Which was the real Sean Taylor?

Friends, colleagues and the media today are attempting to get a clearer picture of the real Sean Taylor, the Washington Redskins player who died earlier from a gunshot wound in Miami.

The former Miami Hurricane was known on the field for his trash-talking and vicious hits. (He was once ejected and fined for spitting on Buccaneer running back Michael Pittman in 2006.) Off the field, former teammates said he was more caring but private.

"For being as visible and flamboyant a player as he is on the field, he is very reserved and soft-spoken off it,"  Joel Rodriguez told the Miami Herald. Rodriguez played three years with Taylor at UM. "It's not what you'd expect from a guy with that type of talent and mean streak."

But there's also the Sean Taylor who in 2005 was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm after pulling a gun and throwing a punch during a fight. (Click here to read more of the Miami Herald report.) Taylor was fined at least seven times for late hits, uniform violations and other infractions over his first three seasons, according to one AP report.

But teammates said Taylor turned himself around after the birth of his daughter in May 2006. "It's hard to expect a man to grow up overnight," Redskins and UM teammate Clinton Portis told the AP."But ever since he had his child, it was like a new Sean, and everybody around here knew it."

Here are some other features about Taylor from other websites:

• Photo gallery from Fort Lauderdale's Sun-Sentinel's website;
• Guest book from Sun-Sentinel website;
• Timeline of Sean Taylor;
• Photo gallery from Miami Herald;
• Taylor stopped for DUI (2004) from Miami Herald;
• Ex-UM star 'of interest' in shootings from Miami Herald.

Comments

[ANDY]

I'm a big fan of football, but a bigger fan of life. I have read a lot of negative reports about sean and think that it is insane to go there at this time. I wish his family and friends best wishes.

[DR]

I agree, the kid lost his life for no reason. A DUI and the weapons charge doesn't make him a bad person by any means. He didn't beat his wife or anything like that. Spitting on Pittman was immature, however, I don't feel bad for that happening to Pittman.
Rest in peace.

[Daniel]

It saddens me deeply to hear about this. Such a young man with his whole life ahead of him. His past transgressions are totaly irrelevant at this point, to go there as Andy pointed out, is insane. I give my condolences to his family and friends, my prayers will be for you today.
Rest in peace.

[Chet]

DR, are you kidding me, what he did to Pittman was disgraceful and demeaning. I don't like seeing any person die, but lets not make Pittman the bad guy now on that issue. There aren't many choir boys playing in the NFL, lets not make what he did okay now that he's passed away. When you brandish a gun at another person from one car to another, that's a crime and where you come from this may be a common site, but from my normal world, that's something that terrifies a person. Your views on what makes a person good or bad are what's wrong with modern America.

[DR]

Chet, know the whole story. I threw in the Pittman situation for a joke and I cannot believe someone is defending him. Taylor brandished a gun to guys who committed felony robbery of him. I'd brandish a gun too. I can't blame the guy in trying to take justice in his own hands because our justice system is a joke.
I'd take a guy with weapons charges over a guy who beats his wife and has tried to run her and their kids down with a car. Now that's demeaning.
Their aren't any choir boys in this country period. People view athletes as thugs and criminals for no reason. These same people who they call thugs have done far more for the community than anybody else.

[ANDY]

DR agree. This guy even shelled out 17 grand for championship rings for kids. Unfortunately, his life is now over and his daughter will never know her father. what a shame.

[Ironhorse]

"A DUI and the weapons charge doesn't make him a bad person..."

Of course it does. We are judged by our actions. I've never had a DUI and I'v enever had a weapons charge. I also don't sleep with a machete by the bed. It's always bad when someone dies early, but just because he's dead doesn't erase what he did when he was alive. And it's not like we're at his funeral or saying these things to his mom: that would be crass. This is simply a realistic review of a man's short life.

If I were Mike Pittman, a part of me would be happy that I'm out this week so I wouldn't have to wear a 21 on my uni and honor the guy who spit in my face on a football field.

[Skylar]

I agree with Ironhorse. Shot in the groin for a reason; somebody was intent on exacting revenge. Why would someone want to kill another person if they were living the wonderful newfound life of goodness and purity you so eloquently speak of?