Fined $17000 for ?Spitting?, NFL Safety Who Passed Away Became the Third Player in Team History to Earn This Special Honor

Jersey no. 21 was on his way to NFL safety stardom when his life was abruptly cut short. Late Sean Taylor, a Florida-born defensive phenom, had dazzled fans and foes alike in his four seasons with the Washington Commanders, formerly the Washington Redskins. But one night in November 2007, armed intruders invaded his home and shot him in the leg, hitting a vital artery. His brilliant career and life were cut short by a senseless act of violence.

Sean had the skills and the swagger, but he also had a temper, which cost him dearly in a 2006 playoff game. Sean was caught on the field spitting in the face of a Bucs running back, earning a hefty $17000 fine and an ejection. And, the other guy slapped his helmet but got away with it. However, Sean told coaches and teammates he didn?t spit and they believed it.

Heartbreaking loss of 24 YO Sean Taylor

In 2007, Sean was in his prime, ready for his fourth season, but fate had other plans. The same day Sean was out indefinitely with sprained right knee, his mother reported an attempted burglary at the family?s Miami home. Luckily, there was nobody present during the incident; however, it was a narrowly avoided situation, and it wouldn’t be the final close call.

Four men came back just a week later and broke into Sean’s home again. This time, Sean was there with his girlfriend Jackie Garcia Haley and his baby girl (then-18-month-older). NFL?s Safety already had a bad knee, so Sean stayed home instead of traveling with his team. He heard a noise in the early morning and quickly check it out. Sean confronted intruders at his bedroom door with a machete, but one of them shot him in the leg. The bullet hit his femoral artery resulting in significant blood loss.

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After the incident, Sean Taylor?s jersey number 21 was eventually retired by the organization in 2021, making him the third player in franchise history to receive that honor. As police were dispatched to Taylor?s Miami area at 1:45 a.m., Sean was airlifted to a local hospital, and he underwent immediate surgery. Unfortunately, he slipped into a coma, with doctors attributing the brain damage to his significant blood loss. In addition to that, Taylor’s heart experienced two episodes of cardiac arrest during the operation. Unfortunately, despite the relentless efforts made to save him, Taylor succumbed to his injuries at 3:30 a.m. on November 27, at the young age of 24.

Convicted group motivated by generous star’s cash

The incident shocked all the people who knew Sean because he was known for his generosity outside the field. Four men were arrested on November 30 for breaking into Taylor?s home and shooting him. In a video confession, Eric Rivera said he pulled the trigger when Taylor came at them with a machete. He said they didn?t expect him to be there. He later recanted, saying he was forced to confess and blamed another man. Later, a fifth man was also charged. Rivera, who was 17 then, escaped the death penalty but faced 57 years’ life in prison.

People involved, Eric Rivera, Charles Wardlow, Venjah Hunte, and Jason Mitchell were hoping to find a lot of cash. They got the idea from 25-year-old Jason Mitchell, who was at a party where NFL Safety Sean Taylor gave his half-sister Sasha Johnson a purse with $10,000. Then, the group planned for stealing a significant sum of cash, thought would rob between $100,000 and $200,000 in cash.

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