Is this season Shawn Springs "Swan Song" with the

tribeofjudah · Post by **tribeofjudah** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:35 pm

Man, that's a tongue twister....but are we keeping Spring around next year?

He still has something left in the tank and has been playing well.

I like Spring but he could cost us lots of $$$$.

frankcal20 · Post by **frankcal20** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:36 pm

He has to restructure. I can't see us affording him but the skins always finds ways to keep guys if they want to.

skinsRin · Post by **skinsRin** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:59 pm

We need him otherwise we're really gonna need DB help.

jazzskins · Post by **jazzskins** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:51 pm

We always need DB help....every single year!

HanburgerHelper · Post by **HanburgerHelper** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:53 pm

I'll admit I really dogged Springs in the preseason and said that I wouldn't mind seeing him go. Of course, the Skins were smart to keep him and stock up on DBs, losing both Carlos Rogers and Sean Taylor from the lineup.

I'm happy to see Springs kicking butt in what will likely be his final year in a Skins uniform (unless he restructures or the Skins front office re-signs him which is doubtful). I still don't think he lived up to replacing Bailey or anything near it but did give the Skins some good clutch performances in their playoff runs.

When healthy, Springs is still very effective. However, it seems he can't last an entire season at CB and should only be considered a PT starter. His best days are long gone. We need a true No. 1 "lockdown" CB with youth and I don't think we have that right now but Springs is playing as good as you could hope.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:57 pm

HanburgerHelper wrote:I still don't think he lived up to replacing Bailey or anything near it but did give the Skins some good clutch performances in their playoff runs.

That hype was created by you. He, nor the Redskins ever said he was to be equal to Bailey. He came in as a physical DB who could cover #1 WR's and be stout against the run. IMO he has done that when healthy.

skinsfan#33 · Post by **skinsfan#33** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:01 pm

skinsRin wrote:We need him otherwise we're really gonna need DB help.

We are going to need help at CB even without losing Springs. If we lose him we will need two starters (every team needs three starting caliber CBs).

Stone Hands, I mean Carlos Rogers, won't be healthy until the second part of the season, if at all next season. If anyone believes he can be back and up to full speed by kickoff 08 I have some ocean front property in Kansas that I can let go at a real good price! DMac had the same injury about the same point in the season and wasn't right until halfway through this season. Culpepper took even longer. These are QBs that don't "need" their legs as much as CBs.

We have to get SS back! He is playing just insanely good right now. too.

HanburgerHelper · Post by **HanburgerHelper** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:16 pm

Chris Luva Luva wrote:
HanburgerHelper wrote:I still don't think he lived up to replacing Bailey or anything near it but did give the Skins some good clutch performances in their playoff runs.

That hype was created by you. He, nor the Redskins ever said he was to be equal to Bailey. He came in as a physical DB who could cover #1 WR's and be stout against the run. IMO he has done that when healthy.

I don't think I was creating hype. I was only stating a fact. As a fan, you expect that when your team parts with its best player who happened to play CB, that it would find an adequate replacement. It hasn't.

I already said Springs was effective when healthy, but staying healthy is his main problem. If you're not on the field, you can't contribute and you're not doing your job. Part of doing your job is staying healthy, playing hurt at a high level, or recovering quickly, right? I don't buy into the idea that you have to stay loyal to a guy who gets hurt. Who was that defensive tackle the Skins got from the Cowboys a few years back? Did he even play a snap for us. What a waste.

Carlos Rogers was also a failed attempt to fill the Champ Bailey void. He's shown flashes but came into camp with a hurt ankle on Day One. Remember Champ Bailey was a steal when he dropped to like #5 that year in the draft. I think Skins Mgt thought he was going to be a superman, playing All-Pro at corner and WR and KR. Being a great CB wasn't enough for them. I think most folks if they're being honest will recognize that. I don't have anything against Springs per se, he's just not a long-term solution but more of a bandaid.

Why do you think the Skins spent money on CBs this year? Answer: They are not comfortable with who was there already. They are getting smarter. That's good. Football is a business and we can't play sentimental favorites. The Eagles and the Patriots organizations are the benchmarks.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:27 pm

The Skins are comfy with who is back there, they just know that Springs may not be here next year. Smoot was insurance for the future.

Nobody can be Champ Bailey.
Our next FS WON'T be Sean Taylor.
Nobody will be Darrell Green or John Riggins.

The fans make this stupid hype. Gibbs never said Springs was brought here to be Champ. JC wasn't drafted to be Doug Williams...

Springs was brought in to solidify a position, he has done that.

ANd I assume you haven't seen Champ Bailey getting burnt lately because of Denvers lack of pass rush. OMG Shock, a pass rush plays an important role in FOOTBALL??!?! I know Redskins fans don't believe that hype. LOL.

Anyway, Springs is a great DB...

Walt Harris was decent too, yall cried about him, he left and went to a team with a passrush and got to the probowl after leading the NFL in interceptions.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:42 pm

Hey CLL, our next FS is here now in Doughty brutha, never will he replace ST but he's a hard hittin mutha's son who can cover pretty decent. I always said I like Springs, probably moreso because he grew up close to my neighborhood and I am loyal to my homers. Plus Springs is good and I hope we can afford him but if not, I hope we get some good young players to step in and Springs doesn't end up in the NFC East.

