Lavar says he was misquoted - he wants to remain a redskin for his entire career

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Poor, poor LaVar. How will the team win without him?

Oh, that's right, they already have.

That wasn't really the point of the Post article or what anyone else was saying here.

Yes, the Redskins won without him, no disputing that. But they won in spite of treating him poorly.

Contrary to what alot of rabid football fans think, winning isn't everything. Winning at the expensive of a long line of disenfranchised, pissed off players who now have an axe to grind is a pretty poor commentary on the management of this franchise. It's not an isolated person here or there, it's one guy after another leaving this city and hating us. Why do we keep tossing valuable players aside like trash? It sure hasn't gotten us much so far.

Chalk it up to free agency or "that's how business works" or whatever you want, but there seems to be an unusually high number of situations like this with the Redskins.

I'll say it again, yes the team is more important than the man. But does that justify treating one man after another like dirt?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by mheisig

That wasn't really the point of the Post article or what anyone else was saying here.

Yes, the Redskins won without him, no disputing that. But they won in spite of treating him poorly.

Contrary to what alot of rabid football fans think, winning isn't everything. Winning at the expensive of a long line of disenfranchised, pissed off players who now have an axe to grind is a pretty poor commentary on the management of this franchise. It's not an isolated person here or there, it's one guy after another leaving this city and hating us. Why do we keep tossing valuable players aside like trash? It sure hasn't gotten us much so far.

Chalk it up to free agency or "that's how business works" or whatever you want, but there seems to be an unusually high number of situations like this with the Redskins.

I'll say it again, yes the team is more important than the man. But does that justify treating one man after another like dirt?

I don't think its a Skins thing its every team in the NFL that have the same issues. One thing for sure is that when they leave they have enough money to buy all the axe's they want.

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I don't think its a Skins thing its every team in the NFL that have the same issues. One thing for sure is that when they leave they have enough money to buy all the axe's they want.

I'm not so sure it's a universal NFL thing. Granted it's impossible to come up with data on which team has the most disgruntled ex-players, but you watch enough Sportscenter or NFL network for a few years and the Skins seem to stand out. You don't hear about alot of people getting crapped on by the Patriots or Colts or whoever else and being bitter against those teams for the remainder of their career.

I don't know what the reason is, but this team has a real penchant for kicking people out the door in an incredibly foul mood.

Certainly doesn't win us any reputation points, and more importantly it sure hasn't done much for the team over the past decade or so.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by mheisig

I'm not so sure it's a universal NFL thing. Granted it's impossible to come up with data on which team has the most disgruntled ex-players, but you watch enough Sportscenter or NFL network for a few years and the Skins seem to stand out. You don't hear about alot of people getting crapped on by the Patriots or Colts or whoever else and being bitter against those teams for the remainder of their career.

I don't know what the reason is, but this team has a real penchant for kicking people out the door in an incredibly foul mood.

Certainly doesn't win us any reputation points, and more importantly it sure hasn't done much for the team over the past decade or so.

I am honestly struggling to come up with a player besides Coles who left this team in disgust based on how the FO treated them. Guys come and go in this league and they often get upset when coaches decide they aren't worth keeping anymore. But that's no the FO's fault. That's not unique to the Skins.
I would propose that maybe the negative pub that the Skins get in this regard has something to do with the overall negativity towards the Skisn by the media? I think that has an awful lot to do with it.
A great example the other way is the situation with Ty Law in NE. I don't remember a great outpouring of negativity for Belichek when he up and dumped Law like the Skins have done to some other notable players. But the Skins do it and they get the negative pub. Fair and balanced? Hardly.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by mheisig

That wasn't really the point of the Post article or what anyone else was saying here.

Yes, the Redskins won without him, no disputing that. But they won in spite of treating him poorly.

Contrary to what alot of rabid football fans think, winning isn't everything. Winning at the expensive of a long line of disenfranchised, pissed off players who now have an axe to grind is a pretty poor commentary on the management of this franchise. It's not an isolated person here or there, it's one guy after another leaving this city and hating us. Why do we keep tossing valuable players aside like trash? It sure hasn't gotten us much so far.

