COLES RIPS REDSKINS IN NY PAPER

MEZZSKIN · Post by **MEZZSKIN** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 2:45 pm

Wake up Danny this the type of loyalty money buys!---HES A CLASSLESS JERK!..http://www.nypost.com/sports/jets/41920.htm

MEZZSKIN · Post by **MEZZSKIN** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 2:46 pm

SORRY-------------------------------------------------------March 6, 2005 -- Laveranues Coles could hear the sweet sound of Jets fans ringing in his ears again yesterday.
"J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS!" an excited Coles told The Post exclusively on the day he came back home where he belongs.

Chad Pennington missed his go-to receiver the past two seasons and his go-to receiver missed Pennington. Yesterday, the dream of a sweet reunion became a reality when the Jets finally traded Santana Moss to the Redskins for the perfect bookend — tough, smart and clutch — to Justin McCareins.

The deal is contingent on physicals for both players.

"Glad to be back home and be with Chad Pennington and the guys, and I'm back in 87!" Coles said, giggling.

Pennington headed the list of Jets veterans who lobbied behind the scenes for Coles' return.

"We talk pretty much every day," Coles said. "The main thing for us now is to get to work. I got another offense to learn. This is my fifth offense in six years."

Coles called Pennington the day before the quarterback underwent surgery to repair a torn right rotator cuff last month.

"Chad said if there's a chance we can get you back, he's gonna do everything he could," Coles said. "Him, Curtis [Martin] and John Abraham, they all stepped to the plate to bring me back."

Coles heard immediately yesterday from Martin.

"Curtis called me and told me he's glad it's done," Coles said.

Coles, who was signed to a seven-year $35 million offer sheet with a $13 million signing bonus two years ago, said he has agreed to a below-market value $5 million signing bonus to make the deal happen.

Coles reportedly will receive $8 million in guarantees and will not rebate any of the $13 million signing bonus he received from the Skins.

"I ended up taking a lot less than what I wanted," Coles said. "Shows how badly I wanted to come back."

Coles, 27 years old, said he is certain the best is yet to come as he enters the prime of his career. Much more durable than Moss, Coles has played every game the past four years.

"The game has slowed down so much to me," Coles said.

Coles, who caught 82 passes for 1,264 yards and five TDs in 2002 with the Jets, dismissed reports of a toe injury.

"My toe is fine; there's gonna be no problem," Coles said. "What happens is, when a team gets upset with you, they start talking about all the bad things about it. They try to come up with excuses why they want you to leave. I haven't had any problems with it since I got a cortisone shot right before the Philly game last year. I'm gonna go see if I have to get another one. They don't know how long it lasts."

Moss, whose punt return average slipped from 16.5 in 2002 to 8.3 last season, caught 45 passes for 838 yards and five TDs last season. Coles, disenchanted with the lack of long passes in Joe Gibbs' offense, can't wait to work with new Jets offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, who will be getting the green light from Herm Edwards to stretch the field.

"Everybody was chomping at the bit to get him," Coles said of Heimerdinger. "New York was lucky enough to land him. That's another reason why I think it's a good fit for me."

In two seasons with the Redskins, Coles grabbed 172 passes for 2,154 yards and seven TDs. But there was instability on the sidelines and under center.

"Every year it's a madhouse," Coles said.

The money was greener when Coles left the Jets, but the grass sure wasn't.

"You never understand how good you have it in one place until you go someplace else and you experience it with another organization," Coles said.

Coles returns with a better understanding of how the business side of the game works and has no bone to pick now with Edwards, whom he criticized when he left for Washington.

"It took me a little while to learn that," Coles said. "When a coach tells you he's gonna bring you back, you think he's the one pulling the trigger. If it was left up to [Edwards], he probably would have gave me everything they had in the bank. Somebody just came in and basically stole me."

Yesterday, the Jets stole Coles back.

J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS! — oh, how Coles missed that sound.

"Yes I did," Coles said.

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Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 2:54 pm

He didn't rip the Redskins too bad in that article:

"Every year it's a madhouse," Coles said.

Actually, that's a true statement.

"You never understand how good you have it in one place until you go someplace else and you experience it with another organization," Coles said.

What else do you expect him to say? He's just trying to mend fences after coming to the Redskins for all of that cash.

"It took me a little while to learn that," Coles said. "When a coach tells you he's gonna bring you back, you think he's the one pulling the trigger. If it was left up to [Edwards], he probably would have gave me everything they had in the bank. Somebody just came in and basically stole me."

