MIAMI -- Teammates and coaches of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor were among those who spoke at his funeral at the Pharmed Arena on the campus of Florida International University on Monday.

The funeral began shortly after 11 a.m. and lasted more than three hours. After a processional and a brief offering of condolences by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the Rev. Jesse Jackson also spoke, asking everyone in the crowd to clap their hands in this "celebration of life."

"Put your hands together like you really mean it," he exclaimed.

Jackson, who was not on the list of scheduled speakers, lamented violence in the community, saying killing has now become the norm in society.

Among those who paid tribute to Taylor were Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, teammate Clinton Portis, former teammate LaVar Arrington, Taylor's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and University of Miami football coach Randy Shannon, who was Taylor's defensive coordinator when he played for the Hurricanes.

"I believe God was working in his life," Gibbs said of the 24-year-old, adding that he wants to play on Taylor's team in heaven. "God, take care of Sean until we come home."

Portis, Taylor's teammate both with the Redskins and at UM, wore dark sunglasses as he spoke about the peace, faith and heart Taylor exhibited. Portis said he, Taylor and wide receiver Santana Moss -- also a UM star -- would always be the last people out of the locker room, a tradition that was broken for the first time Sunday -- the Redskins' first game since Taylor's death.

Portis joked that Taylor would come up to him in the shower and make off the wall remarks like, "Man, you see 'The Flintstones' last night?"

Then came a video presentation of Taylor's four-year NFL career featuring his teammates and coaches.

Florida City Mayor Otis Wallace used a few minutes of his time at the podium to lambaste the media for speculating that Taylor's criminal past might have played a part in his death.

"All I can say is they should be ashamed," the mayor said.

Mourners Pay Respects At Public Viewing, Candlelight Vigil

While mourners paid their respects to Taylor during a public viewing and candlelight vigil Sunday night, three teenagers and a fourth individual remained in jail on the other side of the state, charged with killing the NFL star.

Wearing a dark suit, Taylor was in a wooden coffin, surrounded by flower arrangements and heralded by a church choir. Hundreds of mourners filed by him while a police officer stood guard near the casket, cordoned off by red velvet ropes.

After the viewing, about 2,000 fans gathered for a somber vigil outside the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami. They held white candles toward the sky as a university band performed the alma mater.

Taylor's No. 26 UM jersey was framed, along with a photo of him in his Hurricanes uniform.

"Sean is with God now," his father, Pedro Taylor, said.

Taylor died Tuesday morning, one day after he was shot in his Palmetto Bay home during a break-in.

Venjah Hunte, 20; Jason Mitchell, 17; Eric Rivera Jr., 17; and Charles Wardlow, 18 are charged with unpremeditated murder, home invasion with a firearm or another deadly weapon and armed burglary. They have all been denied bond and will be transported to Miami, though authorities haven't said when.

Police said the suspects were out to commit burglary but were startled to find Taylor home. The Redskins had played at Tampa Bay that weekend, but Taylor was at home recuperating from a previous injury.

The suspects all have prior arrests, according to police, including drug, theft and gun charges.

Probable cause affidavits for Mitchell and Rivera said the two confessed to participating in armed burglary. According to the reports, Mitchell and Rivera admitted entering the home and said someone had a gun and shot Taylor, but they didn't identify who it was.

Richard Sharpstein, an attorney representing Taylor's family, said Taylor's sister was dating a relative of Wardlow and that one or more people tied to the suspects may have attended her 21st birthday party at Taylor's home. Miami-Dade police wouldn't confirm any of the possible links.

Taylor played football at the University of Miami, where he was a member of the 2001 national championship team as a freshman. In his final season with the Hurricanes in 2003, Taylor was a consensus first-team All-American and named Big East Conference defensive player of the year. He was also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's best defensive back.

He left school early and became the first UM player selected in the 2004 NFL draft when the Redskins picked him fifth overall.

Last June, Taylor agreed to a plea bargain in court on charges that he brandished a weapon at people he suspected had stolen some all-terrain vehicles from his South Florida home. Taylor agreed to 18 months of probation.

He was also arrested in 2004 but never charged with driving under the influence in Virginia.

Taylor was in his fourth season with the Redskins. He led the team with five interceptions but missed the last two games with a knee injury. The 212-pound safety played in his first Pro Bowl in 2006.