Sportsline: Same Old Sean Taylor

[Hostile]

Legal case behind him, but Commanders' Taylor still has an attitude

June 16, 2006

CBS SportsLine.com wire reports

http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/sponso...;vip=no;sz=234x42;tile=5;ord=548151150501403?[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]

[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] ASHBURN, Va. -- Sean Taylor was defensive, antagonistic, engaged in a bit revisionist history and twice displayed his familiar shrug-and-smirk when confronted with a question he didn't like. [/FONT]
http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/imus.s...vip=no;sz=300x250;tile=7;ord=548151150501403?[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
Some things never change. Even though Taylor's legal problems have been resolved, and even though coach Joe Gibbs sat him down for a talk aimed a producing a ''fresh start,'' the Washington Commanders safety was his old self when confronted by a gaggle of reporters Friday after the first practice of a three-day minicamp. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
For starters, there was the assault case that hung over Taylor's head for a year, through seven trial postponements. Taylor ended the saga earlier this month when pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors, avoiding any jail time that could have essentially ended his career. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
"I think in my case, in my scenario, I think it was the best way to just put it away and let me focus on football these three days," Taylor said. "So you don't have to ask me, 'Why did you miss camp again?' when I show up for training camp, (and) butcher me." [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Taylor's relationship with both the Commanders and the media has been rocky since he was drafted No. 5 overall three years. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
A partial list of his transgressions includes a $25,000 fine for skipping a mandatory rookie symposium, a drunken driving charge -- eventually dismissed -- that got him benched for one game, and seven fines for late hits and other on-field infractions, including $17,000 for spitting at another player during a playoff game. Then came the no contest plea, which could still lead to a fine or suspension from the NFL. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
After all that, Gibbs made it clear that a trouble-free year from Taylor is near the top of the coach's wish list. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
"He's had a lot of personal issues there," Gibbs said. "We've had a good talk, and I think he understands that. I think certainly he's been through a lot. I think he's learned a lot. Our feeling is he realizes some of the positions he's put himself in. I think he's ready for a fresh start." [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
Taylor gets fresh starts because he is immensely talented, with all the tool of a Pro Bowl player who could rule his position for years to come. The Commanders have punished him -- he was forced to work with the second-team unit Friday after missing a large chunk of the voluntary spring workouts -- but the message doesn't always seem to get through. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
"As long as you're here from the end of July to January, or whenever the season ends, that's all your team really cares about," Taylor said. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
Gibbs couldn't disagree more. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
"I think he can be a dominating player," Gibbs said. "He's behind, because of the stuff he's missed. That's tough for us and tough for him." [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
Last year, Taylor defiantly skipped offseason workouts and wouldn't return Gibbs' calls, saying his offseason time was his own. He changed his story Friday, saying he would have been an offseason participant last year if it were not for "some complications," which he did not explain. He said he decided to attend some of the offseason work this year for the sake of team chemistry. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
"Everybody's entitled to their own opinion as far as offseason goes," said Taylor, who also recently became a father. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
Teammates and coaches regularly point out that, behind closed doors, Taylor is personable, smart and dedicated to his sport. The Commanders are hoping this is the year he becomes a good citizen when everybody else is watching. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
"Hopefully," Gibbs said, "from here, on the road smoothes out." [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2005-2006, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved[/FONT]

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Is it to early to nominate the "Jerk of the Year"?

 

[EMMITTnROY]

I wish people would read things like this and realize how blessed we are to have a guy like Roy Williams.. he was drafted #8 overall, and has totally lived up to the selection.. three straight Pro Bowls (and really should have made it his rookie year), coming in 2nd in Defensive Player of the Year in 2003, and making big plays all over for us.. AND.. he is a classy player off the field and a model citizen..

 

[riggo]

Is it to early to nominate the "Jerk of the Year"?

he has a chip on his shoulder, but i didnt read anything to warrant that. your boy TO has said worse. much.

 

[Hostile]

he has a chip on his shoulder, but i didnt read anything to warrant that. your boy TO has said worse. much.

Our "boy TO" has never been accused of pointing a gun at people.

 

[WoodysGirl]

"Everybody's entitled to their own opinion as far as offseason goes," said Taylor, who also recently became a father.

Oh my, he's contributed to the gene pool. Children having children is never a good thing.

 

[MONT17]

yeah Gibbs will be starting Archuletta due to the time TAYLOR missed!!!





please he actually said Gibbs feels Taylor's missed time is a concern... what next? a Bill Parcells is pissed with the time ELLIS missed article...


what a joke the guy gets "off" and people wanna hold his feet to the fire and why? I guess if he likes RAP and the Corn Rows thats enough for PC!!!

