Taylor should take deal

[RiggoRules]

You NEVER know what a judge and jury will do (although you have a pretty good idea what the NFL will do on a felony plea). All anyone is guaranteed is a fair process. If you are looking for truth and justice, you aren't going to find it in court.

Sure, the complaining witnesses are dope dealing liars and thieves. But you still don't know. There is at least enough evidence for the judge to allow the case to go to trial.

As much as there is talk about favorable treatment for athletes, there is also frequently harsher treatment for the rich and famous.

A four game suspension in exchange for being free for the next 40 years, I'd be pretty tempted to take the deal myself.

[paulskinsfan]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

What do you mean with his temperment he shouldn't be owning a gun. I'm curious, what is Sean's temperment?

As far as a convicted felon not being able to vote, I think it really depends on the state.

Let's be honest, Taylor is a great player, but he has a temper. Look at his personal fouls over the past 2 years. On the other issue, I do know that its a federal law regarding gun ownership and right to vote, not a state one.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by paulskinsfan

Let's be honest, Taylor is a great player, but he has a temper. Look at his personal fouls over the past 2 years. On the other issue, I do know that its a federal law regarding gun ownership and right to vote, not a state one.

So you're telling me Martha Stewart can't vote....wasn't she convicted of a felony?

There are about 15 states that don't allow convicted felons to vote, the rest will. And some may even restore voting rights 2 years after being released from prison. Like I said, it still boils down to the state and so forth.

Still with his on-the-field issues and him being a threat with a gun, I'm not sure we can draw a parallel there.

[SamSneed36]

Originally Posted by paulskinsfan

If read recently that Sean Taylor has been offered a plea deal to a felony charge and no jail time. If that's the case, he needs to take it. His attorney's number 1 goal should be to keep his client out of jail, if that means pleading to a felony, so be it.

If Taylor pleads guilty to a felony charge he is subject to a hefty suspension from the NFL.

[memphisskin]

Originally Posted by paulskinsfan

Let's be honest, Taylor is a great player, but he has a temper. Look at his personal fouls over the past 2 years. On the other issue, I do know that its a federal law regarding gun ownership and right to vote, not a state one.

Could Taylor's personal fouls be him attempting to send a message to wide receivers? I've never heard GW say anything negative about him, so it's clear that his coaches are fine with it. I can take the flags if it means that wideouts worry when they go in front of him. Just throwing out an alternative theory.

[Sociofan]

Originally Posted by paulskinsfan

The question is, why not put a felony on his record? What does the kid lose? He's a millionaire, so what if he can't vote or own a gun, hell, he'd be better off not owning a gun with his temperment. If he was an average joe, then maybe, but what is the downside to accepting the plea?

I think the thing that stuns me most about your response is how cavalier it is. Setting aside his temper on the field (spitting is nowhere near a felony), Taylor strikes me as somewhat of a stand up guy with a lot of pride. His dad is a police officer and Taylor studied Criminology in college. He has a lot more at stake than just a "mark on the record." He has to live with himself.

Having a felony criminal record is pretty significant. While Taylor may "have his millions", he might want to do something with his life after football. He might even want to be a police detective and follow his dad or he might want to start a business. I doubt he'll just sit around and get fat. But in the 'real world', that felony record becomes significant. Police officer with a felony gun charge? Not likely. Business line of credit with a felony gun charge? Nothing reputable will work there either.

If Taylor's legal team believes they can beat this charge, they should make that effort. I do not condone Sean's response of personally going after the guys who stole his ATV, but the truth is, I might have done the same. Both of us should likely have called the police in that situation.

If you really believe that having a felony on your record is no big deal, just talk to all the guys who grew up and realized that it is a serious deal.

[celts32]

This case against him must be rediculous if they would not accept a plea that keeps him out of jail....

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by TAFKAS

A friend of mine once faced a similar predicament. Accept a plea and get like 6 months in jail plus one year probation or something like that. There were so many mistakes by the prosecution that he was convinced by his lawyer not to accept the plea that he would be fine.

He was wrong. He's serving 8 years now with 7 years probation. Of course, the difference is you can dispute a lot of the things that my friend did. Sean Taylor-I know nothing about what really happened.

Probably the biggest difference between your friend and Sean Taylor is Taylor's a famous athlete and has numerous fans that support him. I read in someone's post that they think the courts may be harsher with an athlete because of his celebrity status, but I tend to think that really isn't the case unless they have no doubt that the athlete is guilty and he has hurt someone in a really bad way - even then, there are cases where the athletes get off scott-free.

In the case of athletes and celebrities, I think there is a lot of hesitancy to screw-up on the part of the prosecutor, the judge, and the jury because it is high-profile and everyone is paying attention. The prosecutor probably took this case and is aggressive in getting a conviction because it is high-profile, but what he doesn't stop to think about is - if he doesn't handle this case correctly and more carefully then it has the potential to turn into unexpected and unwanted attention in the form of fan backlash and general public protest instead of the political publicity that he was seeking.

In the case of your friend's possible unfair outcome, they may have made mistakes - but no one was paying attention and to be frank, I don't think anyone really cares outside of his immediate family.

[backrow]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

Probably the biggest difference between your friend and Sean Taylor is Taylor's a famous athlete and has numerous fans that support him.

In the case of your friend's possible unfair outcome, they may have made mistakes - but no one was paying attention and to be frank, I don't think anyone really cares outside of his immediate family.

We care, here in TheWarpath.net.

TAFKAS, I'm sure that you attempted to go to court with your friend.

Some here may be criminal Law experts, most are not, but to you, the friend, just how did the case unfold, without getting specific? Good, bad, real bad, or totally dreadful? Did it seem like he/she had a chance when it went to jury?

I'm sure that you've kept in touch. Prison doesn't neccessarily mean an end to friendship.

I'm sure that your friend is a Redskin Fan, because he/she is your friend, and you are a Huge Redskin Fan!

I hope your friend is doing ok, and is approaching the end of his/her sentance.

I also hope that you keep us posted as to your friends release.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by memphisskin

Could Taylor's personal fouls be him attempting to send a message to wide receivers? I've never heard GW say anything negative about him, so it's clear that his coaches are fine with it. I can take the flags if it means that wideouts worry when they go in front of him. Just throwing out an alternative theory.

If a little late hits puts a little fear in a WR. What is spitting in the face of another player for? I believe he has done it twice. The first time he was accused of it I was saying no way but when he did it the second time I was convenced that he probably did it the first time. I love ST play on the field but he does have a little temperment problem. One thing I will say about ST is he hits hard but they are clean hits unlike alot of other players we go up against.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

In the case of your friend's possible unfair outcome, they may have made mistakes - but no one was paying attention and to be frank, I don't think anyone really cares outside of his immediate family.

I hope that didn't sound too harsh or cold because I didn't really mean to come off that way - but that's the reality that we live in today. If you don't have your face or voice in the media somehow or aren't super rich, then you are insignificant in the eyes of others. That's my social commentary for today

[amorentz]

Originally Posted by wilsowilso

My question for one of the lawyers or law students on the board is if Taylor was to plea to a felony assault wouldn't that set him up nicely to be sued for many dollars in a Civil court?

If he pleads guilty then it can definitely entered into evidence against him as an admission in a civil trial. However, since there was no real injury beyond the aggrivated assault, and there is no evidence of emotional distress, he is probably not looking at a real big payout.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by backrow

We care, here in TheWarpath.net.

TAFKAS, I'm sure that you attempted to go to court with your friend.

Some here may be criminal Law experts, most are not, but to you, the friend, just how did the case unfold, without getting specific? Good, bad, real bad, or totally dreadful? Did it seem like he/she had a chance when it went to jury?

I'm sure that you've kept in touch. Prison doesn't neccessarily mean an end to friendship.

I'm sure that your friend is a Redskin Fan, because he/she is your friend, and you are a Huge Redskin Fan!

I hope your friend is doing ok, and is approaching the end of his/her sentance.

I also hope that you keep us posted as to your friends release.

We do keep in touch, through letters and he phones me every now and then. I have to do a better job of writing him though. He's a big sports fan so he likes that I send him a bunch of sports related stuff. He's only into year three of his sentence.

Sadly, he's a Dolphins fan and doesn't care for the Redskins. But still he's my friend.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

I hope that didn't sound too harsh or cold because I didn't really mean to come off that way - but that's the reality that we live in today. If you don't have your face or voice in the media somehow or aren't super rich, then you are insignificant in the eyes of others. That's my social commentary for today

No offense taken. Ironically, he is/was a sports anchor for an NBC affiliate down south. So he's a bit of a celebrity in his town. When he was waiting to go to trial he couldn't go out anywhere really because people would point and say things-so it especially would make his wife feel very uncomfortable.

[paulskinsfan]

Originally Posted by Sociofan

I think the thing that stuns me most about your response is how cavalier it is. Setting aside his temper on the field (spitting is nowhere near a felony), Taylor strikes me as somewhat of a stand up guy with a lot of pride. His dad is a police officer and Taylor studied Criminology in college. He has a lot more at stake than just a "mark on the record." He has to live with himself.

Having a felony criminal record is pretty significant. While Taylor may "have his millions", he might want to do something with his life after football. He might even want to be a police detective and follow his dad or he might want to start a business. I doubt he'll just sit around and get fat. But in the 'real world', that felony record becomes significant. Police officer with a felony gun charge? Not likely. Business line of credit with a felony gun charge? Nothing reputable will work there either.

If Taylor's legal team believes they can beat this charge, they should make that effort. I do not condone Sean's response of personally going after the guys who stole his ATV, but the truth is, I might have done the same. Both of us should likely have called the police in that situation.

If you really believe that having a felony on your record is no big deal, just talk to all the guys who grew up and realized that it is a serious deal.

Yeah, its really affected Martha Stewart. C'mon, you do not risk it. If he gets convicted he's looking at a minimum of 3 years, and no one is going to sign him to a NFL contract when he's been out of the league for 3 years! From a financial standpoint he'd be dumb not to take the deal. He's one of the best safeties in football and he will make another BIG payday before he retires.