| “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature nor do the children of man as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” |
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Helen Keller |
Sean Michael Maurice Taylor [1] (April 1, 1983 - November 27, 2007)[2] was an American football player who played free safety for the Washington Redskins of the NFL. Due to his ferocious style of hitting, his teammates had nicknamed him “Meast”, a summarization of “half-man, half-beast”.[3][4]
High school football
Taylor played high school football at Gulliver Preparatory School in Pinecrest, Florida, a suburb of Miami, where he helped Gulliver win the Florida Class 2A State Championship in 2000. At Gulliver, he was a star on both sides of the ball, playing running back (on offense) and defensive back and linebacker (on defense).[5]
In 2000, Taylor rushed for 1,300 yards and a state-record 44 touchdowns. On two separate occasions, Taylor rushed for more than 400 yards during Gulliver’s state playoff run. He also racked up more than 200 tackles during the 2000 season and accounted for four touchdowns (two receiving, one rushing) in the state title game victory over Marianna.
Taylor was considered the No. 1 prospect in Dade County by the Miami Herald and rated the nation’s No. 1 skill athlete and an All-American by SuperPrep. He was also an Orlando Sentinel Super Southern Team selection, the No. 1 athlete on the Florida Times-Union Super 75 list, and rated the No. 1 player in Florida by the Gainesville Sun.
Taylor began his high school football career at 6A Miami Killian Senior HS, but left to Gulliver 2A where he could play both offense and defense. He is honored at Gulliver by a plaque which is located in the academy’s cafeteria.
Taylor was recruited by the University of Miami and enrolled in 2001. That year, he was one of just four true freshmen to play for Miami in the 2001 national championship season, carving a niche for himself in Miami’s secondary in nickel and dime coin packages. Taylor was named “Big East Special Teams Player” of the Week for his performance against the University of Pittsburgh.[5]
In 2002, Taylor was a second-team All-Big East selection by the league’s head coaches in his first season as a starter. He finished third on the team in tackles with 85 (53 solos), broke up 15 passes, intercepted 4 passes, forced one fumbles, blocked one kick and returned a punt for a touchdown. He led all defensive backs in tackles, interceptions and passes broken up and had a career-high 11 tackles (2 solo) and intercepted 2 passes in the Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State University.
During his final year at Miami, Taylor produced a historic season that culminated with a plethora of honors and awards. He was a named a consensus first-team All-American, the “Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year” and a finalist for the “Jim Thorpe Award” given to the nation’s best defensive back. He led the Big East Conference and ranked first nationally in interceptions per game (0.98) with 10, tying the record for interceptions in a season with former Hurricane standout Bennie Blades. He finished first in total tackles with 77 (57 solos). He intercepted two passes in Miami’s impressive 28-14 win over Pittsburgh, playing a key role as the Hurricanes limited All-American receiver Larry Fitzgerald to two receptions for 13 yards. He returned interceptions for an average of 18.4 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown return at Boston College, a 50-yard scoring runback at Florida State, and a 44-yard scoring runback against Rutgers. His three TD returns of interceptions is a Miami single-season record.
Taylor was the first University of Miami player drafted in the 2004 NFL Draft, being selected fifth overall.
