Washington Football Team president Jason Wright offered his second apology in less than a day after the organization's hurried announcement to retire the late Sean Taylor's jersey number.
Washington enraged throngs of its fans by announcing on Thursday morning — with all of three days' notice — that it planned to honor Taylor prior to the team's game on Sunday against the Chiefs at FedEx Field with a ceremony remembering Taylor, who was murdered in 2007, "alongside the retirement of his jersey number, 21."
The decision backfired, with fans — a number of whom are out of town and won't be able to make it back — outraged that they weren't allotted more time to secure plans to attend the momentous occasion, a chance to witness an honor rarely bestowed upon Washington players. Taylor would be just the third player in franchise history whose number has been retired in 89 years.
First responding to the immediate backlash, Wright fired off a tweet nearly five hours after the initial announcement, indicating: "We wanted to do something long overdue by retiring players' numbers. Months ago we planned for Bobby Mitchell and Sean Taylor to be the first two. Seeing the reaction, I'm very sorry that the short notice does not properly reflect the impact Sean had."
Wright teased that he'd have more to say about the issue in one of his regular "President's Brief" written addresses to come at a later point, which he delivered nearly eight hours later, beginning with a tweet that said, "To our fans: I'm sorry. We're sorry. We will do better."
In a piece titled, "An apology to fans," Wright showed contrition for the misguided effort to honor Taylor, beginning it by writing, "Almost every mistake starts off with the best of intentions…"
"What we wanted to do was make good on something we know was long overdue," Wright wrote. "Of all the football traditions, retiring numbers is especially symbolic and deeply reverential. So, prior to the season, we put a plan in place to retire the jerseys of some of the great men who helped build this historic franchise. Bobby Mitchell and Sean Taylor are the start of what we hope will become an honored tradition here as it is in many other places."
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Wright explained the decision to choose Sunday's date as coinciding with the team's annual "Alumni Homecoming," noting that it marks "a celebration of all Washington alumni players over the history of the franchise."
"We knew alumni weekend was the right moment for us to retire #21 so that we could have several generations of legends there to honor their Burgundy & Gold brother," Wright explained. "The plan included inviting a wide array of alumni, hosting Sean's family, including his daughter Jackie Taylor, his fiancé Jackie Garcia, his father Pedro, and his siblings; a community service event at a local school during which our alumni will build an outdoor learning lab in Sean's honor; and the rededication of Sean Taylor Road.
"We planned to do this right…
"…But we screwed up the execution and, as a result, we realize that we hurt many of our fans deeply. And for that I and we as an organization are sorry."
Wright acknowledged fans' disappointment in the timing of the announcement while explaining "we thought that saving the news for a game week reveal was the best way to focus the message on Sean and his legacy."
"We didn't realize that so many of you wanted to make a trip to FedExField to be present for this moment," Wright added, "a true lack of understanding of what you, the lifeblood of this franchise, needed to mourn our collective loss and celebrate Sean's legacy."
"As the guy who really wanted us to start honoring players better and differently -- in line with what they paid in the blood, sweat, and tears -- I'm angry and sad that we messed up your opportunity to honor Sean in person this weekend," Write went on to write. "I feel a pit in my stomach knowing how we have let so many of you down."
Wright went on to say that he hopes that fans can still "celebrate Sean as his jersey is retired this weekend and every time you travel down Sean Taylor Road -- this weekend and in the future."
"I hope those who make it to the game and watch on television will be able to joyously remember him with pride and bear witness to our planned tributes at pregame and halftime," he wrote. "And to make sure no one misses these events, am pleased to share that we will post the pregame tribute video and make the halftime ceremony available to all through a livestream that will be hosted on our social pages. More to come on this."
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As for the rally towels Washington had initially promised to "the first 10,000 fans" — a limited-edition commemorative Sean Taylor rally towel fashioned after the original rally towel created following Taylor's untimely death — that was also a point of contention addressed in Wright's apology. Many fans were miffed to learn that the towels would only be given to the first 10,000 fans to enter the stadium, rather than being given to every fan who entered the stadium.
Wright explained that additional rally towels will be made available for purchase for $21 apiece, with Washington committing "all proceeds to a legacy project in Sean's honor that will be led by his daughter, Jackie Taylor."
"In all of this, I hope that as we host Pedro, Jackie and the family over the next few days that they will feel the intense love this organization has for them," Wright wrote.
"Whenever I can, I will keep it 100 with you all and this is one of the moments where I need to do that," he added. "I again offer my sincere apology to the fans for the unacceptably short notice of this momentous event.
"I hope that each of you finds a moment of deep connection with Sean's legacy whether or not you can join us in the stadium on Sunday."
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