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

By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
March 5, 2006

Three-time Pro Bowler LaVar Arrington of the Washington Redskins has reached an agreement with the team, with the assistance of his agents Carl and Kevin Poston, to become a free agent and provide the Redskins with much-needed salary cap relief.
Head coach Joe Gibbs is scheduled to address Arrington's release at 12 noon ET on Monday.

For Arrington, the release ends a six-year run in Washington. He was drafted by the Redskins with the second overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft.

Arrington became one of the NFL's top linebackers one year later, recording 100-plus tackles from 2001-03 and earning Pro Bowl trips each of those years. In 2004, he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him most of the season.

Last season, Arrington gradually returned from the injury and earned back his starting assignment in Week 9. He started six of the last eight games, plus both playoff games, and finished with 53 tackles (45 solo).

For his career, Arrington has logged 467 tackles (335 solo), 22.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and three interceptions.

His signature play as a Redskin may be the game-changing interception he recorded against Carolina on Oct. 21, 2001, when he raced 67 yards for a touchdown. The play helped turn around the Redskins season that year and elevated Arrington's status as an elite player.

Arrington's departure also creates an opening for a starting job at the weak-side linebacker spot.

LaVar Arrington will become a free agent after agreeing Sunday night to pay the Washington Redskins over $4 million in cash to get out of his contract with the team. As part of the deal, the Redskins have placed Arrington on waivers.

A team source said that the move would have been made irrespective of any delay in the waiver deadline Sunday evening.

Over the last few days, the Redskins have asked several veterans to restructure their contracts so that the team could get under the salary cap. Arrington was the only Redskins player who refused to rework his deal, The Associated Press reported.

Arrington had a $12.045 million cap number and was due a $6.5 million roster bonus. By taking the money, the Redskins will save approximately $4.2 million with his release. They entered Sunday $17.7 million over the salary cap.

In January, the NFL Players Association filed a formal complaint seeking disciplinary action against Carl Poston, Arrington's agent, for "neglect" in negotiating Arrington's contract near the end of the 2003 season, union and league sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen. The "neglect" had to do with Arrington's $6.5 million bonus.

Arrington did not see much playing time early in the 2005 season as he worked his way back from offseason knee surgery. The former Penn State standout became disgruntled over his diminished role, though it is unclear whether those feelings have played a part in the current negotiations. The three-time Pro Bowl linebacker regained his starting job against Philadelphia on Nov. 6.

Arrington played in 11 regular season games for Washington in 2005, recording 47 tackles. He also played in the team's two postseason games, and had 12 tackles.

I love Lavar as much as anyone but if you think about it, 2 years ago he didnt play and we had one of the top defenses in the NFL, last year he was a backup for most of the year and again our defense wasnt in that bad of ahape.