Things are understably tense at Redskin Park, hours after the team learned that safety Sean Taylor was shot during a home invasion.

The scheduled open locker room session (11-11:45 a.m.) was canceled. Several regular media members were stopped at the gate house and told what they couldn't do. Once inside the complex, they were confined to the media room.

The Redskins since have loosened those restrictions, although around 11:30 a.m. we weren't allowed to have a brain-storming session in the parking lot, out of earshot from every other media outlet in town.

Running back Clinton Portis, who also played with Taylor at the University of Miami, was the first player to appear in the press room to answer a few questions. Portis was near tears as he discussed the shocking news, Taylor's maturity since the birth of his daughter last year and how little Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay mattered in light of the shooting.

Pierson Prioleau, who plays the same position as Taylor and thus spends plenty of time with the 24-year-old, was also emotional in addressing many of the same points.

Next in was receiver James Thrash, one of the team's spiritual leaders and a guy who had been rehabbing with Taylor since both were hurt on Nov. 11 against Philadelphia. Thrash said that he had worked out with Taylor on Friday but hadsn't asked about the safety's weekend plans.