[JWsleep]

You always knew, that over the middle, against our defense, was no-man's land. Sean Taylor was there, and even the toughest of WRs and TEs got "alligator arms." And, in every game he played in, I am quite sure of this, there would be at least one hit where a running back or receiver would just go flying. And then you'd see it was Sean. And then, when we needed it most, a fumble, a pick six, or a returned blocked field goal setting up a win. I always felt like, whatever they do to us, we've got Taylor. If I talked to fans of other teams, no matter what they'd say about the skins, they would acknowledge Taylor. He was a truly special football player.

And then there is the man. We watched him struggle, grow, and thrive. He was the most human of the skins--the most like us in our own struggles and aspirations. Not to say we've got his talent, but we've all made mistakes, and we all hope to overcome them and grow, like we saw Sean do. And we, as fans, knew he was not the thug the media liked to portray, but a good man, a funny, loving, caring, passionate person--the kind of person that everyone from Gregg Williams to Lavar Arrington to Clinton Portis to Reed Doughty could admire and praise without qualification. He was the one who most personified the struggle, the challenge, and the triumph of, well, of getting through life and coming out on the right side of things.

I remember when he had the legal trouble with the shooting--there were times I just wanted to yell at him: "Sean! We're all with you! Get it straight, man!" And then he did, and he was thriving.

And now he's gone. There's a hole in the redskins family, and in my heart, that is not going to be filled. That is why his death is so troubling, IMHO.

(And I still just CANNOT believe it. I am going through these motions, but somewhere in my head a voice is saying, "This is a dream. It is not happening. You will wake up and laugh at the horrors your own mind can cook up, Josh." Still waiting to wake up.)