(* represents NFL Combine) Washington RedskinsFollowing his 2004 selection by the Redskins, Taylor signed a seven-year, $18 million contract with the team.[5] 2004 rookie seasonOn the field during the 2004 season, Taylor was successful, emerging as the Redskins’ starting free safety by the third game of his rookie season. For the season, he had the team’s second most interceptions, with four. In addition to his four interceptions, Taylor had 89 tackles, two forced fumbles and one sack. He started for the Redskins in 13 of the season’s 16 games. Taylor’s short NFL career, however, was overshadowed somewhat by controversy. He fired two of his agents, walked out of a mandatory NFL rookie symposium for which he was fined, and was accused of spitting on Cincinnati Bengals player, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who later called Taylor “a punk”, during a 2004 game at FedEx Field. However, after an investigation, the NFL found nothing to substantiate the spitting allegation. 2005 seasonTaylor continued his effective play in the 2005 season, finishing with 70 tackles, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble returned for a touchdown. In this year he became recognized as one of the hardest hitters in the NFL. Taylor, along with fellow University of Miami and Redskins’ teammate Clinton Portis, was fined $5,000 in the home game against the Philadelphia Eagles for violating the NFL dress code by wearing socks that did not match the Redskins’ standard uniform. Portis was fined even more for additional infractions. Taylor had ups and downs during a January 7, 2006 wild card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Although he scored a touchdown that proved to be the Redskins’ margin of victory, he was ejected after spitting at running back Michael Pittman. He was subsequently fined $17,000, the amount of his game check. 2006 seasonThe 2006 season was arguably the most inconsistent of Taylor’s career. He finished the year leading the Redskins’ defense with 129 tackles, 1 interception and 3 forced fumbles. However, Taylor missed numerous tackles in his attempts to knock the ball carrier out and was exposed in coverage on several occasions too[7]. Some backers of Taylor might say this was the culmination of Taylor being forced to make tackles near the line of scrimmage to help the struggling Redskins defensive rush unit[8]. Taylor had his best game of the season in week 12 against the Carolina Panthers[9]. Though he played well all game, his presence was felt most sharply in the final minutes, making a key 4th-down tackle and intercepting a Jake Delhomme pass to seal the victory. He earned NFL Defensive Player of the Week honors following the game. Even while playing on a struggling Redskins defensive unit, Taylor’s impact on the field was recognized when he was named a first alternate to the NFC’s 2007 Pro Bowl team. When the first choice for safety, Brian Dawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles, chose not to play in the Pro Bowl due to an injury, Taylor was named to the vacated spot, marking his first and only Pro Bowl appearance. |
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On November 26, 2007, at 1:45 a.m., Taylor was shot in the upper leg by an armed intruder at his Palmetto Bay home, critically wounding him by severing his femoral artery. His girlfriend tried to call police from the house line, only to discover the line had been cut, and proceeded to call 911 from her cell phone, which delayed response time.[5][10]
Taylor was airlifted to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital where he underwent surgery. He emerged from surgery about 12:30 p.m., however, he had lost a significant amount of blood and remained unconscious and in a coma. His doctors speculated that he may have suffered brain damage due to the blood loss. An unnamed Redskins source reported that Taylor’s heart stopped twice during the emergency surgery.[11]
In the early morning of November 27, 2007, Taylor died at the hospital.[2] The news was released to the media by Richard Sharpstein (family friend), who learned the news from Taylor’s father around 5:30 a.m.[12]
Taylor resided in Palmetto Bay, Florida, a suburb of Miami.[5]
He is the son of Pedro Taylor (Police Chief for the Florida City Police Department); and Donna Junor.[5] At the age of three, his parents divorced, and he was raised predominantly by his father and stepmother, Josephine Taylor, in the Richmond Heights area of Miami-Dade County.
It has been a productive return to the competitive stage in 2007, with a top 10 finish at the NPC Nationals this past weekend in Dallas, placing 9th. I am happy with my placing in the top 10. The Nationals are like the Mr. Olympia to us amateur body builders. The best amateurs in the country are competing for that one pro card in each weight class.
team KREIDER arrived in Dallas on Thursday. Weigh ins were at 7:30 pm. I got to the host hotel where the weigh ins were being held to check my weight around 6 pm. My weight was 181. 5 lbs and I had to make 176. 4 lbs to make the middle weight cut off. Thanks to James and his coach Rich, I was able to head up to James’ room to create a hot steam in the bathroom in full sweat suit attire. 45 minutes of sweating and it was time to hit the weigh ins. I got on the scale and it registered at 177. 5. I had one more pound to loose. So back to the room I went to sweat off the final pound and weigh in again before they stopped early weigh ins at 9:30 pm. 30 more minutes did the trick and I weighed 174 lbs on the nose. Time for team KREIDER to hit IHOP for pancakes.
After IHOP, it was time for a couple coats of pro tan and then bed. Friday we got up and Jackie cooked us all a BIG breakfast of pancakes, eggs and has browns. We were lucky boys to have Jackie cook for us. Time for more pro tan after breakfast and a couple more carb up meals and then the last meal before pre-judging, a juicy hamburger and fries from a great burger joint in uptown Dallas. Thanks for taking us to a great burger joint Justin.
team KREIDER(Jackie, Andrew, Vic, Justin, Tracey, Vince, Chuck) was representing at pre-judging in a big way with the new team KREIDER tank tops Justin made for all of us. THANK YOU Justin, I love the tank tops, they ROCK. It was great to hang out and compete with a lot of my friends. Congratulations to Carlo Filipone for finally winning that pro card, you deserved it brother. Seeing and competing with my old college friend Fred was touching. Fred and I go way back and he always thanked me for getting him involved in body building. He has done wonderfully on the National stage and soon will win his pro card, he has a pro level physique. It was great to hang out back stage and compete against a new buddy of mine JJ. I hope to see you again next year on the National stage brother. Congrats to another new friend, James. You looked fantastic and should be proud of your placing.
