COMMENTARY -- SEAN TAYLOR: REDEMPTION AND TRAGEDY

by CC Rider, The Black Flag Blog

He is a freak of nature -- carrying a size with speed rarely if ever seen.

He is one of the most fearsome players to ever don a uniform.

He is larger than life in so many ways.

The idea that 24 year old Redskins Safety Sean Taylor is now "clinging to life" after being shot in an apparent home invasion is nothing short of unbelievable.

If there is anyone I'd think of as invincible, #21 would be pretty close to the top of the list. In fact, if I was going to do a home invasion on an NFL player there are 1,695 I'd pick first.

When Sean Taylor came into the NFL he was, like too many University of Miami products a bit of a problem child.

Then a couple things happened.

He got himself arrested. He was looking at going away for a very long time. Then he became a dad.

Between those two life changing events, something clicked.

Sean Taylor grew up. Sean Taylor found redemption. Sean Taylor was no longer the thug who wouldn't return Coach Joe Gibbs phone calls.

Sean Taylor was the team guy who was just about doing his job and being a great Daddy to his little girl.

There are many of us who look at fatherhood as being the biggest life changing experience of our lives (I know I certainly do), but not too many made so many radical changes as Sean Taylor has.

His teammates even talk about how Sean Taylor The Dad smiles more than Sean Taylor The Player used to.

No matter how this turns out, that's the part that brings tears to my eyes.

This guy turned his life around so he could be a great Daddy to a little girl and somebody has tried to take that little girl's Daddy away from her.

We don't know the facts or the circumstances at this point, but I can't think of any that would ever make that make sense to me.

UPDATE: Taylor dies from his wounds early Tuesday morning.