Fans brought signs declaring, “Heaven has one hell of a safety,” “Our loss is monumental” and “Forever a Redskin.” There were plenty of No. 21 jerseys, even some homemade ones. Team owner Dan Snyder wore a large 21 above his heart. Naturally, the Redskins distributed white 21 towels.
Sean Taylor was in the starting lineup one last time, if only in absentia.
The Redskins started 10 players defensively in Sunday’s battle with Buffalo. Successor Reed Doughty remained on the sideline for one snap as the team honored its slain safety by still keeping his spot open. Buffalo showed class by running the ball instead of throwing deep.
Everyone wanted to respect the memory of Taylor, who died of a gunshot wound early Tuesday. The Redskins marching band opened with a funeral dirge version of “Hail to the Redskins” before the four-minute video showing Taylor playing in high school, college and with the Redskins. “Going Home” from Braveheart and “Now We Are Free” of Gladiator underscored the tribute. Players, coaches and fans said their goodbyes to Taylor.
It was a proper sendoff. Too bad Washington lost another late one, 17-16.
The Redskins (5-7) dropped their fourth straight and fifth this season with a second-half lead. Coach Joe Gibbs made yet another timeout gaffe when he called two in succession during a field goal attempt — drawing a penalty that made the deciding kick easier. And yet, the crowd of 85,831 never booed. The fans didn’t leave early despite the rain.
This wasn’t so much about the game. It was honoring the team’s best player after six days of captivating headlines. A week of fans steadily coming to Redskins Park for a silent vigil. It was players and coaches enduring a week of what ifs and the arrest of four men allegedly responsible.
The game was supposed to be an escape, but many players said it wasn’t what they hoped.
“I’m used to looking back there for him,” said cornerback Fred Smoot in his first public comments. “The first time I looked back there and didn’t see him it got to me.”
Players saw the large “Sean Taylor” sign in the end zone. They noticed fans becoming surprisingly quiet throughout the first half, as if confused whether they were attending a wake or a game.
The Redskins might have been similarly dazed. There were times they looked unready. So many offensive linemen jumped offside during a fourth-and-one that the official just blamed them all.
“Everything felt weird before the game,” quarterback Jason Campbell said. “When the game started out, you’re so full of emotions. You’re ready to play and want to go out there and do it for Sean. I think it kind of weighed on us late in the game.”
The weight intensifies with today’s funeral and another game Thursday. The season has slipped away. So has a teammate and the joy of life.
Suddenly, losing a game has become irrelevant.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