Now this last comment is total crap! Is he implying it was the REDSKINS fault he left NY to begin with? No! He just has to accept the fact that he whored himself out originally when he came to the Skins.

Here's a guy who is just trying to mend fences. I lost what little respect I had for him....which, to be honest, wasn't much to begin with.

MEZZSKIN · Post by **MEZZSKIN** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 2:59 pm

Justice , what does years past have to do with the future. So it was a Madhouse under spurrier, so what...AND were making excuses to get rid of him?????????????GIBBS WAS PRAISING HIM RIGHT UP UNTIL THE TRADE!..What excuses?..Gibbs liked him..Even Bugel(or breaux) came out and spoke in WASH. Post when this whole first started and said Coles was a warrior and how much respect they had for him........Coles is a loser!!!!---GOOD RIDDANCE!

hkHog · Post by **hkHog** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 3:07 pm

MEZZSKIN wrote:Coles, who was signed to a seven-year $35 million offer sheet with a $13 million signing bonus two years ago, said he has agreed to a below-market value $5 million signing bonus to make the deal happen.

Coles reportedly will receive $8 million in guarantees and will not rebate any of the $13 million signing bonus he received from the Skins.

Man, I wish this was in the smack forum, that just makes me so angry! He just got a huge payday from the 'Skins for essentially doing absolutely nothing and skipping town and then gets another payday from the Jets and he's yet look at how he portrays himself as being so holy and selfless. "Ooh, look at how I facilitated the trade by only taking another $5 mil I didn't deserve even though I was UNDER CONTRACT and there was absolutley no reasonable basis for me to demand another one." I always respected him until I saw that. What a jerk!

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 3:08 pm

I don't think that anyone could expect too much better of a player that asked to be traded while still under contract. I'm not mad for anything that he said (at least, in this article. . .haven't read all of his press releases). He's gotta get some hype up for his return, and the best way to do that when returning to a team is to talk down your time away. "Boy, I sure did miss it here. . .it was a hell-hole down there. . .let's just forget the past few years and get back to what we had going before."

Gibbs praised him all the way out the door because that is what good coaches do. Coles has to explain to the NY fans that he really didn't have it so good in Washington, or else he'll look like he's all about the money.

He played hard for us, I respect him. Don't like what he said particularly, but that doesn't matter anymore because he's not a Redskin. When we've got a trophy in the next few years (fingers crossed), maybe he'll wish that he stayed here. In the meantime, good luck in NY, Coles. . .you're going to need it. . .

And welcome, Moss!

Great Natale · Post by **Great Natale** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 3:11 pm

What a jerk. Well at least he's gone. I really hope that toe is a serious problem for him and the Jets. Yes sir that'll make my day :P

hkHog · Post by **hkHog** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 3:12 pm

Great Natale wrote:What a jerk. Well at least he's gone. I really hope that toe is a serious problem for him and the Jets. Yes sir that'll make my day

Well, I hope that it's at least good enough to pass the physical!

SKINSLOVER · Post by **SKINSLOVER** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 3:46 pm

does anyone know the next time we play the jets so sean taylor can lay him out

Hogfather · Post by **Hogfather** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 3:51 pm

hkHog wrote:
Great Natale wrote:What a jerk. Well at least he's gone. I really hope that toe is a serious problem for him and the Jets. Yes sir that'll make my day

Well, I hope that it's at least good enough to pass the physical!

Yes, or he might be eating Crow again! :-&

redskins12287 · Post by **redskins12287** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 4:20 pm

I know I wont miss how when he would get a short pass he would dance around waiting for a block intead of just going forward.

Scottskins · Post by **Scottskins** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 6:18 pm

wow, to think I was actually feeling bad about this trade. Thank god Gibbs saw Coles for what he is. C-A-N-C-E-R CANCER CANCER CANCER!!!

what a you know what. Now I see why the players wanted him gone. So obviously a money hungry guy. I took much less than the market value? Hey idiot, you were already under contract, your lucky you got anything from the Jets. I never wish injury on players, but I'm really fighting the hope that his toe ends his career soon. I can't wait to play the Jets. Our boys are gonna have fun that day...

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 6:40 pm

Scottskins wrote:wow!... Thank god Gibbs saw Coles for what he is....

totally agree! If he is still playing when we should be so lucky to have this bunch on our schedule, I would definetly imagine he will be up close and personal with some pretty bad hitters!!

