LaVar Arrington, who has slipped from Pro Bowl perennial to afterthought in Washington this season, is already envisioning being an ex-Redskin.
"I know I can still play at a very high level," said Arrington, who played just seven snaps the past two games as Washington edged Dallas and Seattle. "It's just a matter if I get to do it here or if I do it somewhere else. If the direction is going away from me and going towards other things, then as a man, I have to accept that. I have to move on and figure out what's next for me."
Coach Joe Gibbs said he can understand why fans are surprised that Arrington, who's healthy again after missing most of 2004 with a balky right knee, is playing so little.
"I know he's disappointed about not making more of an impact, not playing more," said Gibbs, who met with Arrington yesterday. "It's something we just have to work our way through. We've got a lot of talented guys on our defense who can do a lot of things for us. Lots of times our blitzing comes from the secondary. Our defensive schemes try to use all of our people. Last year, LaVar went through a tough injury thing. This year, he's not a starter. It revolves then around the packages and how much (his) packages are called."
Arrington, like so many Washingtonians, doesn't really know why he apparently doesn't fit Williams' system as well as new starter Warrick Holdman or pass-rushing specialist Chris Clemons.
"Yeah I'm surprised," Arrington said. "Do I hate being off the field? Of course, I hate not playing, but I don't make those decisions. We're 3-0, so obviously we're doing something right. I don't want my situation to become a distraction, a problem. I love my teammates too much for that.
"By no means am I going to sit here and whine and complain and throw tirades," Arrington added. "I have a challenge in front of me and I'll continue to try to be a professional. I understand that it needs to be reported for what I stand for within this organization and this community. But I don't need this to be an ongoing soap opera. 'Why isn't LaVar playing? What's wrong with LaVar?'"
But in Washington, where Arrington remains the most popular Redskin despite starting just two games since 2003, it's a big story.
The eight-year, $68 million contract that Arrington signed in December 2003 makes getting rid of him this winter very difficult since the more than $11 million worth of his signing bonus would all accelerate onto the 2006 salary cap. Trading or cutting Arrington after June 1 would put about $2 million of those costs on next year's cap with the remaining $9 million deferred until 2007.
Arrington is a Pittsburgh native and he's the kind of no-holds-barred linebacker whom Steelers coach Bill Cowher likes. However, Pittsburgh has always been loathe to devote mega-millions on particular players. San Diego's Marty Schottenheimer was a big Arrington fan when he coached the Redskins in 2001 and although the Chargers drafted Maryland end/linebacker Shawne Merriman in the first round this year, they could still be a possibility for No. 56.
NOTES, QUOTES
—First-round pick Carlos Rogers made his starting debut against Seattle in place of injured cornerback Walt Harris. The ninth pick in April's draft made some mistakes, but wound up with seven tackles, one of which forced a fumble by Seahawks standout running back Shaun Alexander.
"It's always special to go out there with the first group and know you're starting, but you just have to relax and stay calm," Rogers said. "You go out there too over-psyched, things can happen to you. The first two series, I played a little too deep on certain things. Their play-action and quick game got me off stride a little bit, but once I settled down, everything was all right."
—Ryan Clark started the final 11 games of 2004 at strong safety after Matt Bowen suffered a season-ending knee injury, but Clark missed so much time this summer with a bad knee that he was inactive the first two games. However, with Pierson Prioleau out with a bad hamstring, Clark surprisingly got the nod over Bowen against Seattle. Clark was beaten by Darrell Jackson on a 6-yard slant that tied the game with 1:23 left in regulation, but was all smiles after the victory.
"I got a little tired because I hadn't played in a while, but for the first game, I think I did pretty well," said Clark, who had re-injured his knee in the Sept. 1 preseason finale at Baltimore. "I got beat on that play. I was thinking something else and they ran against my leverage. But I directed the traffic pretty well."
Clark and Bowen ended up playing together in the stretch drive after starting free safety Sean Taylor left the game with a sore shoulder. Taylor said he'll be fine for this week's game at Denver.
—Cornerback Shawn Springs played his first seven seasons in Seattle. Sunday's game was his first against his old teammates.
"I had mixed emotions," Springs said. "I had close, personal ties with a lot of those guys, but I didn't talk to any of them before the game. I had a little insight into their players, so I could talk to my teammates (about how to play them). I'm glad to win this one. I love being here in Washington."
