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Redskins.com: Goodbye, Sean.


Art

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Tomorrow in my home town of Richmond, we will have our annual Christmas parade. The weather is supposed to be clear and crisp. I plan to wear one of my Redskins field caps which I have written the number 21 on. I am a proud Washington Redskins fan and I will miss Sean.

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Art...I am a man of few words, but when I speak...I speak.

Let me say that what you have said in the few words spoken has resonated profoundly.

I was born in 1966 and since that day I have enjoyed the days of Sonny, the days of Kilmer, Taylor, Hamburger, Allen, Houston, Fisher, Talbert, Larry brown, Riggins, Gibbs, Dexter, Monk, Clark, the Hogs, etc..... I as a little boy use to cry when they would lose, But When we lost SC, who I thought was the best FS in the NFL in the ever. Excuse me, EVER!!! I was deeply saddened. It has affected me for the past few days.

I believed it when Greg Williams cried, Why not, it was the best player any defensive coordinator would ever have for the next Millinium. He was the anti TO...the antiRandiMoss. Everyone feared him! We had the best FS and now we lost him.

To this day I still remember the video of him smacking T.O in the mouth, literally with his fist after a play. WOW, what bravado, what confidence, what swagger.

Good for you Art, you are well respected on this site and well spoken and articulate. I have watched you over the years without interacting. I have watched you from afar, but it was well due for you to release your feelings through that letter. It was beautiful....I respect you for that. I am just a cheerleader, but I sit in the back watching everything because I love the Redskins.

Ironically, it is the religious man Gibbs who will now have to glue this team together, after we and I mean we wanted him out for his conservatism.

I my friend, will always be a Redskins fan till the day I die, but I will not be without criticism if need be.

Sean Taylor....May your soul rest in peace and may your loved ones pain be soothed by the loss of their loved one.

Nice job Art!

RM

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This was the hardest thing I've ever had to write.

http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=32290

ExtremeSkins Fan View: Goodbye, Sean

By Arthur Mills

ExtremeSkins.com

November 30, 2007

We didn't know Sean Taylor.

On 4th-and-four against Dallas, as he jarred the ball free from Patrick Crayton, we thanked him.

We admired him against the Vikings as Moe Williams came rushing forward full speed only to be stoned cold.

When he didn't communicate with the coaching staff during an absence, we were frustrated by him.

We were amazed by him as he sat deep in coverage, seemingly beaten against Green Bay, goading Brett Favre to throw behind him only to gallop into the play to make the play.

He made us smile as he floated into the end zone against Philly, made us marvel as he intimidated Terrell Owens, made us shake our heads when he worked out in Florida, made us get up and cheer when he had the ball in his hands.

He made us all do and feel so much.

On Tuesday morning, he made us cry.

We woke up and the first thing we did was check for information about him. This man we didn't know. This man we loved so much for what he could do.

We've drifted through this week dazed. Some of us seeking the huddle of fellow fans holding each other together, some of us spacing out internally attempting to put answers to questions that have no answers.

We catch ourselves closing our eyes in disbelief days later.

People in our lives we do know, who may not otherwise even like us, have reached out to us to offer sympathy for the loss. Cowboy fans even seem to care.

The feelings and response is so crazy. So stupid. So ludicrous. So wrong. So understandable. So sane. So right.

All of it.

We hate ourselves when we think about what this means for the team. How could we? It's just not important. Kickoff is still at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. How can we not?

Men who did know Sean Taylor have to suit up and play football. Coaches who did know Sean Taylor have to watch game film, prepare a game plan, teach it to the players, then coach a game. Then pack up for a trip to Miami for a funeral.

If we feel the way we do, what must it be like for them? How will they respond?

If the team responds to Taylor's death finding unity and purpose behind these unwanted, negative emotions by going on a memorable, admirable streak of victory, could we cheer?

If the team responds to Taylor's death with distracted, even disinterested play, causing a string of losses, could we boo?

Before Tuesday, being a football fan was simple. He can't play or he can. He can coach or he can't. If we had Taylor, Owens would not have had any catches. Campbell's not clutch, or he's an emerging star.

We had football and the views of football fans, regardless off how divergent they can be. Views uncomplicated by the realities of life until life's tragedies intrude and remind us just how shallow our passion is, but just how wonderful it is because of how pure and simple it is in a world where a man can be taken from his family so senselessly.

It took Taylor's death for us to get to know him better.

To know he was seeing a woman related to Andy Garcia. To know he was a homebody since the birth of his child. To know he was maturing. To know he was easy with a smile to those he knew and trusted.

Each story bringing us closer to the man we only knew on the field yet who has now impacted us so greatly off it.

Each story connecting us more to the man Sean Taylor was rather than the football player we knew him to be.

In this week after three consecutive losses, he unites us with the team in a way no victory could accomplish.

On Sunday our cheers will come more from the heart than the throat. It will be our release. One we need.

One our team needs.

Sean Taylor's no longer here for us, but, for a while, he'll be with us more than ever before.

Kudos, said very well! Good ob!

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Art you actually put it in words the way I couldnt explain all week Why I felt so bummed about this Tragedy, If that makes any sense. Great read bud and I feel a little better that people felt the same damn way I am feeling, S.T was God's Safety that touched so many of us REDSKINS. I may be rambling but it is so Bizzare that he touched us all so greatly, its like he was just as special as you get.

S.T R.I.P We All Miss YA

:point2sky

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Thank you, Art. Your words help soothe the deep, dark pain in a scary world, where football will never seem as exciting without #21, and neither will be the same. And how true are your words. I have gotten calls and hugs from every person I know from every walk of life, as if he was my brother. And he was our Redskin brother. And we do know him, and we'll always love him, and miss him. :helmet:

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Thanks, Art. I've been reliving those plays in my mind.

The two brightest memories of Sean for me, were being 2nd row from the field as he carried that fumble into the end zone, and our team into the playoffs, in Philly 2005; and having a brief conversation with him at training camp not even 4 months ago, when he signed my football.

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That was beautiful, thanks.

I have a question. Before the season started I had a #21 jersey made with Hit Man on the back instead of Taylor. I almost think it would be inappropriate to wear it anymore, especially this weekend. Any thoughts.

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