Taylor = Thug

[die cowboys die]

is there any one here who didn't do something they regret at age 20 something??

well of course not- but i'm willing to bet most of us didn't make our mistakes with a gun in our hands!

it would've been much better for the team if he made his early-20's mistakes where they belong-
in the bedroom.

[General Failure]

Or at least the bathroom at some suburban party.

[cvillehog]

it would've been much better for the team if he made his early-20's mistakes where they belong-
in the bedroom.

Or the wedding chapel.

[welch]

Same training, but after that who knows where the national guard goes. I think they have a giant bunker somewhere they all go to for parties, but I don't know for sure.

I've seen the "bunker" at FT Hood. It's a three-story living block just past the 4ID Memorial. A lot of mean drunks...not happy ones. Guardsmen go to Hood for hurried training just before being deployed -- nearly half of the troops now in Iraq are National Guard, since the Regular Army isn't big enough to perpetually occupy the country.

Another "last-stop" string base is at FT Dix, which has a simulated Iraqi village where Guardsmen practice house-to-house fighting.

Maybe Taylor is telling us he wants to learn how to fight through a building "the right way"?

[General Failure]

I'd be a mean drunk too if I thought I was getting a cushy national guard job only to find out I'm going to Iraq.

[Skinsfan55]

As far as Sean Taylor I believe it was a bad decision but is there any one here who didn't do something they regret at age 20 something??

Last year (age 20) at Spring Break my friend and I went to Montrose, Colorado to stay with our friend Justin for 4 days at his ranch. We planned to shoot, rope, ride, get up with the sun and do chores... you know, really good wholesome fun.

But we decided to check out the nightlife too. We went to a couple parties... none of which were much fun, since there's about a 20:1 guy to gal ratio in that town.

Anyway, we're tossing a few back but we have a DD the whole way. We're all trashed except the driver and we start home at about 2 in the morning and on the way we pick up a tail, some of Montrose's finest (did I say finest? I meant some of Montrose's *********** *************) The driver kind of freaks and pulls behind this gas station thinking that he'll lose them this way. Him and one passenger go into the gas station and my friend Matt and I are in the car.

The police come over and ask to ask us some questions, but unfortunately Justin has a case of Keystone in the car, in plain view. Great, so we get breathalized. Matt blows like a .001 and I blow a .000, and yet I also recieve a ticket for "being drunk". The officer says he "can tell" despite my complete lack of slurring words, complete control of balance, and complete lack of any booze in my system... perfect.

I got a ticket because I was a kid from way out of town who wouldn't possibly be able to fight this injustice.

I could have lost my license, been fined a huge ammount and had a huge stain on my record... pretty much the same penalties if I had been drinking and driving!

Luckily I called the city attorney and was able to work a deal where Matt and I were treated as minors and were only fined a marginal ammount (50 dollars), and only had to keep out of trouble until we turned 21. (This meant no speeding tickets, or any type of infraction with the police.)

Before this incident, I really had a lot of trust in and respect for police officers... and those principles were really shaken that night...

I share this story because for the last few years this is my only regrettable moment, and in my mind, I had no control over the outcome (it's not like staying at Justin's house was a real option, I had to go where he went.)

It was bad for me, but worked out okay, still... I didn't shoot at anyone.

If Sean Taylor is at fault here I hope he goes to jail, as I would hope any famous person would be punished as if their fame didn't matter. I want to see him do time and let atheletes know they are not above the law.

[coachKarl]

Sean needs help !!!! How long will the team put up with his off the field problems ? what about his contract demands ???? We all know he is going to be a great player but at what expense ?? I guess we will see what happens shortly when the mandatory mini camp takes place.

[fredp45]

the guy needs to grow up.

He's a 22 year old millionaire in Miami Fla -- what a scary situation that is. Some can handle it, others can't.