 

[EMMITTnROY]

he has a chip on his shoulder, but i didnt read anything to warrant that. your boy TO has said worse. much.

OK, a couple of things..

first off, yes, TO has said much worse.. he has done things so immature its unbelievable.. BUT.. as long as he's been a Cowboy, he has kept his nose clean, and has said that the past is the past and wants to be a better person and a better teammate.. so Im willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe that people can change IF they want to.. it doesnt sound like Sean Taylor is to that place yet.. he still has the attitude and is still saying things and doing things..

secondly, if you add up all the stupid things that TO said and did before coming to the Cowboys (and there were a ton), in my opinion they still don't add up to one single incident that Taylor did.. that spitting incident was the worst thing I have ever seen a football player do this side of Marcus Vick.. that is the ultimate disrespect and sign of immaturity-- to spit on another player..

 

[austintodallas]

Our "boy TO" has never been accused of pointing a gun at people.

Nice one.

 

[jimmy40]

Our "boy TO" has never been accused of pointing a gun at people.

It's not like Taylor was pointing his gun at Billy Graham.
This you're idiot is worse than our idiot arguement is ..well idiotic. It's the NFL, every team has an idiot on them.

 

[Hostile]

It's not like Taylor was pointing his gun at Billy Graham.
This you're idiot is worse than our idiot arguement is ..well idiotic. It's the NFL, every team has an idiot on them.

He started it!!!!!!

:wink2:

Why would I care who he pointed his gun at? Unless he did it in his house because they broke in he was wrong. It is never right to point a gun at another human being.

 

[t.o.boys81]

he has a chip on his shoulder, but i didnt read anything to warrant that. your boy TO has said worse. much.

It's better to have a problem running your mouth, like TO, than having a problem of being tempted to pull the trigger at someone, like Taylor.

 

[silverbear]

what a joke the guy gets "off" and people wanna hold his feet to the fire and why? I guess if he likes RAP and the Corn Rows thats enough for PC!!!

Pleading guilty is "getting off"??

 

[Hostile]

Pleading guilty is "getting off"??

No contest.

 

[TEK2000]

If I one of the top-tier Cowboys players said this:

"As long as you're here from the end of July to January, or whenever the season ends, that's all your team really cares about," Taylor said.

I'd be pretty pissed. That statement right there tells you EVERYTHING about Taylor's attitude. He views football as a part time job that pays him big money... and he gets to run around doing whatever he wants for half the year.

You're a fan of a team and you want them to do everything they can to succeed and win the Super Bowl... and one of your premier players has that kind of attitude?

I hope he never gets any kind of defensive awards (All-pro, D Player of the year). Its like Michael Irvin said about Barry Sanders and the all time leading rusher title...."If you don't want it BAD, I don't want you to have it"

 

[wxcpo]

No matter the potential this guy has I am glad he is not a Cowboy and I will never want him as a Cowboy unless his attitude changed 180 degrees. I didn't like Deion as well, but the one thing about him was he cared about the game, his teammates and they way he played the game. All Taylor cares about is himself.

It's really funny to hear Commanders fans defend this guy despite his obvious character flaws. I know TO has character flaws as well, but that was before he was a Cowboy and to me he comes in with a clean slate and we go from here. If he decides to pull the same antics he did when he was with the Eagles last year then I will be the first to come in here and say he has to go. Unlike most Commanders fans I can be objective and call a spade a spade.

 

[RiggoForever]

Sean Taylor simply takes out the trash.

Both the guys who stole his ATV as well as Michael Pittman (wife beater), are trash.

 

[DragonCowboy]

Sean Taylor simply takes out the trash.

Both the guys who stole his ATV as well as Michael Pittman (wife beater), are trash.

Ok...so if I see some kid beating a dog, would I go up to him and point a gun at him?

Edit// for all you females out there, I did not mean for a dog to mean the same thing as a wife, it just came out that way!

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Sean Taylor simply takes out the trash.

Both the guys who stole his ATV as well as Michael Pittman (wife beater), are trash.

well he hangs out with them, trash, er, guilt by association anyone?

 

[Ken]

he has a chip on his shoulder, but i didnt read anything to warrant that. your boy TO has said worse. much.

"A partial list of his transgressions includes a $25,000 fine for skipping a mandatory rookie symposium, a drunken driving charge -- eventually dismissed -- that got him benched for one game, and seven fines for late hits and other on-field infractions, including $17,000 for spitting at another player during a playoff game. Then came the no contest plea, which could still lead to a fine or suspension from the NFL. "


Yeah, your right.....TO is much worse. :laugh1: