A little over a year has passed since the unfortunate death of Washington Redskins' strong safety Sean Taylor to a fatal gunshot wound. Most know the story, but for those who don't, Taylor was recuperating from a football injury in his Palmetto Bay, Fla., home when an armed robber shot him in the leg, hitting his femoral artery.
A day later, on Nov. 27, 2007, Taylor died at a local hospital.
Taylor's death sent a sobering effect throughout the NFL and it is regrettable it took the death of an extremely talented football player to open both players' and the public's eyes to the other side of sports.
The fact is that professional athletes not only bathe in the spotlight on Sundays, but are easily picked out among the masses in everyday life. Everyone has had the experience of it, walking to class and spotting your favorite basketball or football player, and most of you probably haven't thought much of it at all.
However, there are many people out there who do notice such athletes, and their intent is anything but honorable.
Plaxico Burress, the star wide receiver of the New York Giants, was suspended yesterday for the rest of the season after he accidentally shot himself in the leg last weekend at a Manhattan nightclub.
Burress is now facing three years in state prison for each of two counts of illegal weapons possession. While Burress should and will be prosecuted for illegally carrying a weapon, the fact remains that NFL players have to be able to protect themselves, although hopefully guns aren't the only answer or option that these athletes have to turn to.
But with Taylor's death and Burress' recent trouble it is clear that something needs to be done.
Most players who get in trouble either in gun fights or bar brawls seem to have caused the trouble in the first place, and are generally perceived that way in the public eye. However, while the Michael Vicks of the world get their just deserts, a majority of the players in the NFL just want to live normal lives.
Take, for example, Houston Texans defensive back Dunta Robinson. In September of last year, Robinson was robbed at gunpoint in his own home. The 26-year-old recently spoke to ESPN about his horrifying experience.
It was a Saturday. I'm watching college football on my couch. I look up, and guys are barging into my house, pushing guns in my face,"" Robinson said. ""I'm young. I have money. I have what they want. I definitely felt targeted, just like everyone in my position is a target.""
For Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor, it is the lack of safety and perhaps hypocrisy on the part of the NFL that led him to owning a gun.
""League officials tell us we need to take measures to protect ourselves. But the NFL says we can't have guns in the facility, even in the parking lot,"" Taylor said to ESPN. ""Crooks know this. They can just sit back and wait for us to drive off, knowing we won't have anything in our vehicle from point A to point B.""
While most think it is the job of the NFL to protect its players, something that athletes obviously feel it isn't doing, it is the responsibility of the players to act with humility and not flaunt their position in society, especially in this time of economic crisis.
""Right now, who is better to target than an athlete? Bankers are losing jobs. Real estate gurus are losing jobs,"" said Redskins running back Clinton Portis. ""Wall Street is losing jobs. Lots of people getting humble, but an athlete's money is constant.""
The fact remains: many players are turning to guns as a means for protection, and while they have a right to do so, there seems to be a good amount of paranoia involved as well.
So what is the proper solution? How do cases like this end better?
There is no viable solution and one can only hope that players with guns use them responsibly.
""I would never use a weapon in the wrong way or look for trouble. But I'll tell you this: I will protect my house,"" Robinson said. ""My gun definitely makes me feel a little safer.""
It is a hot topic and the debate will never be settled, but at least in the cases of these athletes and many others, owning a gun - and using it responsibly - has finally given them the security they need.
Do you think professional athletes are more likely to be targets of criminal acts because they are in the national spotlight? E-mail your thoughts to Nate at ncarey@wisc.edu.
