Posted at 9:26 a.m., Wednesday, January 23, 2008
NFL: Pro Bowl Redskins to wear No. 21 to honor Taylor
Associated Press
ASHBURN, Va. — Sean Taylor, the first player voted posthumously to the Pro Bowl, will have his jersey number worn at the game by two of his former Washington Redskins teammates.The NFL announced today that tight end Chris Cooley and tackle Chris Samuels will both wear No. 21 at the game Feb. 10 in Honolulu.
Taylor died No. 27, a day after being shot at his home in Florida. The 24-year-old safety was leading the NFL in interceptions at the time. He was chosen the following month for the NFC team in balloting among coaches, players and fans.
Taylor made his only Pro Bowl appearance last year, when he was voted as an alternate but was later added to the roster when another player withdrew.
Cooley and Samuels will each wear his own name on the back of the jersey, above the No. 21. The jerseys will be auctioned after the game, with the proceeds benefiting the Sean Taylor Memorial Trust Fund that was established for Taylor's daughter, Jackie.
Cooley usually wears No. 47, while Samuels' regular number is 60.
Taylor is the first player chosen posthumously for an all-star team in a major American team sport since Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Pelle Lindbergh topped the fan voting for the 1986 NHL All-Star game.
The weekend following Taylor's death, every NFL player wore a No. 21 decal on his helmet in tribute. Many players kept the decals on their helmets for the rest of the regular season and during the playoffs.
