Guilty verdict in murder of Redskins' Sean Taylor
Jury convicts 23-year-old man of second-degree murder in the 2007 slaying.
A 23-YEAR-OLD MAN was convicted of second-degree murder yesterday in the 2007 slaying of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who was shot outside his own bedroom after witnesses said he confronted young men who had broken into his home looking for money.
The jury deliberated about 16 hours over 4 days before returning the verdict in the trial of Eric Rivera Jr., who admitted in a videotaped confession to police days after Taylor's death that he fired the fatal shot after kicking in the bedroom door. At the trial, he said on the witness stand that his confession was given only under police pressure and amid purported threats to his family.
Rivera was also convicted of armed burglary. Although Rivera did not get the maximum first-degree murder conviction, he still faces a potential life prison sentence. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy did not immediately set a sentencing date but will hold a related hearing on Dec. 10.
Four other men were also charged in the case and three will be tried later. Venjah Hunte, 25, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and burglary charges in a deal that calls for a 29-year prison sentence.
Taylor, a Pro Bowl safety who had starred at the University of Miami, was 24.
Noteworthy
* San Francisco activated wide receiver Mario Manningham from the physically unable to perform list, waived cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, and activated cornerback Eric Wright from the reserve/non-football injury list.
Manningham had reconstructive surgery after tearing his anterior cruciate and posterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee in a loss to Seattle last December.
Asomugha, who played for the Eagles in 2011 and '12, played in just three games this season.
* Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler, who suffered a groin injury in Week 7, plans to return Sunday against Detroit, team source told ESPN.com.
* Arizona released rookie tight end D.C. Jefferson and signed tight end Jake Ballard.
Coach Bruce Arians said the release of Jefferson, a seventh-round draft pick out of Rutgers, had nothing to do with the player's arrest in Scottsdale on suspicion of extreme DUI Friday night.