Just a thought

[HEROHAMO]

Why is it that we are able to pay all these newcomers and we werent willing to pay a guy who was here since the beginning. Im talking about Arrington. feel free to chime in.

[SO. CAL. SKIN DUDE]

Dude, your not serious are you?

As a fellow So Cal-er, just try to think what Arrington has been for the Skins.

1. Wholly undiciplined on Defense.
2. Gets hurt, and the D still excells while he's out.
3. Refuses to fit within Williams' scheme.
4. And finally too exepnsive given all of the above.

Look, I too like the guy, but this is about winning and not keeping guys because of our affinity to them. To be honest, I was saddened more to see Antonio Pierce leave than I am Arrington.

So don't worry. Just watch the D kick some tail now that the whale Arrington saga is done in DC.

[1niksder]

Why is it that we are able to pay all these newcomers and we werent willing to pay a guy who was here since the beginning. Im talking about Arrington. feel free to chime in.

We were able in part because of Lavar giving the Skins $4.4 million (about enough for 2 ea free agent wideouts) to get on the Market. I think the plan was to cut Lavar at the last min. if needed but he forced the teams hand when he didn't want to restructure his contract in a way that would have kept him on the team

[Chris Luva Luva]

Why is it that we are able to pay all these newcomers and we werent willing to pay a guy who was here since the beginning. Im talking about Arrington. feel free to chime in.

Ive felt this way about other players but not Arrington.

[Skinna Mob]

I like Arrington way more than Pierce. But both seemed to think that they were bigger than the TEAM...Arrington seems to be coming down to earth...but the relationship was already damaged.

my 1 1/2 cents...

[madd_matt57]

How did Pierce act like he was bigger than the team? I thought he seemed like a very good team player. Studied hard, kept his mouth shut, and let his playing do the talking.

[Chris Luva Luva]

I like Arrington way more than Pierce. But both seemed to think that they were bigger than the TEAM...Arrington seems to be coming down to earth...but the relationship was already damaged.

my 1 1/2 cents...

Peirce thought he was bigger than the team? I guess Clark was bigger than the team also? These guys got dogged out for years by piss poor moves by Snyder, his lame croonies and poor coaching. They never got shots to start and when they finally did they ALL flourished! Everyone is quick to just say its ONLY the system making them look good. Peirce went to NY and lit it up and Smoot who did good in every system he had in DC went to Minny and flopped.

So who is next Lemar? He's going to want to get paid sooner or later.

[SkinsJock]

How did Pierce act like he was bigger than the team? I thought he seemed like a very good team player. Studied hard, kept his mouth shut, and let his playing do the talking.

We did not let him go he decided to! A lot of these players make the decision to go because they feel that that is the best opportunity for them and some just do not want to ba part of this team's philosophy.
It's really been easy since Gibbs came in and took over this team's make-up. If you want to play here and you have the desire to do whatever it takes to be a part of this team including getting paid what Gibbs (NOT Snyder or Cerrato) thinks will suit the team salary structure then you can stay.

I think Pierce wanted more than Gibbs could pay him (given what some other players were getting) - that's easy! He decided to leave even though we said we wanted him to stay!

Gibbs wants players with talent who really will do anything to stay here. I'm liking this team!

[Mursilis]

I think Pierce wanted more than Gibbs could pay him (given what some other players were getting) - that's easy! He decided to leave even though we said we wanted him to stay!

I just can't hate a player who leaves for a bigger contract - sure, as a fan I'd like them to stay, but a football player's career is usually short (except maybe for punters and kickers), and he faces the constant threat of injury, getting cut, etc. He's got to make his money now, because it's not like he can come back to the game and cash in when he's 40 (Gary Anderson excluded, but then he's a kicker).

Gibbs wants players with talent who really will do anything to stay here. I'm liking this team!

That's just a fantasy - It's nice some players are willing to rework thier contracts to get us under the cap, but hardly any of them are giving back money - they're just shifting it around. Players are here because they're getting paid - do you think Portis, Moss, ey, Brunell, or any of our other talent would stick around if we just offered vet minimum? Don't hold your breath.

[dredg]

do you think Portis, Moss, ey, Brunell, or any of our other talent would stick around if we just offered vet minimum? Don't hold your breath.

well, ey would, cause it would probably be more then his rookie contract is paying him right now

[CcHhDd]

you sort of answered your own question. We signed ALL THESE PLAYERS. For arringtons contract we got two wideouts and a pass rushing defensive end. We even upgraded at safety. That's four players for the price of one. Arrington was good but he couldn't play both sides nor could he play two positions. I loved arrington but i'm glad he's gone because he cost WAY too much. Football is a team game.. and we just made ourselves a better team

[HEROHAMO]

Well Look at Brunells contract this guy is way overpayed I am sure we could have made some cuts and made room for him. My point is that there could have been a comprimise somewhere in the middle why it didnt happen I have to think management did him wrong. The contract was written years ago and we all thought it wasnt too much then. Now all of a sudden we have success and we dont care about a player who has been there through the thick and the thin he if anything he deserved every penny he was getting paid. I am happy with the signings thus far and am sure we are in good hands. I am also confident that our team will have mad success this coming season. For once I really disagree with management on this one. Theyre are plenty of franchise players out there Brett Farve,Payton Manning,Ray Lewis, and so on and so forth. For years he was the face of the Redskins and so many of you just dismiss him as an after thought.

