The reason I feel Sean Taylor is the most valuable Redskin and soon to be best player in the NFL comes down to two games from last season: Week 10 at Tampa Bay, and the first round of the playoffs at Tampa Bay.  The first game the score was a 36-35 Redskins loss.  Sean Taylor was injured and did not play.  The second game was a 17-10 win.  Sean Taylor did play.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpZ0Dyy5uDU>

In the first game Brunell threw for over 200 yards and two scores, Portis ran for 144 yards and one score, and the Moss/Cooley duo combined for 10 catches and 155 yards.  In the second game Brunell threw for 41 yards, Portis ran for 53 yards and the Moss/Cooley duo combined for four catches and 30 yards.  Why then, did the Redskins lose the first game and win the second?  The answer is simple: Sean Taylor. 

In the first game Chris Simms was throwing the ball around like his dad Phil used to.  His receivers were getting open at an alarming rate and he torched the Redskins secondary for 279 yards and three touchdowns.  Without Taylor in the secondary roaming around and putting fear into every receiver on the field, the passing game was easy for the Buccaneers.  In the second game however, Simms struggled to get anything going all day long and despite the poor offensive performance by the Redskins they were able to win the game.  A win that put the Redskins in the second round of the playoffs. 

Aside from the fact that Taylor is a ball hawk, recovering fumbles in two straight games for touchdowns, touchdowns that won both games, his mere presence on the field changes the way offenses have to game plan.  Receivers are scared to cross the middle for fear of becoming the recipient of a mind numbing blow, or even worse, alligator arming a pass because of the thought of Sean Taylor lurking. He has the ability to shut down half, or even the entire field.  He is a safety with linebacker size and sub 4.4 speed. He hits really really hard all the time.  In an early training camp scrimmage against the Baltimore Ravens Sean Taylor put this hit on Mike Anderson... http://www.youtube.com/watchv=cncs76D8D_M  ...After the scrimmage when asked about the hit on Anderson, he called it routine.

As a Florida State Seminole I know all to well Sean Taylor(former Miami Hurricane) and his ability to completely shut down an opposing offense.  Against the Seminoles in the rain he did everything from intercept passes, sack the quarterback, and even down a punt on the one yard line. His entire Hurricane career he dominated the Seminoles, a team which year in and year out puts talent on the field.  He is on the verge of dominating again. 

Last year he shut down two premier athletes at their position, Randy Moss and Antonio Gates.  He delivered big hit after big hit and big play after big play.  Entering just his 3rd year in the NFL Taylor has yet to enter his prime.  The third year is usually the breakout year for rising players.  Ed Reed rose to elite status after his third year. Expect Sean Taylor to do the same, maybe even more.  If you feel the need to write me off as a homer, go ahead, but just be sure to watch this video...in its entirety first.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA61sF2OrsA&mode=r
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As a young boy (already a die-hard Redskins fan, why I did not know, but I knew that I was because my entire family told me so) I remember catching a glimpse of a Florida State football game and noticing how much they reminded me of the Redskins.  From that day on my teams were, and would always be, the Redskins and Seminoles.  For the most part it always worked out, having teams that were similar has always been fun.  But recently, all the fun and games stopped, and I had to make some serious decisions. 

The Redskins grabbed up three Miami Hurricanes in two consecutive offseasons via trade and the draft .  Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, and Sean Taylor became the face of the franchise and were formerly players I loved to hate.  Especially Taylor, because the images of him shutting down the Florida State passing game single-handedly every time we played the 'Canes, was still fresh in my mind.  I found myself in a conundrum, should I root against these three players and wait for their time with the franchise to pass, like I did with the joke of an NFL coach Steve Spurrier, or should I embrace these three players no matter where they went to school.

Two seasons ago the Redskins had Taylor and Portis, but no Moss.  The team finished 6-10, Portis ran below what was expected of him, and Taylor played well but had some problems off the field early on.  The impact of players from the U was not a big deal until last offseason when Santana Moss came over in a trade from the Jets for disgruntled receiver Laveranues Coles. 

