I remember when I met Sean Taylor for the first time. He was fresh out of college and had the physical tools and strength of a grown man. But he was nothing like I expected. He was quiet, even shy, but eventually he let his teammates in, revealing what type of man he really was.

This week I assume I share many of the same thoughts as the current and past Redskins who had the privilege of working with Sean: How can life be so cruel? I know Sean was great, and I know he could have been the best ever at the position, but as a retired player, one who is experiencing for the first time what life is like outside of the game, I believe he would have been better at life. In many ways, all of the players in this league, regardless of where they came from, are built the same. We are all disciplined, structured, and tireless workers. We don’t know how to fail. We welcome challenges and smile in the face of adversity. We play the game with our hearts and then give them back to the ones we love afterwards.

Sean Taylor was no different.

He was a partner on the field, and a father at home. He was just beginning his life. Forget about the game, because it ends faster than it starts. It is just a blip, a moment, a chapter, in the real game of life; Sean’s ending came too soon. Since my retirement, I’ve realized that the outside world, the one that exists away from the inner circles of professional football, is awe-inspiring, and a gift to us all. This game prepares us for the life that follows. It shapes us all, coaches and players alike, making us believers of the good things in life, preparing us for the tough days ahead.

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I just wish the tough days didn’t come so soon.

Tuesday was difficult because I lost a teammate. I never lost a teammate before, but I believe the Redskins will play as well as they can this weekend. I’m sure it will be on their minds, but teams usually rally around a situation like this.

For those who didn’t know Sean, they were probably misled. He worked hard, treated his teammates and coaches with respect, and played for the guy next to him. He was capable of great things in life.

I never look back on my playing days and think about the games, the wins and losses. I think about my teammates, the men I played with — and I lost one this week.

Players come and go in this league, but the relationships with the men you meet are irreplaceable.

Former Redskins safety Matt Bowen, a seven-year NFL veteran, contributes a weekly column to The Examiner during the NFL season.