[Fanforever]

I find it rather hard to beleive a player who is paid more than $33mil over a five year period of time has in any way been mistreated

[1fan4ramsey]

what if they resigned him at his new market value. No team seems to want to over pay for him so his stock has obviously gone way done. What if you could sign him for average weakside linebacker pay, would you take him back?

[welch]

Arrington was not the face of my Redskins.

Sure, that's my age, and it comes from being spoiled by the Allen-Pardee-Gibbs teams. I have loads of feeling for those players. After they fired Petibon? It seemed like a Cowboys imitation under that Norv guy, and then a rolling circus under that college coach.

Nobody was "the face of the Redskins" to me during The Interregnum.

Then it just seemed right that Ray Brown came back and finished under Gibbs -- a guy who lined up with Joe Jacoby and Jon Jansen. It seemed right that Gibbs brought back some of his winners just so the current guys could meet the guys who set the standard. Art Monk is more the face of the Redskins, twelve years later, than Arrington was.

No, I'm not trashing Arrington, but Joe Gibbs is the face of the Redskins now.

[HEROHAMO]

Arrington was not the face of my Redskins.

Sure, that's my age, and it comes from being spoiled by the Allen-Pardee-Gibbs teams. I have loads of feeling for those players. After they fired Petibon? It seemed like a Cowboys imitation under that Norv guy, and then a rolling circus under that college coach.

Nobody was "the face of the Redskins" to me during The Interregnum.

Then it just seemed right that Ray Brown came back and finished under Gibbs -- a guy who lined up with Joe Jacoby and Jon Jansen. It seemed right that Gibbs brought back some of his winners just so the current guys could meet the guys who set the standard. Art Monk is more the face of the Redskins, twelve years later, than Arrington was.

No, I'm not trashing Arrington, but Joe Gibbs is the face of the Redskins now.

Gibbs has was and always will be the first guy people think of when thinking of the success of the skins. All I am saying is that Arrington payed his dues and was here through the thin times rarely did he smell success. Now once we return to the playoffs we let the one guy who has been here since his rookie year. Well I love the Skins but I just disagree on this one. And for the time he was here most people will say he was the face of the redskins. Well all time the Hogs take the cake for the face of the Skins in my mind Riggo and the Hogs. Doug Williams and the funbunch. Well anyhow I want to put this to rest already and move on. I hope we can resign If no one takes him but If not oh well. We still have an awsome team and Hail to the Skins.

[Deadskins]

Arrington was not the face of my Redskins.

Sure, that's my age, and it comes from being spoiled by the Allen-Pardee-Gibbs teams. I have loads of feeling for those players. After they fired Petibon? It seemed like a Cowboys imitation under that Norv guy, and then a rolling circus under that college coach.

Nobody was "the face of the Redskins" to me during The Interregnum.

Then it just seemed right that Ray Brown came back and finished under Gibbs -- a guy who lined up with Joe Jacoby and Jon Jansen. It seemed right that Gibbs brought back some of his winners just so the current guys could meet the guys who set the standard. Art Monk is more the face of the Redskins, twelve years later, than Arrington was.

No, I'm not trashing Arrington, but Joe Gibbs is the face of the Redskins now.

Gibbs has was and always will be the first guy people think of when thinking of the success of the skins. All I am saying is that Arrington payed his dues and was here through the thin times rarely did he smell success. Now once we return to the playoffs we let the one guy who has been here since his rookie year. Well I love the Skins but I just disagree on this one. And for the time he was here most people will say he was the face of the redskins. Well all time the Hogs take the cake for the face of the Skins in my mind Riggo and the Hogs. Doug Williams and the funbunch. Well anyhow I want to put this to rest already and move on. I hope we can resign If no one takes him but If not oh well. We still have an awsome team and Hail to the Skins.

Samuels was taken with the third pick, right behind Arrington. I'm sorry to see him go too, I just want him to stay out of the NFC East.

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

Arrington was not the face of my Redskins.

Sure, that's my age, and it comes from being spoiled by the Allen-Pardee-Gibbs teams. I have loads of feeling for those players. After they fired Petibon? It seemed like a Cowboys imitation under that Norv guy, and then a rolling circus under that college coach.

Nobody was "the face of the Redskins" to me during The Interregnum.

Then it just seemed right that Ray Brown came back and finished under Gibbs -- a guy who lined up with Joe Jacoby and Jon Jansen. It seemed right that Gibbs brought back some of his winners just so the current guys could meet the guys who set the standard. Art Monk is more the face of the Redskins, twelve years later, than Arrington was.

No, I'm not trashing Arrington, but Joe Gibbs is the face of the Redskins now.

