The Passing of Sean Taylor...

It's striking to sift through the coverage of the shooting death of 'Skins safety Sean Taylor and see the different viewpoints emanating from so many writers. Articles range from paeans to his athletic talents, testimonials on the personal evolution he had experienced, commentaries on what his killing embodies for society, and, at least from my perspective, columns, with cold regard for the circumstances, speculating on what his loss means for the Washington Redskins from an on field view. Perhaps most interesting are those who have, to varying degrees, speculated on the role that Taylor himself played in his own demise. Some explicitly contemplate if Taylor had indeed separated himself from his history, others insinuated that their forum was not the proper place or at the proper time to speculate, but then asked a throwaway question along the lines of whether or not his past had caught up to him. In either case, it's a microcosm of the constant need to assign blame in every situation.

Sometimes, bad things happen. Sometimes, they happen to good people. And, while there may have been bumps in the road, it appears that, by the majority of accounts, Sean Taylor was a good person. The outpouring of grief in the DC area is proof positive of that.

I have no personal stake in his passing. But, as a fan of the 'Skins and a fan of football, I know that I will miss watching him play. He was a phenomenal and unique talent who had a boundless future on the football field. That football future has been irrevocably taken. If only the rest of his future had remained intact.