Arrington Upset About Handling of Knee Injury / Merged

[Wysocki]

LaVar just wants some attention: I vote for a shaving-cream pie in his face...

We agree!

We also agree that YOU try to do it.

No thanks...not my job - some veteran (like Ray Brown) needs to do it...

[1niksder]

Like everything else this will be handled behind closed doors...

After speaking with Arrington on Monday night, Gibbs said he anticipated Arrington would take a conciliatory tone yesterday. During his news conference, a few hours before Arrington spoke to the media, Gibbs said he was surprised by Arrington's comments Monday. "I think he knows every single thing that happened last year, and the way we were cautious about it," Gibbs said. "I think just frustration set in because he has been hurt for so long."

Arrington met privately with Gregg Williams, assistant head coach-defense; took part in a meeting with the defensive team; and met privately with Gibbs. Gibbs said he was enthused by his chat with Arrington and the prospects for Arrington's recovery, and admitted that while Arrington's interaction with the media yesterday was "not good," he is confident there is no rift with coaches.

"I think between he and I, we have a good agreement, and a good feeling about it," Gibbs said late yesterday afternoon, well after Arrington had returned home.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar ... onredskins

[Chris Luva Luva]

Like everything else this will be handled behind closed doors...

After speaking with Arrington on Monday night, Gibbs said he anticipated Arrington would take a conciliatory tone yesterday. During his news conference, a few hours before Arrington spoke to the media, Gibbs said he was surprised by Arrington's comments Monday. "I think he knows every single thing that happened last year, and the way we were cautious about it," Gibbs said. "I think just frustration set in because he has been hurt for so long."

Arrington met privately with Gregg Williams, assistant head coach-defense; took part in a meeting with the defensive team; and met privately with Gibbs. Gibbs said he was enthused by his chat with Arrington and the prospects for Arrington's recovery, and admitted that while Arrington's interaction with the media yesterday was "not good," he is confident there is no rift with coaches.

"I think between he and I, we have a good agreement, and a good feeling about it," Gibbs said late yesterday afternoon, well after Arrington had returned home.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar ... onredskins

Good at least they sent the baby home to bed.

I'm sorry if I've come off a bit hostile towards these players but I just feel that all of this is a bunch of nonsense.

[USAFSkinFan]

We had our most dominent defense in over 30 years last year without the self-proclaimed superstar on the field...

I'd take overachieving types like Monte Coleman or Chris Hanburger over this guy's whining ass any day!!!

WHOA! There Nelly! I know this is off the subject, but last years defense was good, but certainly not our best in 30 years. The 1991 deffense didn't allow a single point to be scored on us in RFK during the entire month of September! Three straight shut outs!!! We were 2nd in points allowed and 3rd in yards allowed. We only gave up 224 ponts and our Offense was #1 in the league with 485 points and could score quick, or just run out the 4th quarter. We had Monte Coleman, Matt Millen, Kurt Gouvia, Andre Collins and a linebacker that I wish Arrington played half as well as, Wilbur Marshall. If we could get Laver to play anywhere as good as Wilbur then he really would be a stud. Right now LA reminds me more of Collins than Marshall. That defense was GREAT!!!, last years defense was only very good.

You're right about the 1991 defense being a great one, but that defense had the benefit of a ball control offense that could score and put the defense in the driver seat... last year's defense was behind the 8 ball all year with regards to the offense, and still gave up less yards per play than the 1991 defense...

[SkinsJock]

..Like everything else this will be handled behind closed doors...

Agreed and Joe is probably pissed at how it was handled but I think he is getting the message across to all these players that he is in charge. Joe will be a lot tougher early this season as he continues to get everyone (except the media) back on track.

