The Redskins bid a final farewell to
Sean Taylor on Monday.
The entire Redskins organization, including
players, coaches and team officials, traveled to
Miami and back to honor the memory of their fallen
friend.
The service was held at Pharmed Arena at Florida
International University. Nearly 4,000 people were
in attendance.
Upon
arrival, the Redskins were brought to a reserved
section on the floor of the arena.
At the front, Taylor's coffin stood in front of a
wall of multi-colored flowers. Above, two screens
played highlights of Taylor's football career, from
high school to the NFL.
Taylor passed away on Nov. 27 after he was shot
by an intruder at his home in Miami. He was 24 years
old. He leaves behind his father Pedro Taylor and
mother Donna Junor, fiancé Jackie Garcia and a
18-month-old daughter also named Jackie.
Along with the Redskins organization, many of
Taylor's former teammates from the Redskins and the
University of Miami attended the funeral.
Former Redskins Derrick Dockery, Cory Raymer and
John Hall traveled with the team to Miami. Dockery,
now with Buffalo, stayed in the Washington, D.C.,
area after the Redskins-Bills game on Sunday.
LaVar Arrington, Antonio Pierce, Lemar Marshall,
Jeremy Shockey, Andre Johnson, Chad Johnson, Antrel
Rolle, Devin Hester, Ryan Clark, Julius Peppers and
Robert Royal were in attendance.
Redskins greats Darrell Green, John Riggins,
Charles Mann, Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Huff were also
in attendance, lending a link from the past to the
present.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was among the
first speakers at the funeral. He lamented that the
league has mourned the passing of Taylor, Denver
Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams and running back
Damien Nash and New England Patriots defensive end
Marquise Hill in the past year.
All four players were age 24 at the time of their
deaths.
"It's times like this that all of us struggle to
find meaning in life," Goodell said. "The NFL was
proud of Sean Taylor. He loved football and football
loved him back. But more importantly, it was what he
was as a man and what he was becoming as a man.
"He made an impact on all of us. Honor him in the
way we carry ourselves forward from this day on.
Make sure we make a positive influence in our life,
as he did in ours."
The Rev. Jesse Jackson was also invited to
address the mourners. He sat next to Taylor's father
Pedro.
Jackson lamented the continuing presence of gun
violence in the African American community.
Taylor was protecting his fiancé and daughter at
the time he was shot.
"Sean was a safety, a tackle of last resort,"
Jackson said. "If we learn from his death, then we
score many a touchdown."
Joe
Gibbs walked to the podium next and discussed
Taylor's maturing process in the last few years.
Since the birth of his daughter Jackie 18 months
ago, Taylor had become a devoted father and was more
open about his faith.
"That change in his life was not brought from
human efforts," Gibbs said. "God was working in his
life."
Gibbs closed with this message: "God, take care
of Sean until we get there."
Clinton Portis, one of Taylor's closest friends,
addressed the audience next. He has been in a somber
state since the passing of Taylor, but he seemed
more upbeat on Monday.
Portis said he always marveled at Taylor's
athleticism and penchant for hard hits.
"On the field, nothing excited you more than
watching Sean hit," Portis said. "I don't fear much,
but if I was on an opposing offense across from Sean
Taylor, I might have fear."
Portis and Taylor played together at the
University of Miami. In 2004, Portis helped
convinced Gibbs and the Redskins to draft Taylor
with the fifth overall pick in the draft.
Portis also recounted the changes he witnessed in
Taylor over the last two years.
"If you had your head down, he would pick it up
real quick," Portis said. "He would always be there,
no matter what. No one played with more heart."
After Portis finished, the arena's video screens
showed the 4-minute Sean Taylor tribute that played
at FedExField on Sunday.
Later, Arrington arrived at the podium, at the
request of Taylor's father, and discussed his
relationship with Sean Taylor.
When
Taylor arrived as the Redskins' first-round draft
pick in 2004, Arrington was regarded as the face of
the franchise. The two forged a bond, with Arrington
trying to step up as a mentor in their two seasons
together.
"I thought when Sean came to the Redskins, I was
his guardian angel," Arrington said as he held back
tears. "As God would have it, he turned out to be my
guardian angel."
Arrington added: "Our heart breaks without him,
but in time we'll get past it. Sean, I love you as
my brother, my friend."
Another poignant moment came from Buck Ortega,
who played briefly with the Redskins in 2006
preseason. Ortega, a tight end, is currently on the
New Orleans Saints' practice squad.
Ortega played high school football with Taylor at
Gulliver Prep in Miami. As a quarterback, he threw
two touchdown passes to Taylor in the school's title
game victory. Ortega and Taylor went on to star at
Miami.
Ortega rejoined his friend when he signed with
the Redskins as an undrafted rookie free agent. He
was released at the end of preseason, though.
Since then, Ortega and Taylor talked less
frequently. That's something that Ortega says he
deeply regrets.
"Don't ever take your friends and family for
granted," he told the audience.
The funeral service ended after nearly
two-and-a-half hours. The Redskins headed back to
the airport for the trip back to Virginia.
As the team boarded its chartered plane, everyone
appeared to be in better spirits. Mike Sellers
lightened the mood by reminding the passengers that
it was Rock Cartwright's birthday on Monday.
"Please be sure to wish Rock Cartwright happy
birthday," Sellers announced over the intercom
system, eliciting good-hearted laughter throughout
the plane.
It was a first step in returning to normalcy.
Certainly, the team still has a long way to go.