[SKINZ_DOMIN8]

He may have character issues but he can also flat out play and be a huge difference maker. Gibbs had better not do anything rash instead let things work themselves out. If he goes to prison for a few months the Redskins can then do what they want. Either way I think he's an idiot but he's a immensely talented idiot.

The Redskins should light a fire under him and threaten to sit him so he won't make any incentives unless he wisens up. IMO.

[Redskins4Life]

edit: this post was from a thread that got merged

[Redskins4Life]

Wheres Justice Hog!??

Does JH or anybody else know what the potential consequences for aggravated assault with a firearm, and simple assault is?

[washington53]

Guys dont beleive everything you hear or read... The only way i will beleive it is if it was on the Washington Post or some national newspaper, not some website.

[Michaelf382]

Its pretty ridiculous how some of us are thinking about this. Say Sean was not a 22 year old phenom and was just a troubled young adult who was out causing problems. If that 22 year old pulled out a guy and threatened someone and was arrested he would have that on his criminal record. Now say that person is an auditor, machinist, etc etc,. Employers would probably not hire the person based on that fact. But yet he gets millions of dollars to play a game and he will probably come back and keep making those millions of dollars. No wonder kids today are harder to manage than years ago. Because they have these idiots that they are looking up to. I think its pathetic if we give this guy the open arms just because he can help us win games. Thats a sad view of the world if you ask me. But if redskins football is worth more than human justice.... well thats pretty depressing. Here is to hoping he ( as everyone should) has the legal book thrown at him IF he is convicted. Difference maker or not, would u want this kid in your "family"? Also, you dont point a guy at someone unless you are darn sure you are ready to kill that person.

[cvillehog]

Wheres Justice Hog!??

Does JH or anybody else know what the potential consequences for aggravated assault with a firearm, and simple assault is?

I believe the charge is aggrevated assault with a firearm and simple battery. Also, those are pretty generic terms, as I understand it, and don't really say much about the specifics of the incident.

[NikiH]

I see alot of people on a daily basis with far worse charges who spent little to no time in jail. So he could get out of this with simple probation if convicted and guilty that is. But if he does I just hope he learns from it and grows up a little. I'm not ready to believe it's all true quite yet. I also didn't believe Kobe was guilty of a thing, aside from adultery and look how that worked out.

[skinsfan1]

here's a update:

Published - Jun 05 2005 06:33AM CDT || AP
MIAMI(AP) Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm Saturday night after turning himself in to Miami-Dade County police. According to a police statement, Taylor pointed a gun at an unidentified person Wednesday during a dispute over two all-terrain vehicles he claimed were stolen. Taylor left the scene but returned about 10 minutes later and punched one person.

Police had been looking for Taylor since Friday.

Taylor, 22, was accompanied by his attorney, Fred Moldovan, when he turned himself in. He was also charged with simple battery.

Police said the Redskins organization cooperated with them during the investigation.

"We have just been made aware of a potential situation in Miami regarding Sean Taylor," Redskins spokesman Karl Swanson said in a statement. "The representatives for Taylor are keeping us informed as to the developments. There is nothing we can add to the process at this time."

Taylor's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not return a phone message left by The Associated Press late Saturday.

Another man, Charles Elwood Caughman, threatened and chased another victim with a baseball bat, police said. Caughman, 19, was arrested later that day and charged with aggravated assault.

Taylor, who wants a new contract, has been working out in Miami despite pleas from Redskins coach Joe Gibbs to join the team in voluntary workouts at their home base in suburban Washington. He signed a seven-year, $18 million deal as the No. 5 overall draft pick in the 2004 draft.

The former Miami Hurricanes standout has had a tempestuous start to his NFL career.

He has fired two agents, was fined for skipping one day of the NFL's mandatory rookie symposium and was accused of spitting on a player during a game at Cincinnati, although he was not punished because the league said there was no video evidence.

He was also charged with drunken driving in October, when he was pulled over at 2:45 a.m. after attending a birthday party for receiver Rod Gardner. Those charges were dismissed in January.