When the season began Moss, Portis, and Taylor took over.  This became obvious in week two when Santana Moss caught two long bombs in the final five minutes against the Cowboys, and Sean Taylor laid the boom on Patrick Crayton while he was trying to make a catch.  The catch was one the Cowboys needed to have a shot to win, and the hit sent the ball, and Crayton, flying in the wrong direction.  From that point on these three players became the face of the franchise.  Moss and Portis each set single season team records for receiving and rushing yards---and were arguably the two most important players in the Skins six game winning streak at the end of the season.  All Sean Taylor did was become the biggest playmaker on D, delivering huge blows and making big time plays against opposing offenses.  In the Redskins final game of the season Taylor picked up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown to seal a win against the Eagles.  The next week he did the same thing against the Bucs, in an even more dramatic fashion, scooping the ball after Marcus Washington lost control, and taking it to the house for a score.  These two scores were the two biggest touchdowns of the year for the Skins.  The first was the touchdown that guarunteed a playoff birth, for the first time since 1999, and the second was the lone touchdown of the defensive battle between the Skins and Bucs in the first round. 

Before last season, I was unsure of the players from "The U", and was unsure of the direction my feelings for them would take.   After the season, however, I realized it does not matter where they played in college, because they are true Skins now.  True Skins who have the potential to help this organization do something it hasn't done since 1991, win a ring. 

So I have decided that on Saturday's I can still hate the Hurricanes, but on Sunday's, I gotta let the players from the U do what they do baby. 

First things first, congrats G-men on continually signing Redskin linebackers.  Piece and Lavar should work out well with the Giants, except when they are playing the Skins.  I may be a homer, but I also know my football, and the Redskins, well.................THEY ARE FOR REAL.  Here are just a few of the reasons why:

1)The Skins ended the regular season on a 5 game winning streak, going 10-6 on the season and 5-1 in the tough NFC East.  After going into Tampa and knocking off the overrated Bucs, they were finally ousted in the 2nd round by the Seahawks.

2)Al Saunders: Any time a team can bring in the best offensive coordinator in the game you have to take notice.  But when you put him with perhaps the best defensive coordinator in the game, Gregg Williams, and a Hall of Fame head coach in Joe Gibbs, that's just stupid(in a good way).  Saunders will guide the Redskins offense to at least a top 10 finish, and maybe even top five, which isn't a reach considering the Skins finished 11th on offense last year.  The coaching staff doesn't drop off from their.  This staff is filled with guys who have stacked resumes.  The defensive backs coach.......was the Defensive coordinator for the Bills  the past five seasons.  There is a ton of experience at every coaching position on this staff. 

3)Randle El, Lloyd, Carter, and Arch:  The days of the Skins bringing in old players with big names, like Neon Deion, Bruce Smith, and Mark Carrier, are long gone.  Now they bring in young, talented players, who fit the mold Joe Gibbs wants in a player.  Say what you want about the moves he makes, because he usually is right and you will be let dumbfounded, looking like a fool. Since he's come back he has added numerous players and has been criticized for it.  He was bashed for getting Brunell, getting the losing end of the deal for Santana Moss, and Portis was a system back.   For those that continue to criticize, you will be eating your words.  I've already heard about the weaknesses these four additions have.  Here's why I don't listen.  When Santana Moss came here he was inconsistent, injury prone, and not a legit number one wide receiver.  Well at least that's what I was told on a daily basis.  Anyone know what he did last year? Oh yeah, he started in the Pro Bowl, and finished 2nd in the league in receiving yards. Doing all of this while being basically the Skins only threat at wide receiver for the entire season. The Redskins have a Hall of Fame coaching staff who bring the best out in players. 

4)The Media: I love the media, they give hope to all other fans that think their squad may have a shot this year.  Guess what, Len Pasquerelli, Peter King, Dr. Z, and many others are extremely biased.  Everyone talks about the Skins "overpaying" for players.  But had the Redskins not overpaid, then they would be playing somewhere else. The Redskins have the money to do it, and continues to prove that it can afford these salaries year after year, so what does overpaying really mean.  It means, holy (bleep) the Redskins are loaded, we have to find a way to bash them anyway.  Last year Moss received a monster contract from the Skins before he even stepped on the field.  At first it was overpaying for a player, but now.............any team would take him, and his contract. 

This is only the beginning of my Redskin Rant, I will have plenty more: But now I will leave you with one prediction/statement: SEAN TAYLOR IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NFL