The NFC Least

Sean Taylor: Keepin' it real in the afterlife

Three weeks ago, every NFL fan basically thought the NFC East was one of -- if not "the" -- toughest division in football.

Not anymore. Granted, the Cowboys are the toast of the conference. It's their bunkmates that are draggin their reputation through the mud. A review (actually, just an opportunity to speak out about Sean Taylor).

Washington Redskins
I hate the Redskins because every pre-season they sign one or two guys to a seven-win team and every blowhard thinks Dan Snyder discovered fire. Now, they're sitting at a woeful 5-6, playoffs are out and they're still dealing with a young QB that hasn't quite turned the corner. Do you have Tony Romo or Rex Grossman with Jason Campbell? The next two years will tell. Also, considering their last three losses (Philly, Dallas and Tampa Ball) were by a combined 19 points, they're probably feeling pretty sick.

Which brings us to Sean Taylor. Everyone knows he was shot and he died last night. It's hard not to take one to the femoral artery and live. It's tough to be a Redskin. It's one to have all the injuries. Then Shawn Springs' dad is in a coma. Then the Taylor thing.

Taylor didn't deserve to die as is with the case with most human beings. But there are decisions we make that determine circumstances in our lives. Taylor decided to keep it real. Guns. Gangsta lifestyle. Living where he lived, hanging out who he hung out with. There's already the sanctimonious stories about how Taylor was turning his life around. Bullshit. Written by journalists with an agenda and, in this case, the journalist who is trying to save the reputation of the gangsta lifestyle in American sports.

When Taylor died, the Washington Redskins not only lost a safety and a good young player, but the pundits that take up for these idiots lost a major battle. If you get messed up in gangs, weapons, drugs and Lord knows what else, you're putting yourself in a situation that could lead to getting shot in the crotch and dying. End of story. No doubt that Taylor had a little perspective after his child was born. It happens. That feeling is real. But many times that moment doesn't overshadow the "keepin' it real" mentality.

I'm supposed to believe that Taylor, a year after getting a bunch of weapons charges, had become a Bible-thumping do-gooder. He'd been robbed twice in a week. And he had a motherfucking machete in his bedroom. For protection. Unless you're a jungle explorer or a member of the Khmer Rouge or some shit, you don't need to have a machete! A machete! Jesus Christ! He's a step from becoming Scarface.

There's a reason Roger Goodell is cracking down on these players keepin' it real -- maybe it's to save their lives.


New York Giants
Is this the third best team in the NFC? Seriously!? There isn't a hyperbole in the English language that could qualify how awful they looked Sunday against the Vikings. Eli Manning and that offense have visible problems. They have four very winnable games coming up (Chicago, Washington, Philly, Buffalo) and they need at least three, because they don't want to face the Pats in the final week fighting for a playoff spot.

Philadelphia Eagles
Do not count out the Eagles. They're sitting at 5-6, but unlike the Redskins, it's an OK 5-6. This is a team that -- other than the Cowboys debacle -- has looked good even with a back up quarterback. They have a slightly easier sked coming up and creeping up around nine wins is not out of the realm of possibility. Or they very well could go 3-5. Just don't count out of the Eagles.