Born To Be Legend

By John D. McKinnon, Jr.



On April 1st 1983, a legend was brought into this world. At the time no one could have known that Sean Michael Maurice Taylor would become arguably one of the greatest football players of all time some twenty years later. Let’s be honest, who’d have thought before the April 2004 draft there could ever be a player standing nearly 6’3 and weighing nearly 230 lbs that possessed the speed of a world class sprinter and hitting ability only comparable to Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lott? Who’d of thought this same player could actually cover the field from sideline to sideline in a blur and intercept passes even from the savviest Quarterbacks? Who would have imagined in only four years he’d be taken away from us?
It’s been three difficult months since the untimely, senseless death of the man we knew as Sean Taylor. Many Redskin’s fans, players and non-football fans alike have been affected by his death. How could this seemingly indestructible man that was nicknamed, “Meast” (part man, part beast), voted the most feared player in the NFL and the strongest player at his position suddenly perish? As a Christian, I strongly believe we are all born with a purpose and everything that happens to us is in God’s plan. God had a plan for Mr. Taylor as well. Though we may never be sure what that plan may have been, I believe Sean’s life went according to script and he wasn’t taken away, “before his time.”
Admittedly, Sean Taylor was my favorite new era Redskin and my fiancés as well. It’s hard to come to grips with the fact we will never see him again in his physical form and that can be expected. It’s difficult not to imagine the “what ifs”. Many football purists even before Sean’s death believed he would have been the greatest safety ever to play the game. Some even believed he could have been the greatest player regardless of position if he had lived. Mr. Taylor however didn’t die in vain. Maybe Sean was put on this Earth to capture our hearts as a person and a player to only be taken away from us. Why? Possibly to remind us we are human and none of us are indestructible.
Sean's relationship with his young daughter was well documented after his death. By many accounts Sean’s daughter brought him happiness, joy and stability in his life. Sean’s “transition” was well documented and affirmed by many players and colleagues. The consensus was his daughter was a major influence for Sean that allowed him to move beyond his “troubled” past.
The “troubled” label is actually what’s so troubling here. Sean Taylor, despite subjective rambling from biased columnists after his death was not the troublemaker that he was made out to be. He was a young man that was pulled over after a party and charged with a DWI which was dropped due to lack of evidence. He was also charged for threatening an individual for stealing his truck. Sean was also fined for spitting on another player and consequently labeled a “thug” even posthumously. Well John if he did all that that makes him a thug right? I’ll answer that with a question of my own. If that makes him a thug that would mean Tanya Harding (former figure skater) and Bill Romanowski (former NFL linebacker) are thugs as well doesn’t it? Tanya Harding, the former Olympic skater’s rap-sheet is reminiscent of the Dead Sea scroll as well as Romanoski. However, I’ve never seen an article characterizing either one as a “thug” or a menace. Sean grew up in a good home with both parents in an upper-middle class environment. Now was Sean a good person that made some mistakes or was he just an evil barbaric thug? If Harding or Romanowski were senselessly killed the way Sean was, would their past transgressions even be factors? Exactly. The fact that I even have to make this point substantiates how far we need to go as a race of people.
Despite these disparities however, many Redskin fans and others abroad banned together in support of Sean. This strong bond caused some of the judgmental media hounds to change their stances, especially following an undeniably heart-felt funeral service. Which brings us back to the original point, why was Mr. Taylor taken from us? The fact is he wasn’t, he was never ours to begin with. Sean grew up in a Christian home and he belonged to the Lord above. We were just allowed to witness his greatness for the short while he passed through. The things that can’t be taken away are the memories and footage of his superhuman abilities. Also, the legacy he left behind and the many people’s lives he has affected even through his death. His earthly demise translates into eternal life spiritually. And for that reason his legend lives on.


Hail To The Redskins!

Could Ocho Cinco plus millions Equal Zero?

By John D. McKinnon, Jr.


I’ll begin this piece by stating I am a fan of Chad Johnson. I love his work-ethic and he’s a heck of a receiver. Though he’s a thirty year old wide-out that may have peaked and may be past his prime, he could certainly help to improve the Washington Redskins offense. Chad Johnson, the self proclaimed, “Ocho Cinco” [the number eighty-five in Spanish] is arguably one of the top five receivers in the NFL. He possesses the height, speed, precision and strength that would give a young quarterback like Jason Campbell a reliable big-play target. He could also allow Santana Moss (listed at 5’10 but come on) to take advantage of single coverage as the secondary target.