[hatsOFF2gibbs]

Arrington tackles media
By Jody Foldesy
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published April 13, 2005

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs smoothed things over with LaVar Arrington yesterday, the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker certainly didn't act like it as he exited Redskin Park in early afternoon.
A day after criticizing the organization on a number of fronts, Arrington blew off a group of reporters waiting to see whether he and Gibbs had made peace.
Having vented Monday about club officials -- whom he accused of rushing him back from a knee injury, not showing enough appreciation for his hard work and mishandling news of his latest surgery -- Arrington turned his venom on the media. In extremely brief comments, he took a swipe at reporters and refused to say anything positive about his meeting with Gibbs.
"I'm happy about trying to get my knee together, and that's my main focus," Arrington said. "Y'all got y'all's stories that y'all want to write. Y'all want to depict me as a bad guy. I'm hurt. It is what it is. Y'all do what you want to do."
He then gave a grumpy send-off before being driven away in a black BMW.
"Y'all have a great day," Arrington said. "Fans, I still love you guys. And the ones who don't -- oh well."
That the controversy was left awkwardly open-ended should come as little surprise given the player and the club involved. Arrington is Washington's most high-profile and outspoken star, a player who last winter levied the spectacular accusation that the club had cheated him out of $6.5 million in a contract extension.
Redskin Park, meanwhile, has devolved into a theater of the absurd. In recent weeks the club has jettisoned its No. 1 receiver, lost two of its top defensive players in free agency, suffered Arrington's accusations and, Gibbs yesterday revealed, been jilted in the offseason workout program by two former University of Miami stars who want new contracts.
Gibbs, the Hall of Fame coach who has found a very different NFL in his second stint, said these types of flareups have to be expected in the modern landscape.
"If you are involved in an NFL team today, you've got to kind of understand there's a lot of things can happen," Gibbs said. "I made a statement the other night to [my wife] Pat, 'How could you come home every night and be worried about something?' But it's part of life. And I'm willing to say if you stacked us up against every other team, we're probably on the low side of having problems."
While that last statement remains debatable, Gibbs certainly seems to have made an earnest effort to resolve the Arrington controversy. After speaking with Arrington on Monday night, the coach met with his star linebacker again yesterday and held a teleconference with surgeon James Andrews to make sure everyone was fully aware of the upcoming rehab schedule, which should have Arrington healthy by the start of training camp in July.
The fact that Arrington then offered the public only a terse no-comment when asked about Gibbs' amelioration efforts didn't change Gibbs' feeling that the situation is more or less resolved. Gibbs speculated that Arrington was "just frustrated."
"I can't speak for LaVar, but I know what went on in the meeting, I know what we all talked over, and then LaVar and I talked afterward," Gibbs said. "Between him and I, I think we have a good agreement. I can't guess, and I wouldn't want to speak for somebody, but I would say he's just frustrated."
Like many NFL superstars, Arrington is wedded to the Redskins by the heft of his contract. His current salary cap figure of $5.5 million would swell to approximately $17 million if Washington were to trade him -- meaning the move is impossible. Washington is only about $1.5 million below the spending the limit.
Despite Arrington's latest setback, the linebacker position apparently hasn't moved up the Redskins' list of priorities for the April 23-24 draft. Gibbs reiterated that he doesn't like going into any draft with a clear-cut need. He said the team feels as though it has "some options" at the position.
Arrington's season, according to director of sports medicine Bubba Tyer, is "absolutely not" in jeopardy. And Gibbs spoke optimistically about the recovery of Mike Barrow, who missed last season with a knee injury but is expected to compete with Lemar Marshall to replace Antonio Pierce at middle linebacker.
"Mike Barrow is progressing," Gibbs said. "It's just been a long, hard recovery there. I think he's scheduled to be full-bore running at the end of May."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20050412-115035-3780r

[gregory smith]