Chalk it up to free agency or "that's how business works" or whatever you want, but there seems to be an unusually high number of situations like this with the Redskins.

I'll say it again, yes the team is more important than the man. But does that justify treating one man after another like dirt?

I guess that's debateable. It's LaVar's word (usually an emotional one at that) vs. the team, which to this point has handled things on a very low key basis with him.

This the usual MO with LaVar.

Something happens to upset him, somehow he ends up talking to the media to vent and and/or gripe, and then Gibbs and/or Williams end up having to address the situation, rather than keeping things in house as I'm sure they would prefer.

LaVar's off the field issues this year has by far outshadowed what he's done on the field, and it's not the team that keeps this going in the media, it's LaVar. And ultimately, I think that's the key reason he won't be back next year.

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by mheisig

That wasn't really the point of the Post article or what anyone else was saying here.

Yes, the Redskins won without him, no disputing that. But they won in spite of treating him poorly.

Contrary to what alot of rabid football fans think, winning isn't everything. Winning at the expensive of a long line of disenfranchised, pissed off players who now have an axe to grind is a pretty poor commentary on the management of this franchise. It's not an isolated person here or there, it's one guy after another leaving this city and hating us. Why do we keep tossing valuable players aside like trash? It sure hasn't gotten us much so far.

Chalk it up to free agency or "that's how business works" or whatever you want, but there seems to be an unusually high number of situations like this with the Redskins.

I'll say it again, yes the team is more important than the man. But does that justify treating one man after another like dirt?

You said it all. Us as fans are fans of the Redskins. But after a while we are fans of the uniforms not the players or personalities behind those uniforms. that is the sad part of the organization. People like Mitchell, Steven Davis, champ, smoot , and now LaVar are players we watched in college, watched get drafted by our team. I know you cant keep everyone around that you want, but when good organizations treat their players with dignity and respect alot of those players will stay regardless of the money. New England has players acception less cash to play for them, eagles too. These organizations dont alienate the players or the fans. This is the salary cap business you can love or hate. But when we get attached to certain players because the organization shoves down your throat year end and year out, then all of the sudden turn their backs on them it makes you wonder how important us fans and the city is. I love the Redskins and always will. It just pains me to see us year in and year out throw not only good players but fan favorites and good character guys off the field, out like a pile of garbage.

[skins052bgr8]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

You said it all. Us as fans are fans of the Redskins. But after a while we are fans of the uniforms not the players or personalities behind those uniforms. that is the sad part of the organization. People like Mitchell, Steven Davis, champ, smoot , and now LaVar are players we watched in college, watched get drafted by our team. I know you cant keep everyone around that you want, but when good organizations treat their players with dignity and respect alot of those players will stay regardless of the money. New England has players acception less cash to play for them, eagles too. These organizations dont alienate the players or the fans. This is the salary cap business you can love or hate. But when we get attached to certain players because the organization shoves down your throat year end and year out, then all of the sudden turn their backs on them it makes you wonder how important us fans and the city is. I love the Redskins and always will. It just pains me to see us year in and year out throw not only good players but fan favorites and good character guys off the field, out like a pile of garbage.

And those same teams have exceptions and issues where players leave on bad terms, Jerimiah Trotter furious because he wanted more money and the way they handled him before he came to the skins, the eagles players disagreeing with the way they handled TO so if you look at that can you really say what a player overheard in the locker room being a little to much on Lavar from Lindsey being bias, Lowyer Milloy for the patriots, Ty Law for the Patriots when it becomes more about the money and the individual teams and players part on bad terms it is not just the Redskins these are only two incidents, but Corey Simon with the Eagles. Players who were considered contributors and years of play with the respective teams gone because you have to manage as a team and not for individuals. Do you think Kearse was a fan favorite in Tennesee, damn those titans just letting big name players go, must be the management did not care about him and treated him wrong. Your heart is what you watch everyday and Lavar has been loved by fans for his play, but he needs to understand they don't operate around an individual, but it does go on all the time. I am sure when these players left these teams respective forums just erupted with pissed off fans. Some of his arguements are just pathetic some people around here are mad when they see all my Jersey's in the stand sounds like something Gibbs and staff would be pissed about.

