Swearinger: I'm A Natural Born Leader'

D.J. Swearinger warns the offense during warmups not to enter his zone. His words are teasing, but the Washington Redskins safety is all too serious.

- Rick Snider

He will knock the snot out of you. The Redskins have spent the last six years looking for

the successor of safety LaRon Landry, a guided missile who delivered bone-crushing hits. Before Landry, it was All-Pro safety Sean Taylor, who once crushed a punter in the Pro Bowl before dying in 2007. Someone forgot to tell Taylor it was a friendly game.

Now Swearinger follows the legacy. A little smaller than Taylor and Landry, but no less intense, Swearinger runs down opponents like prey on the open plains.

Swearinger even wears No. 36 that Taylor wore his first season. Taylor’s No. 21 was retired by the team after his 2007 death.

“It means a lot, first and foremost, because of my family’s numbers, my dad and two of my uncles’ number,” Swearinger said. “I’ve had the number since ninth grade. My favorite player Sean Taylor wore it here. I want to follow his footsteps. I want to make 36 my number, you know what I’m saying? He definitely wore it well, but I definitely want to wear 36 and hold it high.”

The Redskins need new leadership after defensive lineman Chris Baker exited in free agency. Middle linebacker Zach Brown is a talker. So is cornerback Bashaud Breeland. But the real trash talker of the group is Swearinger.