I think Mike Nelms' jersey should be worn again.
^^This. I loved the guy and the way he played and I do believe that if he'd lived he would have been one of the best ever to play the position. That said, it never happened. I just think you shouldn't officially retire a # on what could have been. OTOH, I don't think it should be brought out of retirement for just any scrub either. I could definitely get on board with giving it to a top tier RB.I liked Taylor a lot - I got to see him quite a bit during his first 3 seasons and interview him several times. He was a hell of a player, and I think a genuinely good guy, not the 'thug' some portrayed him to be. More misunderstood and raw than ever a bad guy. He had a tragic life, but I think the fan worship has always been a little out of hand. He would have a hard time cracking a top 25 redskins of all time list, based on anything other than sentimentality. I can't see retiring his number based on that.
I think Mike Nelms' jersey should be worn again.
I liked Taylor a lot - I got to see him quite a bit during his first 3 seasons and interview him several times. He was a hell of a player, and I think a genuinely good guy, not the 'thug' some portrayed him to be. More misunderstood and raw than ever a bad guy. He had a tragic life, but I think the fan worship has always been a little out of hand. He would have a hard time cracking a top 25 redskins of all time list, based on anything other than sentimentality. I can't see retiring his number based on that.
Should 21 be worn again? Absolutely!
Was Sean Taylor a good player? Hell yes. A truely great player? We'll never know. Good person? Debatable. Guess I'm definately in the minority here but I'll never understand the desire to cannonize him.
I don't really think mistaken identity on the field is the issue here lol...I'm the same way. Loved him when he was playing, but it's just a number. Personally, I think all the "unofficial retired" numbers (7, 9, 28, 81, 44, 43 etc) should be put back into commission. Would you mistaken a current QB wearing #9 for an nearly 80 year old, pot bellied, cigar smoking former player from 40 years ago?
no..not even close. this wasnt a player just moving on who meant something. this was a guy who had his life taken while in the B&G. someone we all were close to in the way that we can be as fans.
any player who comes here and wants 21 needs to be reminded how important that number is.
Fully agree with everything you said here. That being said...it would hurt a whole bunch to have some scrub running around out there with the #21 on his back.
Most players pick their number when they come into the league. I'm not sure how you can say it's ok to give the number to a player that's not a scrub - how would that work? By the time he's a good player he's not going go want to change his number. Give it to a high round draft pick is an option, but there are plenty of those that turn out to be a bust...
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