Instead of resting in peace, Taylor is torn to pieces

There might be different news about Sean Taylor that will emerge later and contradict what I'm about to say. Taylor might have been involved in things no one knows about. That's always possible, so let's get that out of the way now.

Taylor's life away from football might have included the dark corners and ghosts that are a part of us all.

These fans show proper respect during a candlelight vigil Tuesday night. (Getty Images)

Yet the media coverage of Taylor's tragic murder, as well as the message board postings by morons and amateur criminologists across the Internet, show a disturbing trend. The coverage of Taylor has portrayed him almost as the thug, the criminal, instead of a victim murdered in his own home.

What the Taylor case demonstrates is the significant weakness of today's instant media world. Taylor has yet to be buried, but a significant number of writers and broadcasters are not only casting him as the bad guy but even insinuating that he was destined to die a violent death.

Maybe Taylor has committed some ugly acts that no one is yet aware of, except for a handful of probing homicide detectives. But we don't know that yet.

So can we all take a breath, remove our CSI badges, and see Taylor as he is: someone who suffered a horrible death?

Can we all be human beings for just one second? A second. That's not so much to ask, is it?

There are pets and dead petunias shown more respect in their demise than Taylor has been shown in his by some in the media and the general public.

There was a tangible and visible air of mystery around Taylor in life, and in his death that shroud has deepened. It might be a few days or a few months before we find out what happened, which will only cause more questions.

There are troubling signs indeed: a previous break-in; a wholly silent police department; possibilities that Taylor knew his intruder; a kitchen knife left on the bed during the previous break-in.

I'm not saying Taylor isn't fault-less. I'm not saying he is. We just don't know. What I do know is the insinuating that he deserved to die or that it was inevitable is beyond silly.

He wasn't Scarface. He was an NFL defensive back with a mean streak and a troubled soul. Both descriptions, however, would likely fit half of Wall Street.

One website used a menacing, scowling photo of Taylor which ran next to the news story of his death. I'm sorry. Is there no other picture that could have been utilized?

Taylor's violent hits in what is the most violent sport are ridiculously correlated to his violent shooting death.

One newspaper mentioned Taylor skipping the rookie symposium and made the parallel that because he was absent, Taylor was destined for trouble. Then this from the AP story about Taylor: "After Taylor was drafted, problems soon began. Taylor fired his agent, then skipped part of the NFL's mandatory rookie symposium, drawing a $25,000 fine."

What does firing his agent have to do with Taylor getting murdered? If firing your agent is getting into trouble, then half of Hollywood would be in jail.

Is Taylor being mourned or prosecuted?

Again, this is not to say that Taylor was perfect or that he had no part in what happened to him. As someone who covered Super Bowl XXXIII, when Eugene Robinson was busted on charges of soliciting an undercover cop for oral sex the night before -- soon after accepting an award from a Christian-based group for living an outstanding moral life -- I'm aware anything is possible.

Yet there is also decency; as in a lack of it being displayed when it comes to Taylor.

So let's all relax for minute and show some respect. Just a little.

Is that OK?