LaVar Arrington's latest display of stupidity is inexcusable. There is no evidence of him being rushed back on to the field, quite the contrary, his injury was handled with great caution, some would say excessive caution. What exactly is wrong with him? With all of the turmoil surrounding the Skins he comes out with this. A true Redskin, a "Core Redskin", an intelligent veteran would try and bring some stability to the organization, not fan the flames as Lavar is doing. If this was a bad organization, if he had a legitimate complaint, it would be different, but come on. He is in love with the sound of his own voice but he has no control or understanding of what comes out of it. The contract issue is evidence enough for me, HIS agents signed it, yet he is mad at the Redskins, this, my friends is a player that will never be happy and simply cannot be reasoned with. So back to the question, what is wrong with him? Is he SPECIAL? Does anyone remember his wonderlic score?Where is the loyalty? Does anyone actually believe Joe Gibbs has mistreated or mislead this player? The Redskins have made him a wealthy young man. He is of the opinion that he is in Ray Lewis' class when in reality he is maybe the second best linebacker on the Redskin roster. No Loyalty. No Class. Too bad the cap requires us to keep him. I can't stand the sight of him. Maybe he will get with his agent and figure some creative way of restructuring so that he can be traded. This display of unloyal behavior by Arrington will be hard for Gibbs to forget/forgive. Arrington needs to go to the media one more time and make a public apology to Gibbs, the Redskins, and the fans, (blame it on the frustration of being hurt), and maybe, just maybe we can all get over it.

[redskincity]

So this is what the offseason is like when we aint spending money.

The drawing negativity to another mans life is pitiful and shallow.

I hope he gets better to shut the 'bored' doubters up.


Relax fellas, its Football and he will be back.

[Irn-Bru]

hatsOFF2gibbs, thanks for catching and posting that article. This told me everything that I needed to know about the current Lavar situation.

If Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs smoothed things over with LaVar Arrington yesterday, the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker certainly didn't act like it as he exited Redskin Park in early afternoon.

I admit, this part scared the crap out of me when I first read it. But then. . . .

A day after criticizing the organization on a number of fronts, Arrington blew off a group of reporters waiting to see whether he and Gibbs had made peace.

. . .a big sigh of relief. Some reporter is probably just pissed off at Arrington and will twist anything to look negative, I thought. Low and behold:

Having vented Monday about club officials -- whom he accused of rushing him back from a knee injury, not showing enough appreciation for his hard work and mishandling news of his latest surgery -- Arrington turned his venom on the media. In extremely brief comments, he took a swipe at reporters and refused to say anything positive about his meeting with Gibbs.

So, as a member of the media reporters, you get a player that's pissed at the fact that you sought after some kind of contraversial story. . . .and then you try and twist it back to something negative about Gibbs?

Okay, so Lavar blew you guys off. Technically, that means that he refused to say anything "positive" about the meeting with Gibbs. But that also means that he refused to say anything negative. And, as a side note, it also means that he "refused" to comment on the War in Iraq. And that he "refused" to say anything positive about fluffy white bunnies and peach iced tea. Wanker.

"I'm happy about trying to get my knee together, and that's my main focus," Arrington said. "Y'all got y'all's stories that y'all want to write. Y'all want to depict me as a bad guy. I'm hurt. It is what it is. Y'all do what you want to do."

As fans, this is exactly what we wanted to hear from Arrington. (a) He wants to refocus (he even used the word "happy"). (b) He's mad at what the media did with his soundbites from earlier.

Personally, I think Lavar should learn from this whole thing, but for right now I'm happy that he's mad at the right people.

He then gave a grumpy send-off before being driven away in a black BMW.
"Y'all have a great day," Arrington said. "Fans, I still love you guys. And the ones who don't -- oh well."

Thank you, Jody Foldesy, for the detail about the BMW, and for trying to antagonize Lavar as a rich guy that doesn't care about other people (the grumpy send off, etc.).

That the controversy was left awkwardly open-ended should come as little surprise given the player and the club involved.

But tell us what you really think, Jody.


Again, thanks for posting that, Hatsoff. . .I wouldn't have caught it otherwise. I wasn't in panic mode before, but I'm sitting a bit easier after reading this.

