Redskins induct Taylor into Ring of Honor
LANDOVER, Md. — Sean Taylor was honored before Sunday’s 23-7 loss to the New York Giants. He became the 43rd player inducted into the Washington Redskins’ Ring of Honor in a pre-game ceremony that included his parents, fiancée and daughter.Taylor was killed in his Miami home just over a year ago.
After opening remarks by Taylor’s father, Pedro, both teams ran onto the field. The Redskins had asked to be on the field when Taylor’s place in the Ring of Honor was officially unveiled. Running back Clinton Portis, Taylor’s close friend and teammate at the University of Miami, was the last player to run on the field.
Taylor was introduced as the team’s starting safety, and Portis ran onto the field with a flag bearing Tay-lor’s No. 21. He then joined the rest of the Redskins, who stood in a group near the 40-yard line in the southeast end of the stadium and watched as the banner was lifted over the sign bearing Taylor’s name.
Redskins coach Jim Zorn, in Seattle when Taylor was murdered, watched Taylor’s fiancée, Jackie Garcia. Zorn noted that Garcia was composed throughout much of the ceremony. But when Portis ran out of the tun-nel, the emotion became too much to bear.
The ceremony “did justice” to Taylor, Zorn said.
The field also honored Taylor. The Redskins’ midfield logo was repainted with a burgundy 21, surrounded by white.
“You always see [Taylor jerseys] in this stadium,” Portis said. “They didn’t just come out today for the dedication. Fans always represent Sean. And teammates and players, they represent also. The opportunity for me to run out with the flag during the introduction of Sean, it was a great opportunity.”
— ‘MEDIUM’ RARE: Zorn has often mentioned the importance of staying even-keeled, not getting too high or too low emotionally. In Zorn’s lingo, it’s called staying medium.
But Zorn admitted he had a difficult time staying medium on Sunday. The flashpoint was the PAT after the Giants’ first touchdown. Holder Jeff Feagles bobbled the snap but managed to get the ball down. Kicker John Carney took one step and booted the ball through the uprights.
“That shouldn’t have happened,” Zorn said. “It set me off.”
From there, Zorn said he was “whining” about everything. Each mistake earned his ire, and he said he rode players hard after committing such mistakes.
— EBB AND FLOW OF THE RUN: The Redskins managed only eight rushing yards in the first quarter, which contributed to the Giants taking a 10-0 lead.
On Washington’s first two possessions, Portis rushed three times for five yards. Both drives were three and out, and the Giants were able to turn both punts into points.
Seeing that the running attack was going nowhere, Zorn worked more play-action passes into the offense. That, in turn, opened up some running lanes, and Washington finished with 92 yards on the ground.
But the Redskins had only one designed run in the fourth quarter as they tried to overcome the Giants’ two-possession advantage.
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