[El Mexican]

Message to Gibbs: Throw this sucker out of town!

See Sean, this is what happens when you dont attend practice, even if it´s not obligatory.
Stop tarnishing your reputation and the Redskins.

[NikiH]

Ok that story does not add up. If he was charged with the firearm thing, somewhere in this story a gun is involved. No where in the above mentioned story does it say anything about a gun. So there is obviously more to the allegations that when is being reported/confirmed.

[1niksder]

OK the facts are in ESPN.com's Len Pastabelly has reported Taylor has been charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, a felony, and simple battery, after turning himself in on Sat. night. What this means is we still don’t know what’s going on.

We know he has been charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, and simple battery, but will the charges will stay aggravated assault with a firearm, and simple battery? Sean has no prior gun charges, makes millions, and is loved in Miami (part of the problem). The charges will likely be reduced to reckless endangerment or something of that nature. The odds are he won't face any jail time and will be given probation as a 1st time offender.

That’s my predicted outcome to this mess.

Before we get there we still have to get through statements, hearing, motions, and whatever else they can come up with to delay this beyond the upcoming season. This is the best route this mess can go, because it will hang over Taylor’s head all season and force him to realize his actions do have repercussions.

If this is done quickly where the charges are reduced early on in the process for a guilty plea, I fear he won’t learn anything from this.

We know he’ll be a Redskin this year and hopefully next year too (we’re still on the hook for $10Mil in cap)
Here are some things I would like to know…

1. Will Sean Taylor finally grow up after this event? The DUI didn’t do the trick because he had built in excuses (being young and away from home – not hanging out with his usual friends)
2. If for some reason he is found guilty and actually serves time. If he misses time with the team will that void he contract and force him to repay part of his signing bonus?

Either way Sean needs to learn a real lesson from this, if not he is not long for this league. It sounds funny coming from me but maybe he should talk to Ray Lewis about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and how it’s time to cut some of those friend in Miami-Dade loss.

Sean Taylor is a 22 year old kid with enormous football talent and that has opened a lot of doors for him, unfortunately it has warped his since of right and wrong. I’m not making excuses for him or his possible involvement in these recent charges but I think trashing Sean's character is a bit premature, he needs some before we can trash it.

[1niksder]

Ok that story does not add up. If he was charged with the firearm thing, somewhere in this story a gun is involved. No where in the above mentioned story does it say anything about a gun. So there is obviously more to the allegations that when is being reported/confirmed.

The story states he pointed a gun at someone, which is a lot less than blindly firing into someones home. By the time the whole story is out we could have a totaly different outlook as to what has happened.

[NikiH]

Wow niksder I totally missed that line. But you are right that surely shows how quickly a story like that can change. Yesterday it was bullets fired, today he merely pointed it at someone. We also don't know the accusers well enough to determine if the gun is entirely made up or not. What kind of character they have could clearly be in question because of the that fact that they possibly had stolen Taylor's two ATVs.

[1niksder]

I kind of figured it would change considering the fat man broke the story

[Countertrey]

I think trashing Sean's character is a bit premature, he needs some before we can trash it.

A tad oxymoronic, donchathink?

[1niksder]

Lack of character versus poor character, call it what you want either way it's a problem

[WshSkins22]

Why are some of you saying keep Sean, are you guys out of your minds? This guy freakin is being charged with assualt while hes playing for the redskins. So what if hes talented, I could really care less, Ricky Williams was talented but where did that get the dolphins? I dont care how good he is, he needs to be gone from the redskins I dont care how, he has no discipline, and so what hes 22, that gives him the right to shoot up someones house? Im only 16 and I am not dumb enough to do that, especially if I was making millions. If he goes to another team and does well, then so what as long as he doesnt ruin our team. I truly think that if I saw this guy in person, I def wouldn't want his autograph, I would wanna steal him in the mouth