PLAYER PERSONNEL NOTES
—Ailing K John Hall (quadricep) kicked some field goals on Monday, but isn't expected to regain his job from new Redskins hero Nick Novak until he shows he can kick off and make field goals consistently without pain after being hurt five times in the past two seasons.
—CB Walt Harris wasn't able to work out again on Monday because of an injured left calf. Harris' availability for Sunday's game at Denver is very much in question.
—SS Pierson Prioleau hasn't practiced since straining a hamstring on the Cowboys' opening drive last Monday. Prioleau was inactive against Seattle, but coach Joe Gibbs said he did some work on Monday. Ryan Clark started in Prioleau's place against the Seahawks.
—FS Sean Taylor left the Seattle game in the fourth quarter when the shoulder he bruised in Dallas became too painful. Taylor is expected to practice this week and play in Denver.
—Rookie LB Zak Keasey, waived on Friday so the Redskins could promote rookie CB Dmitri Patterson from the practice squad because of the injuries to Walt Harris and Pierson Prioleau, returned to the team on Monday.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
REPORT CARD VS. SEAHAWKS
PASSING OFFENSE: B-plus — QB Mark Brunell was what coach Joe Gibbs likes to call super-efficient. Brunell completed 20 passes to seven different receivers, finding six of them for first downs. The seventh, tight end Mike Sellers, caught the game-winning touchdown pass. Brunell was the major reason why the Redskins were an unreal 13-of-18 on third downs, including his 18-yard scramble on third-and-9 in overtime. Brunell's only interception bounced off the hands of RB Clinton Portis. WR Santana Moss made some fine catches early on, almost pulled off a spectacular touchdown grab in the back left corner of the end zone and got free for the 30-yard catch that set up Nick Novak's game-winning field goal in overtime. WR James Thrash had two first-down catches. Brunell and WR David Patten are still trying to find their chemistry. TEs Robert Royal and Mike Sellers had touchdown grabs, and Brunell and H-back Chrisey got on the same page for four catches totaling 61 yards. Portis whiffed on LB Lofa Tatupu's sack of Brunell, but after giving up an early sack, the pass protection was excellent.
RUSHING OFFENSE: C — Portis didn't have a truly big day or a truly big run, but despite some neglible runs, he still managed a respectable 90 yards on 25 carries. RB Ladell Betts added some inside yards. However, the line didn't open many holes for Portis.
PASS DEFENSE: B-minus — For the most part, top draft pick Carlos Rogers looked like a rookie making his first start at cornerback. Ex-Seahawks corner Shawn Springs was effective, as were Ryan Clark and Matt Bowen while filling in for the injured Pierson Prioleau, although Clark was beaten on the game-tying touchdown with just 1:23 left. Safety Sean Taylor missed the last part of the game after injuring a shoulder. Lemar Marshall had a sack and Chris Clemons provided some pressure while filling most of the playing time that LaVar Arrington figured to take. As usual, the front four provided virtually no pass rush.
RUSH DEFENSE: B — The front four dominated most of the day against a solid Seattle offensive line that includes perennial Pro Bowl LT Walter Jones, but wore down late. Marcus Washington wasn't as much of a factor as a Pro Bowl 'backer should be against standout Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander. The LBs were partly to blame for Seattle's two long touchdown drives in the second half.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B — Rookie Nick Novak had the first field goal try of his career blocked, but bounced back to make a 40-yarder before nailing the game-winning 39-yarder in OT. Punter Derrick Frost was fine in his Redskins debut. The coverage units were excellent. The Redskins didn't do anything in the return game.
COACHING: B — Almost everything Joe Gibbs called on third-and-long worked and he continues to rotate his skill position players wisely. He lost his replay challenge, but unlike some of last year's challenges, this one was worth challenging. It was a rare tough day for assistant head coach Gregg Williams' defense, but it still yielded just 17 points. Why Williams won't play three-time Pro Bowl LB LaVar Arrington over non-factor Warrick Holdman is baffling, especially when the Seahawks went on those long touchdown drives. The field goal protection broke down once up the middle, but otherwise, special teams coach Danny Smith held his own.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football ... s/home.htm
