TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Redskins' Taylor Critical After Shooting At Home

ADVERTISEMENT

By MATT SEDENSKY, The Associated Press

Published: November 27, 2007

PALMETTO BAY - Washington Redskins star safety Sean Taylor was in critical condition Monday after he was shot during what police are investigating as a possible armed robbery at his home.

The 24-year-old player was in the intensive care unit following several hours of surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, although doctors were encouraged late in the day when Taylor responded to simple commands.

"He was responsive to the doctor's request to squeeze his hand and show facial expression, and so the doctors were very happy about that," Redskins vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said. "They told us to hope for a miracle, and I think the positive news we got was extremely good news."

Taylor lost a "significant" amount of blood because the bullet damaged his femoral artery, and doctors were worried about blood flow to the brain, according to family friend Richard Sharpstein, his former lawyer.

"The doctors are being very guarded about their prognosis," said Sharpstein, who, like Cerrato, was at the hospital with the player's family and friends. "They're being a little bit skeptical about either whether he might make it or whether it might cause some permanent brain injury."

The Redskins (5-6) lost 19-13 to the Bucs on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. Taylor did not travel with the team to the game because of his injury. He sprained a ligament in his right knee in the second half of the Nov. 11 loss to Philadelphia and was expected to miss at least two games.

Taylor has had problems on and off the field, and two years ago was accused of brandishing a gun. The shooting came eight days after another invasion was reported at his home. According to police records, someone pried open a front window, rifled through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed.

The shooting happened at the house Taylor bought two years ago in the Miami suburb of Palmetto Bay. Taylor is in his fourth season with the Redskins after playing at the University of Miami.

Taylor called Coach Joe Gibbs on Nov. 19 to let him know he'd miss that morning's regular team meeting because he was in Florida dealing with the first break-in on Nov. 17.

Taylor was at team headquarters Saturday to treat his knee, Gibbs said, adding he wasn't aware the player then returned to Florida.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT