The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Arrington Upset About Handling of Knee Injury

By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 11, 2005; 5:10 PM


Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington, on crutches and recovering from another surgery on his right knee last Wednesday, expressed concern with how the Washington Redskins have handled his recovery and said he will take as much time as necessary to allow the injury to heal.

Arrington, 26, offered no timetable for his return to the field, and said he is worried about career-threatening ramifications should he come back too soon.

Arrington, who originally had meniscus removed from his knee by Dr. James Andrews on Sept. 23 and started just two games last season, said he suffered his latest setback pushing himself to recover at the team's urging.

He said he was also troubled that team officials did not reveal the extent of his injuries and made no mention of his most recent surgical procedure. (Coach Joe Gibbs said as recently as 11 days ago that Arrington was progressing smoothly.) "Right now it's like nothing is going in my favor . . . ," Arrington said. "It's like nothing in terms of the support from them, it's like nothing. It's like, just let me disappear and die. To me it kind of [stinks], it [stinks] because it's not like I have a relationship built with [the coaches] anyway, because they're new and then I get hurt and every year it's always someone new [as a head coach]. Does that mean it's right the way it's being handled? I had a teammate that didn't even know that I had surgery on my knee, and that's the first [surgery last fall], too. It's just mixed emotions, man. It makes you wonder, man, what's their agenda?"

Gibbs, who is also the team president, was not immediately made available for comment by team representatives. Arrington, who was selected with the second overall pick in 2000 and has been the star of Washington's defense, has played very little in the scheme of Gregg Williams, assistant head coach -- defense, and missed 11 straight games in one stretch last season. The Redskins (6-10 in 2004) originally stated that Arrington's initial surgery would put him out around two months, but he played sparingly in two games in December and missed the season finale.

"I'm taking as much time as I need, and if that means they're upset and want to get rid of me, then so be it," Arrington said. "But I'm not coming back before my knee is better. I tried it their way, and it got me on crutches again. Now I'm going to try it the way that Dr. Andrews and the rest of the medical staff want me to do, and that's the bottom line. People can be upset about and be uncomfortable with it, but I'm taking as much time as I need. . . . I worked my [butt] off to get back on the field and for what? Three [late-season] games? There wasn't no playoffs on the line. There wasn't no Super Bowls, and I still worked my [butt] off to play in those three games. . . . It never ceases to amaze me the things that go on here, but I'm here and I still love the Redskins. That's the bottom line."

Arrington, named to three straight Pro Bowls before getting hurt last season, said his knee was not improving, prompting him to visit Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., last Wednesday. Arrington underwent surgery the same day for removal of more meniscus and cartilage, he said.

"Nobody really takes the time to express what I went through to try to get on the field last year," Arrington said as he left Redskins Park this afternoon, "and then the repercussions of it, so my emotions are kind of mixed right now. . . . Why is it that nobody is really speaking about how hard and the sacrifices I put forth to try to get back out there? They're so quick to talk about what we do wrong, but they don't put it out there [that he had surgery]. Like I still don't think my whole injury from the first time has ever really been talked about. . . . I'm trying to get back on the field, and I jacked it up because I came back too early, and nobody talks about it. I had to go out and get another surgery to clean it out from doing that, and I'm looking on the [news] wire to see if anybody even talked about it, and nobody talked about it. It's mixed emotions."

Asked if had shared his feelings with Gibbs or the staff, Arrington said:

"I don't really care, to be honest. I just care about getting healthy and trying to be able to play. I don't really care what anybody thinks at this point. . . . Like I said, I've got mixed emotions. . . . It's like for somebody who has been a warrior for the Redskins for as long as he's been here, this is what it comes down to?"

Arrington also said that he believes the Redskins have worked to delay a grievance he filed concerning a $6.5 million bonus payment he claims should have been a part of the eight-year, $68 million deal he signed before the 2004 season. A date set for November was moved back at the Redskins' request, league sources said, and according to league and NFL Players Association officials, no new date has been set.

"You guys use your common sense," Arrington said to a small gathering of reporters. "Why do think they keep pushing it back? . . . Why do you guys think they keep pushing it back for such a non-winnable situation and an asinine thing for me to do, why do you think it keeps getting pushed back? But I could care less about anything else other than my knee right now."

Arrington said he would continue his rehabilitation daily at Redskins Park unless told to do otherwise. Middle linebacker Mike Barrow is also coming off major knee problems -- he did not play a game last season -- with reserve Lemar Marshall, Arrington's replacement, slotted to push for a starting position there. Pro Bowl player Marcus Washington starts at the strong side position, while the Redskins declined to match the free agent offer middle linebacker Antonio Pierce received from the new York Giants, leaving no other experienced linebackers on the current roster.

Skeletor wrote:I think this clearly a case of the reporter getting Lavar at a time he was feeling frustrated and he let loose more than he should have.

Let's not panic and cut Lavar. He said, bottom line, he loves the Redskins. I'm willing to take that at face value.
-

BurgundyandGoldfaith wrote:Pampering him like the best player on the Defense is the wrong way to go about this. The rest of the team then becomes a supporting cast, and no one wins. Let me remind you, Arrington DID leave for 04 and there went our Defense, right? Oh, wait...our defense was the best it has been since he has been here.

washington53 wrote:
""Im pissed at the organization. If hes your best player on defense, you talk about him, make him feel better. Don't ignore him. If hes injuired motivate him, and dont lie to the media either. i dont know what Gibbs and the Staff are thinking and it better be what Arrington wants, because if Arrington leaves there goes our Defense. Our once amazing Linebacker Core would deteriorate. Gibbs better straighten this out before anything goes wrong.""

Oh, Redskin4life- if you don't like how Joe Gibbs has handled things then you HAVEN'T BEEN A REDSKIN FOR LIFE! GO TO PHILLY OR DALLAS. Would you rather have Lavar or a championship? Joe is our best chance for a title so love it or leave it, apparently no one notified you he's taken us there before and won. One Redskin hissy fit is enough for me today.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:He's just a huge baby. He's getting on my nerves. It'll be great to have him on this defense but he is expendable. He can be cut, and we can do better with or without him. How much faith do you have in your team if you think ONE player equals defeat.

BurgundyandGoldfaith wrote:It's probably just a bad time to get caught by reporters but you won't EVER hear Jansen complain that no one wrote any @!#$% articles on his recovery. There's your true MR. REDSKIN