With a myriad of good reasons to acquire this super-star, there are just as many reasons, why we shouldn’t. Dan Snyder has become the poster-child for throwing money at thirty-something “big names” and not reaping a return on investment. The Redskin’s organization has become synonymous with overspending through free agency and giving away draft picks for next to nothing. Chad Johnson could have a few All-Pro years left but at what cost? Even Chad mentioned about two weeks ago that he’d love to get a big pay day and come over to the Redskins. My concern is the latter part of that paraphrased sentence, may be his major motivation for joining our beloved Skins.

Chad Johnson may provide the quick-fix solution to opening up our offense which could consequently benefit the running game as well. Even the best-case scenario would probably have “Ocho Cinco” in the burgundy and gold for only about four our five seasons (remember he’s 30). The pessimistic viewpoint would suggest that Chad may be on a decline and may not be nearly as productive as he’s been in the past.

If confirming through a crystal ball that Chad could play with the Skins without any salary cap ramifications and produce that would be terrific. However, it doesn’t seem that the risk is worth the reward and this prospective deal would have trouble written all over it. I’m a proponent of the Draft and think we may be able to find hungry, talented, young and affordable players that could help this team win. After all Ocho Cinco was drafted in Round Uno in 2001. There may be another Chad type of receiver out there in the Draft.

Does Eighty five plus millions equal zero? Or would Chad Johnson be the one of the greatest acquisitions in Redskin’s history. My calculations tell me, its not worth finding out.

Hail To The Redskins!

Has Snyder Finally Figured it Out?

By John D. McKinnon, Jr.


Now that the search has ended for the Washington Redskin’s new Head Coach, what are we left with? I’ll admit, after hearing that Jim Zorn would be the new Head Coach, I had mixed feelings. On one side of the coin, Zorn was originally offered the Offensive Coordinator vacancy previously occupied by supposed offensive guru, Al “Trust me it works” Saunders. After interviewing several candidates including former Giant’s coach Jim Fassel, it appeared Dan Snyder was on another wild goose chase. After being rejected more than an overweight bachelor with no job, Snyder weighed his options and offered Zorn the head-coaching position.

Stating the obvious, it appears Zorn was offered the position because he was the only one available. But then again maybe Snyder interviewed other candidates only as a smoke screen and wanted Zorn to be the coach all along. Maybe Zorn impressed Danny so much by his thirteenth interview that he saw the light and decided Jim was the man for the job.

Since 1993 the Redskins have lacked direction and never seemed to develop cohesion. This is in part a result of bad personnel moves that causes Snyder to get rid of coaches and players that he usually overpays for. Zorn certainly has a positive upside and is heralded as a genius with developing young quarterbacks. In one sense this could prolong the development of Jason Campbell, however if they click, this could prove to be one of the smartest decisions Snyder has made. Another wise decision (though not popular) may have been letting Greg Williams go and promoting Greg Blatche to Defensive Coordinator. Though I’ve always been a Greg Williams fan, I’ve never been sold on him being a great head coach. Greg Blatche by many accounts is a no-nonsense coach that isn’t easily impressed. For the Redskins to be successful they need guys like Blatche.

So far this season the Redskins haven’t traded away any of their draft picks for players. With the Draft barely two months away, the Redskins may have addressed some key deficiencies without breaking the bank, by the time next season begins. We all remember the low-points of the last two decades. Horrible personnel moves (Norv Turner, Heath Shuler, Dan Wilkinson, Dana Stubblefield, Mark Carrier, Bruce Smith) of course this list could go on for days but I’m afraid I might exceed my bandwidth allotment.


In a nutshell, it appears the Redskins have seen the low-points and can go nowhere but up. Let’s hope this is the case and Danny has finally gotten it right.


Hail To The Redskins!

Darrell and Art, Hall Of Fame Worthy

By John D. Mckinnon, Jr.