[redskincity]

Lavar is pissed that he cant get on the field and play and fans bash him.

How about bashing guys who become complacent being injured.

They say Redskins fans are some of the most intelligent fans.(BS )

[skinsfan#33]

We had our most dominent defense in over 30 years last year without the self-proclaimed superstar on the field...

I'd take overachieving types like Monte Coleman or Chris Hanburger over this guy's whining ass any day!!!

WHOA! There Nelly! I know this is off the subject, but last years defense was good, but certainly not our best in 30 years. The 1991 deffense didn't allow a single point to be scored on us in RFK during the entire month of September! Three straight shut outs!!! We were 2nd in points allowed and 3rd in yards allowed. We only gave up 224 ponts and our Offense was #1 in the league with 485 points and could score quick, or just run out the 4th quarter. We had Monte Coleman, Matt Millen, Kurt Gouvia, Andre Collins and a linebacker that I wish Arrington played half as well as, Wilbur Marshall. If we could get Laver to play anywhere as good as Wilbur then he really would be a stud. Right now LA reminds me more of Collins than Marshall. That defense was GREAT!!!, last years defense was only very good.

You're right about the 1991 defense being a great one, but that defense had the benefit of a ball control offense that could score and put the defense in the driver seat... last year's defense was behind the 8 ball all year with regards to the offense, and still gave up less yards per play than the 1991 defense...

This is just a squids point of view (18 years in the worlds finest airforce, the U S Navy), but ther are two points of view on having a week offense. First it helps the defense because the opposing team is notpressing trying to make point. Or second, it hurts the defense because they are on the field a lot and and playing make up ball. Historically, teams with great defenses have average to poor offenses (ie the 1970's Steelers & Dolphins, 1985 Bears, the Ravens, and the SB winning Bucs. And the teams that have high flying offenses normally don't have good defenses (the 1980's Dolphins and Niners, and the early 90's Bills) Now some teams like the 90's Cowboys had both, but that is not the norm. I think that a great defense puts a huge amount of preasure on it's defense, because the other team brings it's A-game on offense and that is what made the 91 Skins defense so impressive. in those 3 shut outs we score a total of 104 points on offense, that isn't ball control, its butt kicking.

[skins81]

No Loyalty. No Class. Too bad the cap requires us to keep him. I can't stand the sight of him.

Relax gregory. Lavar is an emotional guy. The press can make your words sound worse than they are. See my erlier post; I do feel he is being a bit self centered. But that being said, he is still a force and one of my favorite Redskins. I think you will be happy with his play this year.
Remember, his nfl experience has not been one with any consistency. This is the first year he has seen the staff remain intact. He will adjust to playing in Williams' schemes. There will be a learning curve and he will make mistakes, but that doesn't mean he can't be dominant on the field. Actually, I think Williams is too good to not utilize Lavar's creativity.

It's April. If he heals up, which he should according to Tyer's quote, you will be happy with his contributions on the field come September.

[Chris Luva Luva]

Lavar is pissed that he cant get on the field and play and fans bash him.

How about bashing guys who become complacent being injured.

They say Redskins fans are some of the most intelligent fans.(BS )

There is no excuse for his actions. For making Gibbs seem like he's just another cog in Dannys coach carousel. For making this organization look bad. For bringing bad press to this team when we need to be coming together as one. The same pissy attitude moves on to other players. When he speaks to other players he's saying the same things to them. This is excusable?

Imo its not excusable.

[DaSkinz4L]

nothing but Arrington getting upset thinkin that he wont be able to play because of all these sugeries thats all cant blame he either HE LOVES THE GAME...

[Chris Luva Luva]

nothing but Arrington getting upset thinkin that he wont be able to play because of all these sugeries thats all cant blame he either HE LOVES THE GAME...

So his love for the game makes it alright for him to make Joe Gibbs and this organization look bad?
He said that the coaches didn't care about him. I find that hard to believe.