bubba9497 Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 Redskins' Taylor Is Absent for Practice By Jason La Canfora Washington Post Staff Writer http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/17/AR2005051701249_pf.html Safety Sean Taylor was not present for the start of the Washington Redskins' offseason practices yesterday, but Coach Joe Gibbs said he expects the second-year player to be on hand next month for the mandatory minicamp. Taylor has not returned numerous calls from his coaches, and Gibbs said he is unsure why he is not here but that his absence is not related to his contract. When asked if the Redskins had been given assurances from Taylor's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, that Taylor would attend a mandatory camp June 17-19, Gibbs said, "I would be in shock if he missed something that was mandatory." Previously, Gibbs stated that he believed Taylor's absence was related to concerns about his contract. But the team has since sent salary cap specialist Eric Schaffer to Miami to meet with Rosenhaus, and Redskins officials say they are now certain that the contract is not the reason Taylor has remained in Florida. Gibbs said Rosenhaus has been reluctant to divulge details about Taylor's decision not to come to Redskins Park, but running back Clinton Portis reiterated his belief that the safety, who was a rookie last year, is burned out from football. "He's doing the proper training" in Florida, said Portis, who speaks with Taylor regularly, "and when he gets here -- whenever that is -- he knows what his responsibility is going to be. I know he'll be here for training camp." While Taylor's absence was unexcused and disappointed Gibbs, wide receiver Rod Gardner was not expected to be here as the team continues to try to trade him. Gibbs said there is still hope for a trade -- although Gardner's prolonged stint on the trading block points to the contrary. Asked about the possibility of releasing Gardner and saving $2.1 million toward the salary cap, Gibbs said, "We've considered all options and we're going to try to do what we think is best for the team." Linebackers LaVar Arrington (knee surgery), Marcus Washington (back surgery) and Mike Barrow (knee tendinitis), and defensive tackle Brendan Noble (knee infection) are missing these no-pad practices; return man Chad Morton, whose season was ended by knee surgery, was not cleared to participate, Gibbs said. Arrington is again visiting with James Andrews in Birmingham with hopes of being ready for July training camp. Barrow is working with specialists in Arizona after missing all of last season with knee ailments. Gibbs said Barrow is likely to begin his rehabilitation at Redskins Park soon, although no date has been set for a return. The Redskins signed free agent linebackers Warrick Holdman and Brian Allen to add depth to an injury-depleted position, and Gibbs said both players will work at middle linebacker, which was decimated by the departure of starter Antonio Pierce and Barrow's injury. On offense, the team continues to work on the shotgun, a formation Gibbs shunned in the past, and is implementing more stretch plays with zone blocking, better suited to Portis and akin to how he played in Denver after the Redskins tried to be a power running team at the start of last season. "We were set on being a smash-mouth team," Portis said. "That's what we wanted to go out and do. Unfortunately, that didn't win us a lot of games, so we changed a few things up." Redskins Notes: The Redskins had interest in free agent linebacker Peter Boulware, but with the team just $1.5 million under the salary cap, his asking price is too steep. "I would say we probably got ruled out," Gibbs said. . . . Tight end David Kashetta was waived yesterday. Gibbs said punter Tom Tupa was excused from practice for personal reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalSkins Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 How many years before he pulls a Ricky Williams and quits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDiplomat Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 Well I must admit I feel a little misled by all the reports citing that Taylor wanted a new deal. I don't like the fact that he is "burned out" although it's understandable. I just hope some of the vets talk to him when he arrives and, in a sense, give him some tips on how to manage and handle the NFL and its demanding schedule. That would prove beneficial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 and Redskins officials say they are now certain that the contract is not the reason Taylor has remained in Florida. Gibbs said Rosenhaus has been reluctant to divulge details about Taylor's decision not to come to Redskins Park, but running back Clinton Portis reiterated his belief that the safety, who was a rookie last year, is burned out from football. :doh: here we go... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cskin Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 I was thinking the exact thing. After his rookie year he's decided he's burned out on football? :doh: If things don't make a drastic change.... and I realize it's still mid May.... I'm betting the FO is going to start evaluating whether they made a mistake drafting the headcase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forbeskin Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 Burned out, ah yes the trials and tribulations of being a millionaire football player........ Another thing I noticed is that CP says he talks to ST all the time, yet he wont talk to Gibbs at all. Just proves that he's slapping the org in the face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted May 18, 2005 Author Share Posted May 18, 2005 burned out = Chasing bikini's on South Beach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 This isnt the most obvious scenario for a cartoon, but I bet Bang could come up with a good one for ST......maybe show him hangin out with Ricky Williams somewhere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 To be honest, I'd rather he not be around because he's looking for a new contract than because he's burned out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntotoro Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 Burned out from being a millionaire who plays a game for a living, eh? Poor guy... Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 Originally posted by Art To be honest, I'd rather he not be around because he's looking for a new contract than because he's burned out. We've just witnessed history. Shortest post ever by Art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweet daddy Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 I think I am more sick of hearing about Barrow than Taylor. Tendonitis for a year and a half. Gimme a break. I am not disputing the fact that he is injured but it's not tendonitis. I hope we are not counting on this guy but his name keeps coming up like we are expecting him to contribute. He may contribute but lets don't count on it at this point. Sorry for the rant. Sound's like the skins "cap man" went down and said "ain't no mo money!" So ST said I ain't showin up till mandatory's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 Burnout for Sean Taylor = "Playing dodge ball like a fat kid" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Om Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 I'm not going to read too much in CP's use of "burned out." Hell, I've used that term to describe why I might lay off beer for the rest of a weekend. It doesn't mean I'm going dry forever. Sean needs to get it in gear, no question ... but I won't worry TOO much about him until he starts missing mandatory stuff and/or stands to lose cash for not being around. When it starts costing him green, that's when we'll get a read on just how burned out the young man is or is not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenster95 Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 The key here is WHY he's "burned out." He might be "burned out" not from just the on-field scrutiny he's gotten as a highly touted rookie, but his turbulent off-field ordeals probably had something to do with it too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowtrain Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 It's true that Taylor's committed no crime until missing mandatory camp, but it's untrue that his actions so far don't warrant great scrutiny. We've all failed to call someone back on occasion for a variety of reasons. Sometimes innocent, sometimes not. But repeated failure to return someone's call regarding an important matter is one of the more insulting acts you can commit. In business, you do it if you have something they want, but you have zero need for what they're offering. In addition, you could care less about offending them because they're simply not worth your time. In personal life, it may be the unattractive girl who serviced you and now, you don't care to see or speak to her in a sober state. Well, that's one example, but more generally, it's a person that you either don't respect or hold in high regard -- and again, someone that you have no problem offending. A player's relationship with his coach transcends both business and personal grounds. Here, Taylor's failure to exercise the most basic act of courtesy is downright odd. And based upon agent and media involvement it almost takes an active, purposeful effort to NOT just pick up the phone. That's why, if this was all occurring within the context of a contractual dispute, it's still very discouraging, but at least the agent-initiated gag order can be seen as some sort of comprehensible excuse. With that possibility removed, however, where does that leave Taylor? Where it likely leaves him is as a 22-year old kid who doesn't feel like dealing with the responsibilities associated with accepting $13M in bonus money. Fortunately, Gibbs is well equipped to teach Taylor a thing or two. The question that remains is how interested Taylor is in being a student of the game, in addition to learning life's most basic lessons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hands11 Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 Originally posted by TheDiplomat Well I must admit I feel a little misled by all the reports citing that Taylor wanted a new deal. I don't like the fact that he is "burned out" although it's understandable. I just hope some of the vets talk to him when he arrives and, in a sense, give him some tips on how to manage and handle the NFL and its demanding schedule. That would prove beneficial. Great talent, sorry as hell at managing his image. He didnt talk to the press all last year because he got a DWI and now he is burned out of football. Dude seems a bit of a head case. I think you have to prove it a few more years on the field before you start pulling a Riggo. Hes to young to be taking special privledge. But he may be good enough to get away with it as long as he works well with the team when he is here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLongshot Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 I think it is a poor choice of words on Jason's part. If I remember the comments from Portis correctly, I think he said that Sean wanted to get away from football for a bit. Considering last year, and the fact that he doesn't seem to deal with the public all that well, this shouldn't be much of a surprise. I won't be worried until he misses mandatory workouts. Then, there is the misuse of the word "decimate", but everyone seems to do that... Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty Gut Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 On offense, the team continues to work on the shotgun, a formation Gibbs shunned in the past, and is implementing more stretch plays with zone blocking, better suited to Portis and akin to how he played in Denver after the Redskins tried to be a power running team at the start of last season."We were set on being a smash-mouth team," Portis said. "That's what we wanted to go out and do. Unfortunately, that didn't win us a lot of games, so we changed a few things up." Interesting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlindSideBlitz Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 I was looking at some tapes the other day and came across the 2004 draft. I watched some of it and when Taylor was drafted he was at home with his family and his agent. He sure didn't seem very happy when they called his name. I don't care if they said I had to play at the North Pole, I know if I was the 5th pick in the draft I would be freaking out. It is just my opinion but I think he fired his agent the next day or whatever b/c he was mad that we drafted him and felt his agent did not do his job. All of the things that happened last year and now this? It just doesn't add up. I love watching him play and I hope very much that I'm wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 Maybe Taylor isn't in South Beach at all. Maybe he's hanging out with Dave Chappell in South Africa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowboykilla Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 "We were set on being a smash-mouth team," Portis said. "That's what we wanted to go out and do. Unfortunately, that didn't win us a lot of games, so we changed a few things up." Gfunk I also found this interesting. I'm thinking that given the personnel we have right now, Joe Gibbs' will have to utilize his Hall of Fame coaching ability. Joe is coaching a different player group than he was in the glory days, and for him to win he's going to have to adjust. That's obvious. I think this quote is a sign that he is doing just that (Similar to how he adjusted his 'Air' Coryell offense into a more smashmouth style). Gibbs realizes who his players are, he's a great coach. As a great coach he will put his feature back in the type of system that will maximize his potential. It encourages me that Gibbs is toiling in the lab, that's a sign of genius. Never complacent. I'm looking forward to seeing a more open running game and a repeat of Gibbs' pattern in his first go-round with us (Tough first season followed by tremendous success). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowboykilla Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 And about Taylor. . . imagine your first year in college. That first summer, you looked forward to going back home to see your family/friends and maybe some girls you knew from home. That's where Taylor is right now. He has some things going for him in DC, but at the current time Miami is the place he calls home. Give it a few years, and he'll be happy in DC after he gets a home, makes some friends/connections, and gets used to the environment here. I know by the end of college I didn't even want to go home anymore and hopefully that will be analogous to his time with DC vs. Miami. I'm sure in a few years after he's adjusted everything will be fine and we will be talking of his troubled rookie year as an anomaly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted May 18, 2005 Author Share Posted May 18, 2005 he won't talk to Gibbs because he'd feel guilty, and then have to show up. the kid is..... well a kid, and very immature. This is nothing more than him wanting to stay at home, Momma taking care of him.... until the last possible second, before he has to report. some 21 year olds just aren't grown up. He has always lived at home, even in college he was only across town, being on his own for the first time was a whole new scary world of responsibility that many do not take too easily.... I know I didn't, when I first moved away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaping lizzy Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 Total speculation on my part but I think that when Portis says that Taylor is burnt out on football - I don't think the physical part of the game burns him out at all - I think that Sean just wants to play football, loves to play football (and of course receive lots of money) but he would like to do it without all the hoopla and other responsibilities that go along with being an NFL player. So I guess I'm saying he's just kind of young and a bit selfish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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