-Slap-
06-18-2006, 01:11 AM
His legal issues behind him, Sean Taylor continues to show little remorse (http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-52458sy0jun17,0,3256923.story?coll=dp-sports-local)
BY MICHAEL C. WRIGHT
June 17, 2006
ASHBURN -- Redskins safety Sean Taylor stepped toward reporters and let out a sigh of relief.
No cops.
No courts.
Just media.
This should be easy.
"Right now, I can focus on football," Taylor said. "I can focus on my life."
Having spared himself possible jail time recently by accepting a plea deal in exchange for Florida prosecutors dropping aggravated assault charges, Taylor attended for the first time since his rookie season (2004) Washington's minicamp on Friday at Redskins Park.
For more than a year, he'd faced a possible 46-year sentence after prosecutors accused him of pointing a gun during an incident involving all-terrain vehicles Taylor thought had been stolen from him. Taylor accepted the plea agreement on June 1, a year to the day of the incident.
With the plea entered, coupled with the birth of a new baby, you'd expect Taylor to be happy to be back on the field for the first day three-day minicamp. Instead, he turned surly as he discussed his lengthy legal ordeal.
"I think in my case, it was best to just put it away," Taylor said, "let me focus on football these three days so you don't have to ask me: 'Why did you miss camp again?' When I show up for training camp ... butcher me."
Taylor skipped Washington's offseason workouts last year and didn't return phone calls from coach Joe Gibbs, with the only reason he would give as, "It was offseason." After Taylor turned himself in to authorities last June the club excused him from the remainder of its offseason.
Yet on Friday, Taylor's story had changed.
Speaking about mistakes from a year ago, Taylor talked about feeling "great" because now he can concentrate solely on football. He also blamed his legal issues for last year's absences from Washington's offseason program.
"I would've been here last year for the offseason if I could've," he said. "But with some complications, I really couldn't. Everybody's entitled to their own opinion as far as the offseason goes. Some people believe in participating (and) some people believe in resting."
Taylor pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor simple assault and battery charge as part of his plea agreement. The assault and battery charge violates the NFL's Personal Conduct policy. The league hasn't announced if it will punish Taylor as a result. Neither Gibbs nor Taylor said they have been contacted by the league.
"The NFL's the NFL," Taylor said. "They're not gonna change because of me. I don't know what the NFL is going to do."
As part of Taylor's plea deal, he received 18 months of probation. In addition, he'll visit 10 Miami-Dade County schools to speak with students about maintaining self-control and furthering their education. He'll also donate $1,000 to each school.
Asked what he plans to tell the children, Taylor poured on the snippiness once again, saying, "that's for me to know and you to find out."
Gibbs is just happy to have Taylor on the field again, free from all the legal issues. Washington's first round-pick of 2004, Taylor has been one of the team's best players on the field, and one if its biggest problems off.
Last season, Taylor made 95 tackles, two interceptions and returned a fumble for a 39-yard touchdown last season in a win over Philadelphia. But he also been fined seven times during his career. Most recently, he was fined $17,000 for spitting in the face of Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman during the playoffs.
"He can be a dominating player," Gibbs said. "He's behind because a lot of the stuff he's missed (and) that's tough for us and tough for him. With him, hopefully from here on, the road smoothes out. I think he realizes some of the positions he's put himself in.
"He's been through a lot, he's learned a lot. He's ready for a fresh start."
As part of Taylor's plea deal, he received 18 months of probation. In addition, he'll visit 10 Miami-Dade County schools to speak with students about maintaining self-control and furthering their education.
Asked what he plans to tell the children, Taylor poured on the snippiness once again, saying, "that's for me to know and you to find out."
What a sick joke, our legal system.
BY MICHAEL C. WRIGHT
June 17, 2006
ASHBURN -- Redskins safety Sean Taylor stepped toward reporters and let out a sigh of relief.
No cops.
No courts.
Just media.
This should be easy.
"Right now, I can focus on football," Taylor said. "I can focus on my life."
Having spared himself possible jail time recently by accepting a plea deal in exchange for Florida prosecutors dropping aggravated assault charges, Taylor attended for the first time since his rookie season (2004) Washington's minicamp on Friday at Redskins Park.
For more than a year, he'd faced a possible 46-year sentence after prosecutors accused him of pointing a gun during an incident involving all-terrain vehicles Taylor thought had been stolen from him. Taylor accepted the plea agreement on June 1, a year to the day of the incident.
With the plea entered, coupled with the birth of a new baby, you'd expect Taylor to be happy to be back on the field for the first day three-day minicamp. Instead, he turned surly as he discussed his lengthy legal ordeal.
"I think in my case, it was best to just put it away," Taylor said, "let me focus on football these three days so you don't have to ask me: 'Why did you miss camp again?' When I show up for training camp ... butcher me."
Taylor skipped Washington's offseason workouts last year and didn't return phone calls from coach Joe Gibbs, with the only reason he would give as, "It was offseason." After Taylor turned himself in to authorities last June the club excused him from the remainder of its offseason.
Yet on Friday, Taylor's story had changed.
Speaking about mistakes from a year ago, Taylor talked about feeling "great" because now he can concentrate solely on football. He also blamed his legal issues for last year's absences from Washington's offseason program.
"I would've been here last year for the offseason if I could've," he said. "But with some complications, I really couldn't. Everybody's entitled to their own opinion as far as the offseason goes. Some people believe in participating (and) some people believe in resting."
Taylor pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor simple assault and battery charge as part of his plea agreement. The assault and battery charge violates the NFL's Personal Conduct policy. The league hasn't announced if it will punish Taylor as a result. Neither Gibbs nor Taylor said they have been contacted by the league.
"The NFL's the NFL," Taylor said. "They're not gonna change because of me. I don't know what the NFL is going to do."
As part of Taylor's plea deal, he received 18 months of probation. In addition, he'll visit 10 Miami-Dade County schools to speak with students about maintaining self-control and furthering their education. He'll also donate $1,000 to each school.
Asked what he plans to tell the children, Taylor poured on the snippiness once again, saying, "that's for me to know and you to find out."
Gibbs is just happy to have Taylor on the field again, free from all the legal issues. Washington's first round-pick of 2004, Taylor has been one of the team's best players on the field, and one if its biggest problems off.
Last season, Taylor made 95 tackles, two interceptions and returned a fumble for a 39-yard touchdown last season in a win over Philadelphia. But he also been fined seven times during his career. Most recently, he was fined $17,000 for spitting in the face of Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman during the playoffs.
"He can be a dominating player," Gibbs said. "He's behind because a lot of the stuff he's missed (and) that's tough for us and tough for him. With him, hopefully from here on, the road smoothes out. I think he realizes some of the positions he's put himself in.
"He's been through a lot, he's learned a lot. He's ready for a fresh start."
As part of Taylor's plea deal, he received 18 months of probation. In addition, he'll visit 10 Miami-Dade County schools to speak with students about maintaining self-control and furthering their education.
Asked what he plans to tell the children, Taylor poured on the snippiness once again, saying, "that's for me to know and you to find out."
What a sick joke, our legal system.