end zone.

The league has announced that it will not fine Taylor for the hit, which replays showed seemed to have been made more with his shoulder than the helmet.
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Flags often fly near Taylor
Sep/16/06 11:15 AM | Permalink
There's no question Sean Taylor plays hard and often plays well. Taylor, the Washington Redskins' third-year, hard-hitting Pro Bowl safety in the making, is always going full speed -- from post-practice sprints to covering kickoffs to every defensive snap -- and played the second half of last season on a bum ankle.

    His helmet-rattling hits have produced plenty of oohs from crowds around the NFL. 

    But like every safety, Taylor walks the line between clean hits and those that officials perceive as unnecessary shots against defenseless players. The conundrum -- which developed in 2004 and late in 2005 -- flared up again in the Redskins' season-opening loss to Minnesota on Monday. 

    Taylor was called for two 15-yard personal foul penalties -- a late hit on Marcus Robinson and a face mask of Troy Williamson -- in the fourth quarter, and the second led to the Vikings' game-winning field goal. The first penalty was iffy at best and an egregious error at worst.
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'Best Player' and 'Changed Man': Redskins Hope Taylor is Both
Sep/06/06 05:56 PM | Permalink
SHBURN, Va. (AP) - Clinton Portis' expression turned serious at the mention of Sean Taylor. Portis is a showman known for hyperbole, and this time he wanted to make sure that his words would not be treated as a joke.

"We're talking about someone who I think probably is the best player in the NFL," Portis said. "Not best safety _ best player in the NFL."

Maybe that's a bit of a stretch, but it is true that there is a growing consensus that the Washington Redskins safety has the potential to be a once-in-a-generation player. He hits like a linebacker. He can cover like a cornerback. His intensity is unmatched. His face, hardened by tough inner-city experiences, rarely cracks a smile. On the field, he is one serious, mean dude.

No wonder former teammate LaVar Arrington nicknamed him "The Grim Reaper."

"He is the best football player I've ever coached," said assistant coach Gregg Williams, who has been at the trade for 17 years.
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