ASHBURN, Va. -- With today being the eighth http://www.coltsnflofficialauthentic.com/AUTHENTIC+ADAM+VINATIERI+JERSEY anniversary of former Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor’s death, it’s a good time to share a few thoughts and memories:. It struck me within the last week or so, after watching Jairus Byrd and Kurt Coleman in consecutive weeks, that I would not pay big money for a safety. Of course, the Redskins have been hurt by big-money safeties (Adam Archuleta, even O.J. Atogwe) and failed players from elsewhere (Tanard Jackson and too many others to mention). The point is this: Many viewed Byrd as some missing piece for the Saints and Coleman as a failed safety from Philadelphia. But Byrd, after getting big money, has done little to impact New Orleans while Coleman is playing well for Carolina. Like most safeties, they’re subject to their surroundings. That brings me to Taylor. Because when I was watching Byrd and then Coleman, my thought was this: There are very few safeties I’d pay big money to, but Taylor would be at the top of the list. He had everything you wanted: size, speed, instincts, desire. I do wonder how many times he would have been penalized under the new NFL defenseless receiver rules. At the time Taylor played, it was simply considered good football. I’d still give him big money. Since 2007, here are the players the Ben Grubbs Womens Jersey Redskins have tried to replace Taylor with: LaRon Landry (switching from strong to free); Madieu Williams, Atogwe, Jackson, Bacarri Rambo, Brandon Meriweather, Ryan Clark and now Dashon Goldson. Meriweather was often a strong safety for the Redskins, but spent one year playing mostly free. I remember talking to someone after Taylor died who thought Landry would excel at the position. But while he was fast and a big hitter, he was not Taylor. Injuries sidetracked him in Washington and banned substances have done so ever since. When you go back and watch Taylor's highlights -- and they are called highlights for a reason -- what you see is one big hit after another, one ball after another becoming dislodged. Taylor was a presence in the middle of the field; he was one against the run as well. He had a linebacker’s mentality and a safety's instincts. In the return game, Taylor occasionally threw de-cleater blocks (James Thrash benefited from one such block on a return vs. Detroit). But that’s no surprise. One of the things you learn about players from the University of Miami –- from a certain era at least -– is that they love doing more than what they’re paid to do. Taylor played violent non-stop. Punter Brian Moorman learned that in the Pro Bowl when Taylor drilled him with a brutal hit. There isn’t a single play that stands out, though http://www.billsofficialonlineshop.com/AUTHENTIC+ANDRE+REED+JERSEY maybe two moments do: his game vs. Green Bay shortly before his death when he intercepted three passes and had turned himself into arguably the game’s best safety; and the weaving return vs. Dallas after a blocked field goal attempt that set up a game-winning field goal in 2006. Just spectacular. Taylor easily could have played offense had the Redskins wanted. Before his final season, he was moved strictly to free safety (he played it a lot in previous years, but also shifted to strong safety at times). Taylor flourished and was leading the NFL with five interceptions at the time of his murder. Watching the Redskins disguise coverages based on Taylor’s speed was fun to watch. Also, it's telling how many current or former players still mourn Taylor's passing -- as a person and as a player. And how many young players idolized him; the Redskins face one such player Sunday in New York's Landon Collins.