The Commanders’ latest tribute to Sean Taylor is insultingly bad
The Commanders screwed up everything about Sean Taylor’s memorial
Prior to Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, the Washington Commanders unveiled a new tribute to beloved safety Sean Taylor, who was murdered on this date back in 2007.
However, the tribute to Taylor fell woefully short of the mark, and Commanders fans are not happy.
The “statue” of Taylor looks more like a mannequin that the Commanders pulled out of the team store at FedEx Field, and beyond that, the setup is filled with mistakes that were quickly pointed out on social media.
Here is the moment the tribute was unveiled at FedEx field:
The Sean Taylor Memorial inside FedEx Field.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) November 27, 2022
Number 21 always and forever pic.twitter.com/yCCMinnUBX
As was pointed out, the cleats are not exactly right:
Bruh....it's hysterical how bad they are at this
— Kevin A Molina (@KevinAMolina) November 27, 2022
They are using Adidas World Cup cleats, you can see it says "World Cup" underneath the shoestrings on the right cleat https://t.co/N4CPG7W4AI pic.twitter.com/OqtAv5I01x
You can also see how they used some old, worn-out socks on the statue as well.
Frankly, this reminded me of one of the most random things I have ever stumbled across in my life. This display outside of a suburban Maryland office park of a Washington player blocking a punt from the Dallas Cowboys:
Full disclosure, I took this photo back in 2013, and have no idea if this installation still exists. But, how random is this?
Back to the Taylor memorial. The tribute was quickly ridiculed on social media:
nike jersey, reebok pants, adidas soccer cleats. incredible.
— charles (parody) mcdonald (@FourVerts) November 27, 2022
Dan Snyder made a fortune in telemarketing, and somehow that was the most endearing thing he ever did. https://t.co/AbRdTUFDFQ
— Michael Rosenberg (@Rosenberg_Mike) November 27, 2022
Took the display from a Sports Authority in 2005 https://t.co/BRjcJYubou
— D.J. Short (@djshort) November 27, 2022
This can't be serious? This is the gift shop correct? This can't be his memorial? https://t.co/gM2h9rpn2j
— JT The Brick (@JTTheBrick) November 27, 2022
If you thought this team might put even a little bit more effort into honoring Sean Taylor after the embarrassing stunt last year, you don’t know this team very well https://t.co/u5ZYs9d1N2
— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) November 27, 2022
Less than zero effort put into this by the fighting Dan Snyders. What an embarrassment.
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) November 27, 2022
Sean Taylor deserved better. https://t.co/SaRlDxXzOk
This is an underwhelming memorial for a beloved player who tragically passed away too soon. https://t.co/kNz6QsrnSv
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) November 27, 2022
As noted above, this is not the franchise’s first attempt at honoring Taylor, and last year’s effort went over just as poorly. Last season, the team paid. tribute by naming a street near FedEx field after him, and by painting his “21” on the sidelines. However, mistakes were made:
The road was re-dedicated in front of porta-potties.
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 18, 2021
The sideline number tribute was in the area where VIPs stand.
The half-time ceremony involved no speeches or recognition.
The owner wore a hoodie to the pre-game meeting with family. pic.twitter.com/HeroBghuK8
The road named after Taylor was one where the port-a-potties were set up, and the “21” on the sidelines was in the area roped off for VIPs. That led to Jackson Mahomes recording a TikTok on the “21” painted in Taylor’s honor, as Washington was hosting Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs that afternoon.
Mahomes later apologized for the incident.
Sunday’s poor attempt at honoring Taylor is just the latest mistake in a season filled with mistakes from the franchise. To be fair, some have pointed out that with the organization looking to move to a new stadium, perhaps a more permanent statue of Taylor will be unveiled at a later date.
But given what happened last season, and the mistakes present on this year’s effort, Commanders fans are beyond disappointed.
As they should be.