He’s been in this position before, addressing the media about an offseason situation after the first day of practice.
He hasn’t been in this position before, heading into training camp with nothing but football to discuss.
It’s a welcome change for Redskins safety Sean Taylor.
“Right now I can focus on football and focus on my life,” Taylor said. “It’s great. Football is what I love doing; anything that takes away from that wouldn’t be right.
“In my case it’s best to put it away and let me focus on football and be here [in minicamp] for three days so you don’t have to ask me why did you miss camp again when I show up for training camp and you butcher me.”
Taylor is still awaiting word from the NFL about whether he’ll be suspended for violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. Last June, he was accused of brandishing a gun and starting a street fight in Miami after two of his all-terrain vehicles were stolen. But the situation was resolved with no jail time after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault and battery charges.
That problem trailed him throughout training camp and the season last year.
As a rookie, he faced numerous questions after he changed agents a couple times and skipped a mandatory rookie symposium.
Even before his problems last offseason, he opted not to attend offseason workouts. He wouldn’t return coach Joe Gibbs’ phone calls. Yesterday, Taylor said he would have been here if, “I could have been.” But last summer, he said, “Why was I not here? It was the offseason.”
“Some believe in participating, some believe in resting,” Taylor said Friday. “As long as I’m here from the end of July to January or February, that’s all the team really cares about.”
But he attended more workouts at Redskins Park this offseason, attending a couple sessions before his court case was decided June 1. He attended the organized team activities thereafter.
“It brings chemistry,” he said when asked why he decided to show up this offseason.
Still, Taylor did miss more workouts than his teammates. That’s likely why he worked with the second team during the first day of minicamp. He started last training camp with the second unit as well, before returning to the starting lineup within a couple weeks.
“He’s behind because of a lot of the stuff he’s missed,” Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. “That’s tough for us and for him. We’ve talked about that. Hopefully from here on the road smooths out. He needs to be here and he understands that. He belongs here working out all the time.”
Infirmary update
» Defensive tackle Joe Salave’a was excused from this weekend’s minicamp because his mother is sick, coach Joe Gibbs said.
» Quarterback Mark Brunell (finger), defensive end Nic Clemons (arthroscopic knee surgery) and offensive lineman Tyson Walter (high ankle sprain) did not participate.
» Offensive lineman Jon Jansen (thumb) and Casey Rabach (leg) were limited, but linebacker Lemar Marshall (shoulder) participated in all drills.