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:16 pm

langleyparkjoe wrote:Hey CLL, our next FS is here now in Doughty brutha, never will he replace ST but he's a hard hittin mutha's son who can cover pretty decent.

Landry is our next FS, Doughty is our next SS. That's how it's been the past few games, and I think that's how it's going to be for the future.

hermitkid · Post by **hermitkid** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:27 pm

langleyparkjoe wrote:Hey CLL, our next FS is here now in Doughty brutha, never will he replace ST but he's a hard hittin mutha's son who can cover pretty decent. I always said I like Springs, probably moreso because he grew up close to my neighborhood and I am loyal to my homers. Plus Springs is good and I hope we can afford him but if not, I hope we get some good young players to step in and Springs doesn't end up in the NFC East.

If you haven't noticed, Landry is our FS not Doughty. Doughty is playing well as a SS close to the line of scrimmage in the Bear and more traditional 4-6 we've been playing lately.

He's never going to be an effective FS because he lacks the makeup speed and athleticism you need at that position nowadays. That's not to say that Doughty can't get it done, just don't be surprised if we either upgrade the position or draft a player to compete for his spot.

skinsfan#33 · Post by **skinsfan#33** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:35 pm

langleyparkjoe wrote:Hey CLL, our next FS is here now in Doughty brutha, never will he replace ST but he's a hard hittin mutha's son who can cover pretty decent. I always said I like Springs, probably moreso because he grew up close to my neighborhood and I am loyal to my homers. Plus Springs is good and I hope we can afford him but if not, I hope we get some good young players to step in and Springs doesn't end up in the NFC East.

Doughty is a SS now and Landry is the FS.

Springs has been GREAT not just good when healthy. Unfortunately he wasn't healthy at all last season and was nicked a little at the beginning of this season. But he was a MONSTER in 04 (actually had a better year than Champ in 04) and was pretty darn good in 05 (nicked a little in 05 too).

Springs played as well as any CB in the NFL in December and better than most. He has been every bit as good (and I think better) than every CB in th NFC East since turkey day.

And Smoot has been right there too. I can't think of another pair of CB that played better over these past 4 or 5 games. During that stretch Fred and Shawn have play better than Carlos has ever played for the Skins! If they continue to play that well, this team will go deap into the playoffs.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:43 pm

I hope Springs and the FO can work together to get him back here at the right price - I also hope that Rogers is back because I think he was begining to show why he was a high draft pick.

I totally agree that these 2 CBs have been playing outstanding football for us this past month but that is not a given - good CBs can become adequate very quickly and you need a bunch of them going into each year - we should get at least 1 FA (good) CB and will need to ensure we have good back-ups again next season.

HanburgerHelper · Post by **HanburgerHelper** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:52 pm

Chris Luva Luva wrote:The Skins are comfy with who is back there, they just know that Springs may not be here next year. Smoot was insurance for the future..

I'd say the future is now for Smoot. Smoot was brought on to replace Springs. Luck would have it that he's replacing Rogers.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:Nobody can be Champ Bailey.
Our next FS WON'T be Sean Taylor.
Nobody will be Darrell Green or John Riggins..

Key words = "adequate replacement" Don't mince my argument to make your argument sound sane. You could say the Chris Cool

ey is not Clint Didier or Don Warren and that Phillip Daniels is not Charles Mann, and on and on... That's ridiculous. I expect more actually. Today's players get paid a lot more.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:The fans make this stupid hype. Gibbs never said Springs was brought here to be Champ. JC wasn't drafted to be Doug Williams...

Springs was brought in to solidify a position, he has done that.

Anyway, Springs is a great DB...

You are a fan. This is definitely Springs hype, so it's sort of like calling your own argument stupid (unless you're a player). If Springs could have stayed healthy he would have solidified the position. He hasn't. You don't expect more from JC than Doug Williams? I do. Go back and compare their salaries and tell me how long Williams was in a Redskins uniform. JC was a No. 1 draft pick and Doug Williams was a cast off. Are you from the bizarro world where everything means the opposite of reality to you?

Chris Luva Luva wrote:Walt Harris was decent too, yall cried about him, he left and went to a team with a passrush and got to the probowl after leading the NFL in interceptions.

Don't include me on the "yall" list. I liked Harris when he was on the Skins. Solid performer and wouldn't have been too expensive to re-sign. We let go of too many guys like that including OLB Lemar Marshall.

tribeofjudah · Post by **tribeofjudah** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:18 pm

It's amazing how well the Skins have done with all the injuries. Not to be offensive to anyone but we really don't think of them as much:

R. Thomas
J. Jansen
Carlos who?
McIntosh
Campbell who?

Don't get me wrong, I like all these guys but Gibbs really knew how to STACK the positions........ He should have been Coach of the Year.

Assasin atm · Post by **Assasin atm** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:52 pm

I think Springs is gone. He's not gettin any younger and he's only healthy for about 7-9 games a year even dating back to his Seattle days. He's been a little more healthy and productive as of late but thats not consestant occurance throughout his career. With a healthy Carlos Rogers and Fred Smoot make Springs a pretty expensive Nickel back. I love the way the Shawn plays when healthy but we have other needs unless he takes a major pay cut i would get rid of him.