Saturday, February the second was more than just the eve of the Super bowl. In fact, for a couple of hours it was easy to forget there would be a game played in Phoenix the next evening. The news of Art Monk and Darrell Green being selected to the Hall Of Fame was enough to supersede just about anything a Redskin fan could hear.

As a young Redskin fan, somewhere between the ages of 9 and 11, Art and Darrell became my two favorite football players. I always wanted to play Wide Receiver and Cornerback as a result of watching Art and Darrell. These guys exemplify what it means to be gentlemen and by the end of their football careers they’d solidified their status as two of the best that ever played.

Art Monk as a young draft pick out of Syracuse dominated the 80s and helped revolutionize the wide receiver position. By the time Art received his degree from Syracuse he was standing at 6’3 and weighing about 210. Art developed a reputation for “punishing” opposing defenders with his ability to lower his shoulder to absorb any resistance from opposing tacklers. Art also developed a reputation for being humble and quiet despite his successes on the field.

Darrell Green was drafted out of Texas A & I University where he eventually received his Bachelors of Science Degree. Darrell was an athletic freak of nature. Standing at a modest 5’8 Darrell was arguably the fastest man in the NFL. He was eventually nicknamed the “ageless wonder” as he remained one of the leagues fastest men into his early forties when he retired in 2002.

As much as I would love to go on about their amazing play or their ability to seemingly defy the laws of nature, I’ll have to take this story in another direction. Sure I’d love to talk about Darrell Green shifting into over-drive and catching Tony Dorsett after giving him a 20 yard head start or Art catching touchdowns in front of me while I sat at RFK with my dad. Unfortunately, these two football legends are comprised of a lot more than football and I will have to reserve their athletic highlights for another story. In fact, football may only make up about 10 percent of what these guys were really about.

Darrell and Art are involved in their Foundations, (The Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation) and (The Good Samaritan Foundation), respectively. Another common thread these guys share is their dedication to Jesus Christ. As a result both men have created a bond and a brotherly closeness that carries over to their families. While Darrell was always considered more vociferous, Art was more of a quiet storm that led by example.

In a new era of young players some of which perform touchdown dances after every catch, Darrell and Art’s inductions couldn’t have come at a better time. Firstly, it brings to center stage two of the many athletes that do a lot more than many of their detractors and critics. Secondly, it gives the children and young fans, two balanced individuals. Shortly, after Monk received the news he would be inducted, he responded by cell phone and stated many of the factors that led to his success. The influence of his Dad and Mom, which stressed the importance of academics and leading a godly life, was one of them. Art also spoke about the importance of applying those principals to other areas of life. In other words, not becoming a thoroughbred that needs sports but being a champion in every facet of life. So when “Pacman” Jones states trouble has “followed” him throughout his life and this could’ve happened to anyone, we can point out to him that Art and Darrell have never had one of these things happen to them in nearly thirty years.

During the same media session Darrell was sure to mention his influence on his own son, that’s a promising young athlete. I can remember getting Darrell Green’s autograph for the first time in ’84 and what it meant to me as a ten year old. Since youngsters look up to athletes and hold them in high regard, it’s important for the younger players to follow the lead of Darrell and Art. Athletes should be held accountable for their actions as individuals, not just for the sake of them being athletes. But it doesn’t stop there. In fact that’s where it starts. Parents need to be responsible for their children and shouldn’t look for athletes to raise their kids. In fact, the influence of athletes or anyone other than parents should serve as reinforcement of what’s already been instilled, not as initial parenting. In addition, the media (i.e. newspapers, television, and periodicals) can place more emphasis on athletes like Gilbert Arenas, Etan Thomas, Emeka Okafor, Lawrence Funderburke and Marquis Daniels. Between these athletes one is a world renowned poet / political activist (degree in Business) two graduated in the top of their class at their respective Universities, two have written books, two graduated in three years, and all are active in their communities. (There’s a lot more about these guys on Wikipedia.) For any of my valued readers that would like to know why these types of athletes are the ones we rarely hear about it baffles me as well. We are left to assume that “Pacman” and others who don’t graduate or take themselves seriously respresent the populace of athletes. I’m here to tell you they don’t (Feel free to research this). Guys such as Art and Darrell won’t get much press unless they’ve committed a crime or unless their inducted into Canton and that’s why this past weekend’s event was something to behold.


Hail To The Redskins!