But for those closest to him, the anniversary holds no special place in remembering the Redskins' Pro Bowl safety who was shot by an intruder in his Miami home. Nor will Sunday's ceremony in which Taylor is to be inducted into the Redskins' Ring of Fame hold much significance.

They will simply be days, no different than any of the previous 365 or so.

Days without Taylor.

"To the true fans and friends of Sean, it doesn't take all of a sudden a one-year anniversary to realize Sean is gone," said Redskins running back Clinton Portis, one of Taylor's closest friends. "In your everyday activities and everyday duties you realize Sean is not around and you miss him. So it doesn't take a year anniversary where the whole world is paying attention. I think every day of the situation."

Although the loss of Taylor was felt particularly hard by the Redskins, there are plenty of Giants players who had special relationships with him and have those feelings on display every day.

There's Sinorice Moss, the wide receiver and University of Miami teammate of Taylor's, who wears a rubber band around his wrist every day with the words "R.I.P. Sean T."

There's Antonio Pierce, the linebacker who was a teammate of Taylor's in Washington for a year, who has a red and yellow towel in his locker with the number 21 on it as a small memorial.

And there's Kenny Phillips, the Giants' first-round draft pick who, like Taylor, was a safety at Miami and took his number - 21 - when he arrived with the Giants.

"Going to the University of Miami, all I did was watch him on film, and even in high school I had pictures of him taped in my locker," Phillips said. "It's going to be a real sad day [Sunday], but at the same time just celebrating that he went home."

The ceremony honoring Taylor will take place prior to the game, which should create a super-charged atmosphere of boiling emotions for a game that usually needs no extra current.

"That team is going to be so fired up," Pierce said. "Those first 15 minutes are going to be so fast-paced, energetic and exciting. We'll have to withstand that."

Pierce acknowledged that the words "fast-paced, energetic and exciting" also could be used to describe the way Taylor played safety during his three years in the NFL. All through the league players have been paying their respect to Taylor this week. And, of course, there are the lessons.

"It puts things in perspective," Pierce said. "You're never safe, regardless of whether you're home in your bed at 2 in the morning or whenever that happened or if you're out and about in the streets having a good time. It just lets you know that you're not untouchable. I think sometimes as athletes you feel that way."

Phillips was still in college when Taylor died, but it shook his outlook as well.

"For a while I was watching over my shoulder because you never know," he said. "It was just real sad. You don't take life for granted after something like that happens."

There is, of course, a chance that the Redskins could be so overcome by emotion on Sunday that it will affect them negatively on the field. The intensity could be detrimental, even draining. But Redskins coach Jim Zorn said he doesn't think that will be the case.

Why? Because Sunday will be nothing special for the Redskins, who find a way to honor Taylor each day they gather for a meeting, practice or game.

"I don't think it is going to be unusual or an event that is out of the ordinary for our players," said Zorn, who didn't coach Taylor but added that he feels a close relationship with the player through those who knew him.

"We've tried to create an atmosphere where he has been talked about. We've heard stories, we've continued with some of these memories. This will be, I believe, just another opportunity to keep that kindled."

Sunday

Giants at Washington

1 p.m.

TV: Ch. 5

Radio: WFAN (660)