Sean Taylor’s life is something that should be cherished. By teammates, by Redskins fans, and by sports lovers who recognize that a tremendous talent was taken away from the game. Forget too soon, because no one’s life should be taken that way.
But with the announcement that Taylor’s name will join franchise legends in the Redskins Ring of Honor at the end of this month, the respect for his talent and memory departs, and makes way for a contrived memorial that slights the impact of his life and career, and the impact other men have had on this franchise.
There’s no doubt that Taylor had the potential to become one of the all-time Redskin greats. No one can dispute his talent or ferocity on the field. But as tragic as his death was, it also created an abrupt end to a brief career. A career that, had it ended in Washington due to injury, or ended in another city due to contractual demands or trade, likely would not be honored in the same way.
Sure, that’s all conjecture. The man played his heart out for the Redskins and was killed before reaching the prime of his career. But I wonder about the number of players who had as much of an impact as Taylor who won’t make the Ring of Honor. Is LaVar Arrington undeserving of such an accolade? How about Tre’ Johnson? Champ Bailey, Stephen Davis, the list could go on.
There are plenty of Redskins who have had significant impact in a short period of time for the Washington franchise, who will never entertain even a whisper about being named to the Ring of Honor. So, are the Redskins honoring his career, or the fact that it ended without a definitive and understood conclusion?
Are they truly honoring his life? Or his death?
And what about those already in the Ring of Honor? Their careers afforded them that opportunity through years of service to team and community. They worked to be honored in every game by every fan who looks up at that ring around FedEx Field.
Sean Taylor died.
Yes, it is grim. Yes, you could call it heartless, and would be emotionally justified in doing so. But this action will immortalize his death much more than his life and career. It will send the message that the death of a superstar is equal to a life well-lived or a career well-managed. It will send the signal that if your life’s direction isn’t on course with that of the front office, you are less worthy of honor than those whom death claimed before their chance to author the story arc of their career.
You could draw comparisons between the careers of Taylor and Gale Sayers, whose career also ended abruptly due to injury. But Sayers is still alive to share and enjoy those accolades he richly deserves. He is still compiling the story of his life.
It is emotionally admirable that the Redskins franchise wants to compile the next chapter of Sean Taylor’s memory, but it is an unjust way to honor his life.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
AHHHHHHH!
SHUT DA HELL UP THEY WERENT AS GOOD AS SEAN TAYLOR THOUGH.
SEAN WAS DA BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER WE HAD.
TO FEARED HIM JUS AS ANY OTHA PLAYER DID.
NOBODY WA SCARED OF CHAMP BAILEY STEPHEN DAVIS.NONE OF THEM
SEAN WAS DA BEST I’VE EVER SEEN PLAY DIS GAME
1. Just because other players didn’t hit hard doesn’t mean they weren’t good players.
2. Best you’ve ever seen? Really? In just four years?
what a joke…nobody reads this stupid blog, everybody in Wasthington loved Sean Taylor and still does…there was no reason for this to ever be written or published online.
1. Nobody reads this stupid blog…Well, I must give you credit for getting half of that comment right.
2. I’ve got nothing against Taylor. I just think his life is worth much more than putting him in a Ring of Honor reserved for the best Redskin playing careers. Countless other ways to remember his legacy and impact than through that contrived act.
You are a fucking moron which is why you only have this blog to post your editorials and not a real publication.. Think before you type another ridiculous blog like this…”All Sean Taylor did was Die” Burn in hell bro…seriously..
All he did was die? I dont even know what to say.. Your mother must not have loved you or something.
I challenge anyone to go back and find the part where I wrote “All he did was die.” The truth is that Sean Taylor died, and is being honored in a way usually reserved for people who played a full career.
Nothing against him, his talent, his stats, or the fact that we all wished so much better for him. Sean Taylor did much more than die, but that’s what he is being honored for, because it’s not his career.
who ever wrote this is a joke..you really dont know nothing about the redskins and sean taylor…so go kill yourself
Now, with the topic being Sean Taylor, would any mention of killing be really appropriate?
Change, my friend. Everybody’s doing it, so go ahead and get yourself some.
I know JC personally, and while I don’t agree with him here at all, there is no reason to lash out and insult him. This is his own opinion, and I am sure there are many that share his opinion, and many that don’t (like myself), but to come onto somebodys blog and say nobody reads it, when your reading it is pretty lame.
What he is trying to say here is, while Sean Taylor is a beloved Redskin, and it is a shame that he is no longer with us, putting his name in the ring of honor lessens the value of the ring, as his accomplishments are no where near those of the likes of Art Monk, Darrell Green, and others.
I can agree with that, but I think that adding Sean Taylor to the ring is appropriate here.
If some of you guys actually read the article, instead of forming an opinion on just the title, maybe you would understand what he was trying to say.
Exhibit A, is “Nico” who types in all caps, and can barley form a readable sentence. I don’t think he reas the entire article, and I would also bet he just can’t read period.
I have yet to see a intelligent response to debate the story, just insults and all caps barrage.
Hard to take anyone serious that starts out with “SHUT DA HELL UP”
That being said, I will be cheering the loudest when #21 is inducted in the Ring of Honor on Sunday.
Hail to the Redskins
Hail Sean Taylor
Thank you. I’m hopefully that everyone understands I’m not against ST21 in the least bit.
The Mayor’s take on my piece is accurate. Taylor’s induction does take away from the great things many Redskins past have done. But I also want to reiterate that this induction is taking place because he died, therefore putting more emphasis on his death rather than the life he lived and career he created.
I think having his locker forever encased in glass is appropriate. Having his name on the roster in perpetuity would be appropriate. Naming the locker room, a suite, a section of the stadium is appropriate. There are so many things that can give credit to the brother’s life rather than arbitrarily naming him to an honor roll designed for players and coaches who changed the Redskins – and the NFL – through their achievements.
maybe you dont really understand the word family .that is what redskins fans really are maybe to you he was just sean taylor. to me and millions of redskin fans he was a guy who went out every sunday and gave 1000% for the redskins and all us fans .even though i only spoke to him for a few seconds at giants stadium it was like a close family member died on that early morning of nov 27 2007 look the bottom line is i could not think of a guy that belongs to be there more than sean.god bless his family jackie and that and that beuatiful child. rip sean
I agree with you and I’d go one step further. Not only is dying not enough to get these kinds of honors, but the way Sean Taylor lived his life during his brief NFL career is not exactly worthy of praise.
When he gets inducted, he will be by far the worst Redskin in the Ring. I love the Skins but I think the culture surrounding our team, fans, and ownership has deteriorated into one that glorifies idiocy. Just shows what kind of an organization it’s turned into.
It was the Washington Redskin’s decision to put Sean Taylor’s name on their wall/ring of fame. Yes, Taylor’s career & life was cut way too short but nobody can deny that he had not made changes while he was alive. He was not perfect, he made mistakes so get over it hell nobody’s perfect.
~~Sean Taylor 21 Forever A Redskin~~
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