ESPN: Sean Taylor One Year Later

[Monkeydad]

NFL Security: Clinton Portis, Redskins RB - ESPN The Magazine

Related story about Portis (linked from first article).


It's sad what the players must go through emotionally now. They work hard and achieve their dreams, only to have to live in fear for the rest of their lives because of their success.

Sure some of the players put themselves in situations with consequences...Darrent Williams at a nightclub, Pacman Jones constantly, Javon Walker in Vegas...those are known places of crime and the homes to many degenerate lowlives of society.

But some, like Sean Taylor, lived in seclusion. He was shy and kept to himself. He was a good neighbor according to those who lived around him and did nothing to unnecessarily put himself or his family at risk. He had really become an outstanding citizen...and it still happened to him. Portis is more outgoing and we know he loves big birthday parties (with Gilbert Arenas), but he still doesn't stand out as a target except for his salary and household name. He's stayed clean, out of trouble...but still must fear for his life. I'm sure because of his closeness to Sean, it hits him harder than most players and is a feeling that will never leave him to be at peace, but it is the reality of urban areas and society today. Very sad.

Miami is his home. He has family and friends there, but after his retirement, Portis and many other players would probably be best served to move to seclusion in places like Montana or the Dakotas. They're just targets in and around major cities, by no fault of their own.