Sean Taylor met the media Friday for the first time since avoiding up to 46 years in prison by pleading guilty to two misdemeanors on June 1, but the Redskins' free safety was no happy camper.
"I think it was best to put (the legal situation) away and let me focus on football ... be here for 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 said.
The 23-year-old Taylor had been excused from last year's minicamp after being charged with assault and battery stemming from a June 1, 2005 incident in Miami.
"I would've been here last year for the offseason if I could've, but with some complications I really couldn't," said Taylor, who not only skipped the entire 2005 offseason prior to his arrest but wouldn't even return coach Joe Gibbs' phone calls. "Everybody's entitled to their own opinion as far as the offseason goes. Some people believe in participating. Some people believe in resting. As long as you're here from the end of July (when training camp starts) to whenever the season ends, that's all your team really cares about."
Not exactly. Assistant head coach defense Gregg Williams demoted Taylor for the first week of training camp last year as punishment for blowing off the offseason and did so again Friday with veteran backup Pierson Prioleau joining new strong safety Adam Archuleta in the starting lineup.
"Sean's behind because of a lot of the stuff he's missed," Gibbs said. "That's tough for us and for him. We've talked about that. Hopefully from here on, the road smoothes out. Sean needs to be here. This is where he belongs ... working out all the time. He understands that. He really likes football. He's had a lot of personal issues."
Those began with the fifth pick in the 2004 draft being fined for walking out of the NFL's mandatory symposium and ran through his being fined for spitting in the face of Tampa Bay's Michael Pittman in the Jan. 6 playoff game. Taylor also still faces a possible suspension and/or fine in the wake of his legal issues.
"We have a big investment there in Sean," Gibbs said. "He can be a dominating player. He's been through a lot. He's learned a lot. He realizes some things and the position(s) he put himself in. I think he's ready for a fresh start."
Taylor will have a fresh start on the field with Archuleta replacing the more conservative Ryan Clark, who served as a sort of security blanket for him the past two seasons.
Although the Redskins improved from 6-10 in his rookie year to 10-6 last season, Taylor's numbers slipped from 89 tackles and four interceptions to 80 tackles and two interceptions. He did return fumbles for touchdowns in the regular season finale at Philadelphia that clinched the playoff berth and in the playoff triumph at Tampa.
"It's just sharpening up your tools and trying to be a better player," Taylor said. "I wasn't the best player last year. I'm always looking for improvement. Unless I'm at the top of my level as far as a safety goes — like the Troy Polamalus and the Edwards Reeds — I still have a way to travel. I'm still only getting two or three interceptions a year, so I would like to see my interceptions go up a little bit just to help the team win. Getting to the playoffs isn't good enough for us. We would like to eventually win a Super Bowl. Sooner would be greater than later."
NOTES, QUOTES
— Quarterback Mark Brunell (broken finger), rookie linebacker Rocky McIntosh (knee scope on June 15), defensive tackle Joe Salave'a (family illness), reserve defensive end Nic Clemons (knee scope in early June) and backup offensive lineman Tyson Walter (high ankle sprain) didn't participate in Friday's minicamp session.
— WR David Patten was joined on the field by several other players who finished last season on injured reserve. Guard Randy Thomas (fractured fibia in December), defensive end Renaldo Wynn (broken forearm in January), linebacker Chris Clemons (knee surgery in December) and tight end Robert Johnson (sprained ankle in December) were all in uniform on June 16.
— Center Casey Rabach, who missed several weeks after suffering a deep gash in his leg after falling off an all-terrain vehicle, and right tackle Jon Jansen, recovering from a second surgery on his right thumb, only took individual work.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't really care if people have doubts about me now. I just don't want there to be any doubts at the end of the season. The last impression is the most important one." — New Redskins tight end Christian Fauria, who will be 35 this fall.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Sixth-round pick Reed Doughty signed a three-year contract on June 13.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers): TE Brian Kozlowski; DE Melvin Williams
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED: S Reed Doughty (6th).
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED: LB Khary Campbell; RB Rock Cartwright; LB Chris Clemons; OG Derrick Dockery; DL Demetric Evans; LB Warrick Holdman; CB Ade Jimoh; DT Cedric Killings.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: S Adam Archuleta; DE Andre Carter; QB Todd Collins; TE Christian Fauria; WR Brandon Lloyd; OL Mike Pucillo; WR Antwaan Randle El; C Tyson Walter; CB Kenny Wright.
PLAYERS LOST: LB LaVar Arrington; S Matt Bowen; OG Ray Brown; S Ryan Clark; CB Walt Harris; DT Brandon Noble; QB Patrick Ramsey; C Cory Raymer; TE Robert Royal; S Omar Stoutmire; P Tom Tupa.
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Don't remind every one about that.