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:02 pm

Again, I don't see much of a difference between what Coles did and what Clinton Portis did this time last year.

EasyMoney · Post by **EasyMoney** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:06 pm

Portis ran back to back 1,500 yard seasons and was getting paid like Ladell Betts. He went to the PB his second year and felt he deserved more money. I think we all would too. Coles was ALREADY getting paid, Portis on the other hand was not. HUGE difference.

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:07 pm

EasyMoney wrote:Portis ran back to back 1,500 yard seasons and was getting paid like Ladell Betts. He went to the PB his second year and felt he deserved more money. I think we all would too. Coles was ALREADY getting paid, Portis on the other hand was not. HUGE difference.

He was gonna get more money regardless of where he played.

He just knew he'd get more in Washington, as did anyone else.

And he turned on his team.

At least Coles turned on his team because of the playcalling instead of the extra 2 or 3 million.

Justin · Post by **Justin** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:13 pm

This was certainly my favorite quote from the article...

"The game has slowed down so much to me," Coles said.

Apparently he noticed too. I am definitely glad he is gone.

EasyMoney · Post by **EasyMoney** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:15 pm

There are so many differences between their situations that debating this is really just a waste of time. Portis was going to get the money from any other franchise, but he wasn't going to get it from Denver. Shanahan felt he wasn't worth it. Which was understandable from his point of view. He plugs people in and they produce. Portis had a year left on his contract and had proven in the previous two years that he was worth more money. He's incredibly gifted and intelligent football player for his age. The Coles thing is different, it wasn't the rookie contract that he backed out of, it was a contract that at the time was a record for the Skins.

ii7-V7 · Post by **ii7-V7** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:25 pm

Have fun catching the deep ball from an injured Pennington!

Chad

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:26 pm

I just find it so funny when a player rips a team after he leaves, it says so much about the person. It's also funny how players leave a team (for money)where they have enjoyed success only to have bad years with there new teams,then rip that team and go back to their old team and enjoy that same success. Says alot about coaching, I'n ready for the Skins to stay put and build on what we have!

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 7:48 pm

EasyMoney wrote:There are so many differences between their situations that debating this is really just a waste of time. Portis was going to get the money from any other franchise, but he wasn't going to get it from Denver. Shanahan felt he wasn't worth it. Which was understandable from his point of view. He plugs people in and they produce. Portis had a year left on his contract and had proven in the previous two years that he was worth more money. He's incredibly gifted and intelligent football player for his age. The Coles thing is different, it wasn't the rookie contract that he backed out of, it was a contract that at the time was a record for the Skins.

So just because it's a rookie contract means you shouldn't have to honor it?

Ok.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 8:04 pm

Primetime, sometimes you bring a lot to the table but most times it seems to me you are just stirring the pot! Whatever! I will say that for a puke fan you are for the most part a good contributor and I must say that unlike some fans from other teams you are 1 of a select few that I will read and try to see their point of view.

IMo this is not a fair comparison but we will go on from here. At least in my opinion Portis' behaviour before and after leaving the ponies was a little more appropriate given both situations.

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 8:06 pm

SkinsJock wrote:Primetime, sometimes you bring a lot to the table but most times it seems to me you are just stirring the pot! Whatever! I will say that for a puke fan you are for the most part a good contributor and I must say that unlike some fans from other teams you are 1 of a select few that I will read and try to see their point of view.

IMo this is not a fair comparison but we will go on from here. At least in my opinion Portis' behaviour before and after leaving the ponies was a little more appropriate given both situations.

I'm just giving an outsider view of the situation.

The circumstances may be different, but if you step back and take a look at it, the results are the same.

It's always something with NFL players. Coles is no exception.

But neither is Portis.

redskins12287 · Post by **redskins12287** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 8:13 pm

The difference is that Coles made the situation very difficult and was a jerk through out the entire process. I could understand a little more if he had been complaining for a while, but he hasn't. This all came up very surprizingly to me and im sure most fans. The Portis / Bailey trade went over very smoothly, while the Coles / Moss trade has been a soap opera. Also, Portis felt he deserved more $, which he did. Coles was already making huge money. I could probably go on longer but I would just wind up repeting what people have already said.

EasyMoney · Post by **EasyMoney** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 8:15 pm

Primetime, If you had to analyze both situations and rate both of them on a scale of 1-10 on how "me, me, me" they were. Which would you rate higher?