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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 9:17 a.m., Sunday, December 2, 2007

NFL: To honor Taylor, Skins play 10 men on 1st play

By Howard Fendrich
Associated Press

LANDOVER, Md. -- The message was all too clear: Sean Taylor is gone forever.

For all of the No. 21 jerseys, waving towels and handwritten signs in the stands today, for all of the flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the stadium, for all of the pregame tributes to the Pro Bowl safety, the most stark reminder of Taylor's plight came when the Washington Redskins lined up on defense for the first time since he was shot to death.

Instead of 11 Redskins on the field, as rules allow, there were 10.

As the Buffalo Bills got ready to run their first play midway through the first quarter, the man who replaced Taylor in the starting lineup, Reed Doughty, stood near coaches on the sideline with his arms crossed. After watching while Bills running back Fred Jackson gained 22 yards, Doughty entered for the next play — and made the tackle.

The 24-year-old Taylor died Tuesday, a day after being shot at his home in Florida during a burglary. Four men have been charged. The shock has yet to dissipate for Taylor's teammates and fans, and the grieving process continued on game day.

"The only way we can honor him right now is to go out there on the field and play. Go out and play football," Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels said during a pregame video tribute to Taylor.