Supplemental Bills Preview Stuff

A little information about the game such as it is

Despite the minimalist preview for the game against the Buffalo Bills I wanted to get some game related content up here, after all future generations will also have the Google.

Clearly the only story this week is the shooting and death of Sean Taylor and the subsequent and ongoing murder investigation. After three days of speculation and innuendo about Sean's life and death the police came out and said they thought Sean was the victim of a burglary gone bad, casting the first doubt that Sean was assassinated or fell victim to an embittered associate or enemy. Conflicting information, speculation and tight lipped police did not make the public feel any better but to be fair this is one of the highest profile murder cases in some time.

Finally on Friday we heard three men were being questioned in far away Fort Myers Florida and one of the things we heard about this was that the men being questioned had heard someone brag about Sean's money. The next day four men ranging in age from 17 to 20, all with criminal records, were arrested in connection with the murder. Reportedly two confessions have been secured and it is possible there is a fifth man involved.

The story appears to be that Sean's stepsister was dating one of the men, the stepsister and her brother had a party at Sean's house Thanksgiving weekend when Sean, his fiancee Jackie Garcia and their 18 month old daughter Jackie were in the Washington DC area and after looking around the stepsister's boyfriend and his friends decided they would rip Sean off. They entered the house Sunday night not expecting anyone to be there and instead found an angry and scantily clothed monster of a man with a machete in his hand so they shot him and ran.

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The other big series of stories focused on Sean's relationships within the team. Sean and Clinton Portis were close friends going back to the University of Miami and Sean and Jason Campbell had developed a close bond that crossed that social line that separates offensive players from defensive players on the same team. Gregg Williams has called Sean Taylor his favorite of all the players he has ever coached. I am sure when Sean's father Pedro Taylor and Sean's might as well be widow Jackie came to Redskins Park and spoke to the team that there was not a dry eye in the house. Coach Joe Gibbs is also taking Sean's death very hard, the whole team is having to come to grips with something no one could have expected.

And in the way of things football must resume. George Solomon is right when he writes

Nothing captures the spirit and populace of this area like the Washington Redskins.

Serious Redskins fans feel a bond with this team and dealing with this in the context of football, no matter what you thought about Sean is a tough thing to do. Mike Wise wrote a good piece about it on Thursday. It is usually a disrespect to say what the departed would have wanted, because it is a simple device for us to rationalize an agenda. In this case however I think it is true. Sean played football for 80 percent of his life, the routine and the schedule were part of his existence and playing the game as scheduled honors that thing to which he dedicated himself. I think he would say shit there is plenty of time to mourn me after we win the Super Bowl.

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Fullback Mike Sellers is out again with his back, James Thrash is out, Antwaan Randle El was doubtful and then eventually was scratched, ending his consecutive starts streak at 91 games (that's a lot folks). And although the rumored missing man formation came to pass with the Redskins starting ten men on defense did in fact come to pass, Reed Doughty got the start and has been elevated to the new starting free safety position. Linebacker Matt Sinclair was elevated from the practice squad and Jimmy Farris, cut after the team brought in receiver Anthonz Mix, was resigned. Guess I need to update my depth chart.

Sean Taylor's last transaction: deceased.


Washington Post preview, Redskins Gameday (PDF). Campbell's Corner, pretty good this week, he has a good point about how the Bills are a team that looks a lot like the Redskins, they had an identical record played in a lot of close games and have a young QB who looks like a keeper but has been uneven. TV coverage map, regional viewing only.

Redskins roster, Bills roster; Redskins injury report, Bills injury report; Bills projected starters.

Other previews: Hogs Haven, The Redskin Report (special Sean Taylor edition), Hog Heaven, Redskins AOL Fanhouse, Covering the Redskins, Riggo's Rag.



One Redskins fan's tribute at the game: Jonathan Newton / Washington Post.