Thousands attend funeral of Taylor

Redskins running back Clinton Portis walks off the stage after speaking at the funeral for teammate Sean Taylor. (CARL JUSTE/Associated Press)

MIAMI - More than 3,000 people filled a university arena for Sean Taylor's funeral yesterday, with his coach praising his "excitement for life" and the NFL commissioner telling mourners the Washington Redskins star "loved football and football loved him back."

The funeral comes a week after the 24-year-old Taylor was shot in his home and days after four men were charged with killing him during the robbery. A lawyer for one of the suspects confirmed there was a fifth suspect.

Taylor's casket was surrounded by bouquets while a video display behind it showed Taylor from his days with the Redskins, Miami Hurricanes, and high school.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said it had been a "sad week" for the league family.

"It's times like this that all of us struggle to find meaning in life," Goodell told the mourners.

"The NFL was proud of Sean Taylor. He loved football and football loved him back. But more importantly, it was what he was as a man and what he was becoming as a man."

Redskins coach Joe Gibbs spoke to Taylor's spirituality.

"I think he's going to have 100-year football games," Gibbs said. "He had excitement for life and certainly he can still live forever.

"For me personally, I want to play on Sean's team."

The Rev. Jesse Jackson sat with the athlete's father, Florida City Police Chief Pedro Taylor, then took the podium and called for an end to violence.

Clinton Portis, a Redskins running back and close friend of Taylor's, said seeing Taylor tackle another player was invigorating, earning chuckles from the audience.

"It was exciting to have Sean on your team," Portis said. "He would always be there no matter what."

Portis also spoke to the change everyone saw Taylor undergo with his daughter's birth. "Sean was living for his child, living for his girl," he said.

"I never wanted you to leave, my heart that loves you will always grieve," Taylor's sister, Jazmin, said.

Actor Andy Garcia was also among the mourners. His niece, Jackie Garcia, was Taylor's girlfriend and was in the home when he was shot.

Former Hurricanes coaches Larry Coker and Butch Davis sat in the front row, along with current coach Randy Shannon.

Members of the Redskins organization filled one section of the building.