RIP Sean Taylor

Sean Taylor was my favorite player in the NFL. I followed him since he was a highschool senior at Gulliver Prep in Miami FL. Through his college days at the University of Miami and into the NFL with the Redskins. The first time i watched his highschool highlight tapes i knew he was somehting special and i was immediately drawn to his style of play. Sean Taylor passed away this week after being shot in his home. I feel almost shallow now because my admiration of him was solely at a professional level. I loved the way he went about his business but i never thought to look past the field and see him as a person which is equally as worthy of admiration. Sean Taylor was fearless. This was apparent to anyone who ever saw him play. He loved to hit and just his presence struck fear into the heart of anyone who crossed his path on the field. But off the field his life was changing. He grew up in a rough part of South Florida but despite all the things goign against him he grew up to be a resposible, loving and caring individual. Evidence if this can be seen when you look in the eyes of his beautiful 18 month old, Jaqueline. People who knew him said his life changed when she was born. He walked around with a brighter attitude on life and began to remove himself from the ghosts of his troubled childhood for the betterment of his kin. The night he died he showed the beautiful duality of his persona. When Sean and his Girlfriend awoke in the middle of the night to a noise in their home, Sean showed no fear and went to investigate. He rose to his feet to protect his family, his most prized possesions. Sean was then shot by the inruder, the bullet pierced the femoral artery and he lost too much blood to be saved. Even in death Sean showed us all how couragous and unbelievably caring he was as a person. God bless Sean Taylor. I will never forget the lessons that he has taught the world in life and in death and when i become a father i hope i can be 1 tenth of the man he was.