Jason Taylor's presence will create some awkward moments in Washington, but it's nothing he can help...lest he change his name.

Jason Taylor's presence will create some awkward moments in Washington, but it's nothing he can help...lest he change his name (SI Photo/Simon Bruty).

It was the same for Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas, Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Jerry Rice, even Patrick Ewing, and it will be the same for Brett Favre if he plays for anyone not known for having Cheeseheads in the stands.

It is always unusual to see a player who has spent the entirety of an illustrious career with one team move on to a new ball club in the twilight of his career. When you visually picture Joe Montana or Jerry Rice in your mind, you see them in nothing other than the San Francisco red with their bronze helmets.

There is something that just doesn’t feel right about picturing Babe Ruth in a Braves uniform or Jordan in a Wizards jersey. And the same is the case for longtime Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor in his new Washington Redskins’ digs.

However, besides looking unusual in a Redskins’ helmet, Taylor’s presence has created a weird awkwardness. It is nothing Taylor can be blamed for, but it is instead all in a name. His last name to be exact.

For three and a half years, Washington had a well known figure in their defensive huddle whose jersey read “TAYLOR.” I am, of course, referring to safety Sean Taylor, who was so tragically murdered in his home last year in the middle of the season.

So now, even though Jason Taylor is sporting the number 55 [Sean Taylor wore 21] and will be playing on the defensive line rather than in the secondary, his addition to the Redskins’ roster is going to create some awkward moments for sports, football, and Redskins fans when the Skins’ defense takes the field and has a broad shouldered, defensive star named “TAYLOR” as a prominent figure in the middle of their huddle.

Do you not think those Redskins’ players who were close friends with Sean Taylor are going to get a false sense of joy when they are getting up from a pile and see the name “TAYLOR” blazened across the shoulders of a face down teammate only to see Jason Taylor’s face once he stands up?

Maybe I’m overestimating the impact something that could possibly be considered so small could have, but if Sean Taylor truly had the impact on others many, after his death, said he had then I think people will think Sean when they see “TAYLOR” in that Redskins’ uniform.

But I also think Jason Taylor’s presence will create more remembrance of Sean Taylor. Every time one of the Redskins’ wild hogs in the stands sees “TAYLOR” chase down a running back or make a big hit, they are going to be reminded ever so slightly of that former “TAYLOR” that once roamed from sideline to sideline in RFK Stadium and now prematurely rests forever.

RIP Sean Taylor (4/1/83 - 11/27/07)

Shotgun Spratling

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