After I weighed in at 176 lbs on Thursday, I returned home Sunday weighing 202 lbs and counting…lol.
First and foremost I want to send a BIG thank you out to Justin for being so accomodating for all of us. Thank you again for the awesome team KREIDER tank tops brother.
Thank you Jackie for keeping me grounded and being there for me every minute of the day. Your Pro Tan skills are wicked good my love. Thank you for all the meals and yummy cookies and most of all, thank you for your patience and love. Now it is time for us to lead a somewhat normal life once and for all.
Thank you to Vic, Andrew, Tracey, Vince, and Chuck for coming to Dallas to support me. You guys are the back bone of team KREIDER and are considered family to me.
Thank you to everyone who called or text me to send your encouragement, support and love. I am blessed to have such a great group of friends who support what I do in body building.
I will be back again next year on the National stage. I am unsure as of yet if I will be a middleweight or light heavyweight. I plan to compete at the North Americans as well as Nationals next year. I am taking off from the gym the next 2-4 weeks to let my body heal up after beating it to hell over the past 9 months. It will be a good break for my body, mind and soul.
I will be posting photos from Nationals over the next few days.
I want to wish everyone a very happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. Be thankful for the gift of life, your family, your friends and the simple things that life has to offer. Live in the here and now my friends. Cherish each and every moment on this earth, because life is so fleeting and short. Yesterday has already passed and tomorrow is just a hope to come. “Now” is all we have, so live it in complete presence.
Much love and thanks to all,
Robbie D.
Here are a few photos before I manipulate my fluids, apply pro tan/jan tana and carb up after weigh-ins.
I will be competing this weekend at the 2007 NPC Nationals in Dallas, Texas.
Friday is pre-judging and Saturday are the finals.
It has been a long 2007 for team KREIDER, but so very rewarding in many ways. The year started off with me preparing in April for NPC Garden State Classic (NJ) in June. Placing a respectful 2nd in the light heavy weight class and re-qualifying for the National stage in the NPC. Next on the agenda was the 2007 NPC USA body building championships (Las Vegas) in July. My preparation was perfect, but some last minute mistakes made a BIG difference in how my body looked on stage. I was dry and didn’t need to pull any water from under my skin, however, I was advised by the person I was working with to take a diuretic on Friday morning as well as cutting my water intake. The end result? Water was pulled from my muscle tissue, leaving me flat and ruining my appearance on stage. Lesson learned to say the least.
My preparation for Nationals this week will be totally different as I am listening to ME and only ME, since I know my body better than anyone else. I will be competing as a middle weight. I am currently at 180 lbs and have to make the middle weight cut off at 176 1/4 lbs. on Thursday at early weigh-ins. I just realized that when I make weight, I will have lost approximately 70 lbs from my off season weight of 245 lbs. After making weight, IHOP beware. I am coming for my much awaited carb-up meal, PANCAKES. Pancakes worked wonders for me back in 2002 during my carb-up for Nationals.
team KREIDER will be flying into Dallas on Thursday and staying with my good friend Justin. Thank you in advance Justin for letting the team crash at your place. I promise I won’t get too much pro tan on anything…lol.
I want to thank some of my training partners throughout the year of 2007 for my return to the body building stage. Vic and I tore the gym up for the Garden State Classic and Andrew and I unleashed mayhem in the gym for the USA’s. I have been training solo for Nationals this time around. I went back to my H.I.T. old school methods in my training. Nothing works better for me than training hard and heavy with the basic movements. My body has responded well and my 2 hours of cardio a day has gotten me into the condition I think I can win with.
I want to thank in advance some of the team KREIDER family that is making the trip to come support me this weekend. It means the world to me and I cannot thank you enough. I am ready to celebrate with you all Saturday night and hopefully celebrate a BIG victory.
Last but not least, I want to thank the love of my life, Jackie for supporting me through the past several months leading up Nationals. Your love, guidance and amazing cooking has given me the confidence to feel as though I can WIN this thing!!! I look forward to leading a more normal life with you and “Full Throttle” Tyson after this weekend.
I am blessed to have such a loving family, friends and supporters. I hope that my journey this year may inspire others to reach for their dreams.
The time has come my friends. IT IS TIME FOR ME TO UNLEASH MY FURY ON THE NATIONAL STAGE IN DALLAS.
