Former Titans scout Blaise Taylor will spend the rest of his life in prison - and then some. On Wednesday, he was sentenced to consecutive life terms after being convicted of poisoning his girlfriend, Jade Benning, and their unborn child on July 1.
The sentencing came after more than 80 people wrote letters on Taylor’s behalf, praising his character. Nashville assistant district attorney Jan Norman addressed that effort in court, pointing out that the letters left out the people at the center of the case.
“Your honor, the defense just submitted 87 letters all speaking to Mr. Taylor’s character,” Norman said, via Alicia Patton of WKRN.com.
“They describe a man of honor, honesty, a man of great accomplishments and as someone who has faith in the Lord and was raised by a strong family. More than one of the authors of those letters actually stated he is someone they would want their own daughters to marry.
The person described in these character letters, the authors themselves, not one mentioned Jade Benning, not one of them mentioned baby Ivy, and not one single letter out of the 87 letters mentioned anything about what Blaise Taylor did.”
Taylor’s attorney, Letitia Quinones-Hollins, said the defense was deeply dissatisfied with the ruling and plans to challenge it.
“We are extremely disappointed but not surprised by the harsh sentence,” Quinones-Hollins said. “This was a flawed trial of a tenuous case, and we will appeal and look forward to doing so.”
For now, that appeal is Taylor’s only path forward. He can pursue a new trial or try to get the charges erased entirely, but unless an appellate court changes the result, the state of Tennessee’s position is that Taylor murdered his girlfriend and their child in a particularly heinous way.
In Other News...
Falcons Suddenly Have A Backfield Depth Problem They Created
The Falcons running back room took another hit this week, and it is one of their own doing. Dallas signed Tyler Goodson off Atlantas practice squad to its active 53-man roster after an injury to Malik Davis, giving Goodson a quick path back to the league after the Falcons waived him following preseason even though he had turned in strong performances.
For Atlanta, the bigger issue is the depth chart behind the depth chart. Cash Jones is now the only running back on the practice squad, which leaves the team thin if it wants more insurance at the position, and the Falcons may need to add another player just to keep the room stocked. Goodson, meanwhile, gets another chance to carve out a role in Dallas as he competes for snaps behind Javonte Williams and Emari Demercado. [Read more 🡒]
Bijan Robinson Replay Added One Scary Concern To A Huge Falcons Day
Bijan Robinson was at the center of the Falcons big day against the Steelers, doing damage on the ground and through the air while showing again why Atlanta leans on him so heavily. He carried 21 times for 83 yards, caught 8 of 10 targets for 90 more yards and scored a touchdown, giving the offense the kind of versatile threat it can build around when everything is clicking.
The concern came on a replay that showed just how close Robinson came to a serious injury after being rolled up on by Steelers players. It was the sort of moment that can change the feel of a game in an instant, and it added a jolt of worry to what otherwise looked like a statement performance for Atlanta. Raheem Morris went as far as calling Robinson the best player in the league, a nod to both his production and the importance of keeping him upright. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Pitts Is Already Putting Falcons Quarterback Problem Under Pressure
Kyle Pitts entered the year with a new three-year, $54 million deal and the kind of expectations that come with being one of the Falcons most important pass-catching pieces. Instead, the season opener against the Steelers left him without a reception and with just one target, a quiet start that stood out even in a game where the offense struggled to find any rhythm with Cooper Rush at quarterback.
Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa are both working back from injuries and are expected to return soon, which only adds another layer to how the Falcons will manage their passing game. Pitts role remains central to what Atlanta wants to do, but the early lack of involvement has already put a spotlight on how much the quarterback situation can shape his impact from week to week. [Read more 🡒]