Gibbs for President.

Most often, the more you learn about someone the less impressive they become. The theory is that everyone has skeletons in their closet, blemishes on their face, and puts their pants on one leg at a time. But then you learn about someone like Joe Gibbs, who is completely contradictory to the rule above.

I have never had the pleasure of meeting Coach Gibbs, but if he ever does a lecture circuit or anything public in the triangle, I'll be there. If I thought I'd get a chance to talk to him at a NASCAR event, you can bet I would attend my first one. Sadly, we won't see him coaching on the Redskins sidelines any more.

You won't find a better class act or better coach. You can listen as intently as you want, but you won't find anyone who knows him saying a bad thing about him. There has been the usual second-guessing of his calls, time-management (or timeouts) like most coaches... but then everyone goes on to praise him for his leadership, devotion, and humility. Look a little deeper and you'll find a grandfather proud of his "grandbabbies" and an owner who gives out testimonials and has witnessed to people at his NASCAR facility.

When Redskins' Safety Sean Taylor was killed this year, I couldn't help but think how awesome it was that Joe Gibbs was at the helm, surely God had a hand in him being there. And what seemed like a lost season and a year full of tragedy and sadness, Joe Gibbs led to one of triumph and respect. They didn't make it past the first round of the playoffs, but the Washington Redskins became the class of the league this year... a fitting contrast to the Patriots cheating scandal and the Michael Vick dog-fighting case that started the season.

Coach Gibbs said this was his toughest year as a coach, and I don't doubt it. From injuries, to botched calls, a player's untimely death, and illness in his family... Joe Gibbs had a lot to deal with. A lessor man could have given up or changed. But Gibbs kept his perspective, kept his faith, and kept his focus. And all of us who got to watch from the sidelines are better for it.

For a second time, Washington has lost its greatest coach and its greatest champion. While I respect Coach Gibbs' need to move on and take care of what's important, I'm certainly sad to see him go. A great coach may walk the Redskins sidelines again next year, but our hero will be gone.

Sean Taylor

Thank God that a man truly of Christ coaches the Washington Redskins. They will need Coach Gibbs right now. Sean Taylor had made some mistakes in the past, but by all reports was gaining maturity and had learned from past mistakes. Unfortunately his time was up, and he died this morning after being shot in a home invasion the morning before.

Family friend Richard Sharpstein said Taylor's father told him the news around 5:30 a.m.

"His father called and said he was with Christ and he cried and thanked me," said Sharpstein, Taylor's former lawyer. "It's a tremendously sad and unnecessary event. He was a wonderful, humble, talented young man, and had a huge life in front of him. Obviously God had other plans."

He said Taylor died early Tuesday at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where he had been airlifted after the shooting early Monday.

Doctors had been encouraged late Monday when Taylor squeezed a nurse's hand, according to Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins' vice president of football operations. But Sharpstein said he was told Taylor never regained consciousness after being transported to the hospital and that he wasn't sure how he had squeezed the nurse's hand.

"Maybe he was trying to say goodbye or something," Sharpstein said.

Sean Taylor was 24. God Bless him, his family, and friends.

Redskins: 2-0

Washington comes back from the Link with a hard fault win. As a Skins fan... it doesn't get much better than an NFC East grudge match between the Redskins and Eagles, with the Skins coming out on top (unless of course the win came in Dallas). So far, Redskins football is fun this year, looking much like my Skins of old.

BTW, did you see the last 20+ seconds of the first half??

Washington 20
Philadelphia 12