Taylor's house had been broken into previously this year and a knife was allegedly left on the bed. Aha, the gauntlet had been thrown. A clear sign of an impending Ninja-style attack.

It had to be. It just had to be, they said. Taylor was young, black, rich and must have had plenty of disgruntled former friends. "Livin' da life" had, predictably, caught up with him.

That was the underlying conclusion of many in the media.

Could the previous the break-in have been done by a bunch of bungling amateur burglars who couldn't keep track of their gear? Well, that just wasn't considered.

Nor was the fact Taylor was shot in the leg. What blood-thirsty hit man does that?

Time magazine actually speculated Taylor could be victim of a "Miami Sports Curse." Sports Illustrated rolled out a piece on how black athletes are often doomed by their impoverished pasts.

"Athletes from the 'hood can change, they said, but that doesn't mean the guys they came up with do," came the talk show blather.

These are the facts.

During the early morning hours of Nov. 26, Taylor, 24, his girlfriend, and his young daughter were awakened by loud noises. Armed with a machete, Taylor confronted the intruders and was shot. A bullet stuck the femoral artery of one of his upper legs, causing significant bleeding. Taylor died the next day without regaining consciousness.

Though he had a checkered past, including an arrest for carrying a handgun - a de rigueur accessory for many pro athletes - most of Taylor's indiscretions had been football related, including a spitting incident and laying an extra hard hit on a punter during the exhibition Pro Bowl.

Taylor had no known ties to gangs. In fact, off the field he was known for being shy and he avoided the spotlight. He didn't do endorsements, nor had much to say to the media. Unless you followed the Redskins, you probably never heard of Taylor. One teammate called Taylor "a recluse."

Taylor attended team chapel services and was planning on getting married.

But even armed with these tidbits, the media didn't want to give up on the "Boyz" angle.

Then came word that the four young men arrested in the case, all with minor-league rap sheets, are aged 17-20. These guys are not contemporaries of the late football star. Never went to school with him. They didn't hang out with him. Never drank a beer with him. Or played ball with him at the YMCA.

The Miami D.A. said the murder did not appear premeditated, calling it a botched break-in.

Yes, they did have minimal ties to Taylor. One of teens mowed Taylor's lawn. Another dated Taylor's sister.

Could it be that this aspiring gardener eye-balled a pricey high-tech gadgets during a grass trimming session at Taylor's place and decided to return and make a heist?

Could it be that the hoods arrested were among those who broke into the house the last time, when Taylor was away playing football in D.C., and they returned a second time, expecting the house to be empty, because it's still the middle of football season?

Could it be that these guys didn't read the sports page and realize that Taylor was injured and rehabbing at home in Miami, rather than with the team, which is usually the case?

And could it be that the media can't let a juicy angle go, when race, violence and money are involved, even when all the facts aren't in yet?