The Washington Commanders had what should have been a public relations slam dunk Sunday morning. That’s when, on the fifteenth anniversary of Sean Taylor’s untimely death, the franchise was set to unveil a statue in tribute of the hard-hitting, fan-favorite safety.
And, because they are a constant disaster under the stewardship of a cartoon villain come to life — team owner and general mess of a human being Daniel Snyder — the Commanders couldn’t even get that right. Instead of a statue, Washington unveiled … a mannequin. The tribute 15 years in the making wasn’t a statue at all. Instead, it was a wire-framed, faceless figure whose only resemblance to Taylor is the jersey it wears.
The Sean Taylor Memorial inside FedEx Field.
Number 21 always and forever pic.twitter.com/yCCMinnUBX
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) November 27, 2022
Not only is that lazy to the point of being offensive, it’s also wholly unnecessary. The Commanders already have a proper tribute to Taylor within their concourse. They’ve immortalized his locker as a proper remembrance at FedEx Field — a decision that didn’t go over well with the team’s veteran players at the time, but serves as a reminder of the player taken too early after a 2007 home invasion.
Sean Taylor's family visiting his locker ahead of kickoff pic.twitter.com/mZMUpkbic5
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) November 27, 2022
That’s a personal reflection on the man and player, an actual piece of his history and the place where he’d prep for games on Sundays and reflect on them and conduct interviews hours later. Washington’s attempt to one-up that with a “statue” is a wildly impersonal follow-up whose pants (Reebok), jersey (Nike) and shoes (Adidas World Cup soccer cleats) don’t even match.
This is the Sean Taylor “Statue” that they are unveiling today in Washington.
This is simply a mannequin with a ST jersey on.
This is beyond embarrassing
…seriously. SMH 🤦🏻♂️ @Commanders #NFL #Fail #SellTheTeam #Washington #Command #httc pic.twitter.com/ZlVINSY0TG
— Cody Bennett (@SouthBeachCody) November 27, 2022
There are several great moments the Commanders could have chosen to immortalize in a career filled with big plays and even bigger hits. Taylor only got to spend four years in the NFL before his life was taken but finished in the top five in defensive rookie of the year voting in 2004, was a Pro Bowler in 2006 and 2007 and was an All-Pro that final year.
Why not memorialize one of his 12 interceptions? How about that time he told the world he takes the Pro Bowl extremely seriously by launching Bryan Moorman approximately three seconds backward in time on a fake punt run (yes, I know the video doesn’t play here, but it’s still worth your time)?
Instead, the Commanders went with a faceless department store mannequin and unveiled it in front of Taylor’s family and a fanbase ready to celebrate Taylor’s life rather than have it vaguely gestured at.
Washington was riding a wave of positivity over the last month. Not only had Snyder begun the process that could potential end with him selling the team, but Taylor Heinicke had stepped up to lead his squad to four wins in five games and a spot in the playoff race.
This Sean Taylor “statue” was a reminder that poison continues to seep into every pore of this franchise from the top down, even if it is capable of showing signs of health along the way. The Commanders could have produced a proper tribute to the star safety who was taken too soon. They could have, sensing their efforts were inadequate, instead focused on his family, their existing tributes, and regrouped to create an actual statue at the 20th anniversary.
Instead they pushed forward with something more fitting for a Dick’s Sporting Goods than a franchise worth billions of dollars. That’s a terrible way to remember Sean Taylor. But failure, in any form, is always an appropriate way to remember Dan Snyder.