Gibbs has was and always will be the first guy people think of when thinking of the success of the skins. All I am saying is that Arrington payed his dues and was here through the thin times rarely did he smell success. Now once we return to the playoffs we let the one guy who has been here since his rookie year. Well I love the Skins but I just disagree on this one. And for the time he was here most people will say he was the face of the redskins. Well all time the Hogs take the cake for the face of the Skins in my mind Riggo and the Hogs. Doug Williams and the funbunch. Well anyhow I want to put this to rest already and move on. I hope we can resign If no one takes him but If not oh well. We still have an awsome team and Hail to the Skins.

Samuels was taken with the third pick, right behind Arrington. I'm sorry to see him go too, I just want him to stay out of the NFC East.

Isn't Jansen a life-long Skin as well? Admittedly, it will be weird to not see #56 on the field on Sundays this year for the team, but, over the past two years, his absence from the playing field has made that transition easy. If he can come back at a reasonable price, I don't see how he would not be well received.

I'm with welch, though. He's never been the face of my skins, either.

[dlc]

I'm with welch, though. He's never been the face of my skins, either.

Talk about lack of loyalty. Are we only loyal to players who gave it their all when things were going well?

I have to disagree with Lavar not being the face of the 'Skins the past few years, nor have any shame in saying it. Arrington was one of a handful of players, such as Samuels, Darryl Green, and Jansen who prevented this team from turning into an embarassment, even though we weren't winning championships.

Although GW and Gibbs probably had their reasons for benching Arrington (and Ramsey), he (and Ramsey) handled their situations with as much class as I've seen especially considering their age, their circumstances and with relativity to their peers. Arringon was the face of the Redskins during the Turner/Schottenheimer/Spurrier era, and it wasn't a shameful face to have, even though those teams had many reasons to be shameful. Give this guy his due.

[dlc]

BTW, I think it was the right move to release him. I do hope that he becomes affordable for us to get him back in the future. And I hope realizes his potential, no matter on what team.

[Deadskins]

Arrington was not the face of my Redskins.

Sure, that's my age, and it comes from being spoiled by the Allen-Pardee-Gibbs teams. I have loads of feeling for those players. After they fired Petibon? It seemed like a Cowboys imitation under that Norv guy, and then a rolling circus under that college coach.

Nobody was "the face of the Redskins" to me during The Interregnum.

Then it just seemed right that Ray Brown came back and finished under Gibbs -- a guy who lined up with Joe Jacoby and Jon Jansen. It seemed right that Gibbs brought back some of his winners just so the current guys could meet the guys who set the standard. Art Monk is more the face of the Redskins, twelve years later, than Arrington was.

No, I'm not trashing Arrington, but Joe Gibbs is the face of the Redskins now.

Gibbs has was and always will be the first guy people think of when thinking of the success of the skins. All I am saying is that Arrington payed his dues and was here through the thin times rarely did he smell success. Now once we return to the playoffs we let the one guy who has been here since his rookie year. Well I love the Skins but I just disagree on this one. And for the time he was here most people will say he was the face of the redskins. Well all time the Hogs take the cake for the face of the Skins in my mind Riggo and the Hogs. Doug Williams and the funbunch. Well anyhow I want to put this to rest already and move on. I hope we can resign If no one takes him but If not oh well. We still have an awsome team and Hail to the Skins.

Samuels was taken with the third pick, right behind Arrington. I'm sorry to see him go too, I just want him to stay out of the NFC East.

Isn't Jansen a life-long Skin as well? Admittedly, it will be weird to not see #56 on the field on Sundays this year for the team, but, over the past two years, his absence from the playing field has made that transition easy. If he can come back at a reasonable price, I don't see how he would not be well received.

I'm with welch, though. He's never been the face of my skins, either.

Jansen was here in '99, though. I think his point was that LaVar only just got to taste the playoffs for the first time this last season. Other than that, it has been pretty lean times, and he had no continuity in the coaching staff. Too bad he had to alienate himself from coach Williams. I always liked him. He was definitely Mr. Redskin for the new millenium. But, when I read this:

... A player tries to make plays, and he's going to make mistakes. But LaVar's even talked about studying more, which he probably hasn't done in the past."

I realized that he has just been playing off his God-given talent, and not doing the necessary work to improve his game, to be one of the all-time greats. I just don't want to have to play against him twice a year.

[HEROHAMO]

The thing about Arrington is that he can be the next Lawrence Taylor he has that type of talent. He was also beloved in the community. I truely hope he goes to another division. I hope my nightmare doesnt come true and he becomes a cowgirl. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh............................

[old-timer]

Herohamo wrote:

Gibbs has was and always will be the first guy people think of when thinking of the success of the skins.

Actually, I always think of George Allen first - true he never won a Super Bowl but he was the guy who started the Cowboys rivalry with some incredible, legendary games with the Cowboys. We were pathetically bad for 25 years before Allen came - to me George Allen was the ultimate competitor. Flaherty and Baugh were way before my time but I do remember the Redskins were the Cardinals of the league for many, many years until Allen. I guess that's why I'm so appreciative of improvement years like last year. It's like Allen brought us up from abject misery to near greatness -and then handed off to Gibbs who was able to take us to the next level. And let's not forget Cooke, who gets a big part of the credit for having the sense to hire the untested and largely unknown Gibbs and got the well-regarded GM Beathard way back when to set us on course.