Counts against Taylor to rise

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Sean Taylor’s upcoming trial will become three times more risky for the Washington Redskins safety. At today’s pre-trial hearing in Miami, Michael Grieco, the state’s attorney for Miami-Dade County, will expand the charge of aggravated assault with a firearm into three such counts, one for each reported victim.

Taylor also faces trial on March 20 on a misdemeanor charge of simple battery.

Under Florida law, Taylor faces a three-year mandatory minimum sentence and a maximum of 16 years in prison on each felony charge. While the sentences could be served simultaneously, Judge Mary Barzee could make them cumulative which would effectively end Taylor’s career after just two seasons since he would be 32 after serving three consecutive three-year sentences.

Taylor’s attorney, Edward Carhart, declined comment on the state’s changed approach to the case.

In other news, the Redskins reacted quickly to Bill Musgrave’s departure for Atlanta on Tuesday, promoting offensive assistant Bill Lazor to quarterbacks coach. Lazor came to the Redskins in 2004 after a year with the Falcons.

Meanwhile, cornerbacks coach DeWayne Walker was believed to have been at UCLA yesterday finalizing a deal to become the Bruins’ defensive coordinator. Walker came to Washington in 2004 to work for assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams.

— David Elfin