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by skins052bgr8

And those same teams have exceptions and issues where players leave on bad terms, Jerimiah Trotter furious because he wanted more money and the way they handled him before he came to the skins, the eagles players disagreeing with the way they handled TO so if you look at that can you really say what a player overheard in the locker room being a little to much on Lavar from Lindsey being bias, Lowyer Milloy for the patriots, Ty Law for the Patriots when it becomes more about the money and the individual teams and players part on bad terms it is not just the Redskins these are only two incidents, but Corey Simon with the Eagles. Players who were considered contributors and years of play with the respective teams gone because you have to manage as a team and not for individuals. Do you think Kearse was a fan favorite in Tennesee, damn those titans just letting big name players go, must be the management did not care about him and treated him wrong. Your heart is what you watch everyday and Lavar has been loved by fans for his play, but he needs to understand they don't operate around an individual, but it does go on all the time. I am sure when these players left these teams respective forums just erupted with pissed off fans. Some of his arguements are just pathetic some people around here are mad when they see all my Jersey's in the stand sounds like something Gibbs and staff would be pissed about.

Good Points, however Trotter begged to be back in philly. Law was not resigned because he was aging and wanted Champ Money a year or two into a long term deal, like the TO debacle. Kearse was a free agent and Titans didn't have a $1.50 to sign him. dont remember the Milloy thing, or Simon thing so cant speak on that.

[Redskins]

You know....I see two things here that are vital.



(1) Arrington is being a distraction at a time that is absolutely unacceptable. No matter how great of a player he is, he simply cannot be the T.O. of this team. His problems must take a backseat for the greater good until the off-season when both sides have the focus to discuss his future responsibly. I think he knows this as a professional, but he is simply overwhelmed from the media who always seems to want to vilify someone to sell airtime. Sadly, he has been their target for at least the last year. I can understand why he is upset, but as it was said about the USA Hockey Team who took out the Russians back in the day, “the name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the name on the back”.



(2) Whether Arrington can understand a scheme and play as part of a team is not the total issue. He's a great athlete, a specimen of strength and endurance, and a dentist’s worst nightmare. I’d love to see him pigeonholed into schemes where he can’t screw up to prove he is worthy of staying a Redskin for life. More though, on the opposite end, I do NOT want to see him on an opposing sideline with an axe to grind. He needs to be coached with kid gloves if necessary, but we do not need him to turn into the next L.T. taking shots at Brunell’s bad knees. Put him in a restrictive scheme and utilize his ferociousness for now. As he becomes more competent, give him more responsibility.



The bottom line is the Redskins have a shot to make their own destiny. Few teams have ever had this luxury. All for one and one for all. Fight with all your heart because tomorrow you might not be able to.



I couldn’t be more psyched or proud of this team.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Redskins

You know....I see two things here that are vital.



(1) Arrington is being a distraction at a time that is absolutely unacceptable. No matter how great of a player he is, he simply cannot be the T.O. of this team. His problems must take a backseat for the greater good until the off-season when both sides have the focus to discuss his future responsibly. I think he knows this as a professional, but he is simply overwhelmed from the media who always seems to want to vilify someone to sell airtime. Sadly, he has been their target for at least the last year. I can understand why he is upset, but as it was said about the USA Hockey Team who took out the Russians back in the day, “the name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the name on the back”.



(2) Whether Arrington can understand a scheme and play as part of a team is not the total issue. He's a great athlete, a specimen of strength and endurance, and a dentist’s worst nightmare. I’d love to see him pigeonholed into schemes where he can’t screw up to prove he is worthy of staying a Redskin for life. More though, on the opposite end, I do NOT want to see him on an opposing sideline with an axe to grind. He needs to be coached with kid gloves if necessary, but we do not need him to turn into the next L.T. taking shots at Brunell’s bad knees. Put him in a restrictive scheme and utilize his ferociousness for now. As he becomes more competent, give him more responsibility.



The bottom line is the Redskins have a shot to make their own destiny. Few teams have ever had this luxury. All for one and one for all. Fight with all your heart because tomorrow you might not be able to.



I couldn’t be more psyched or proud of this team.

Nice first post, welcome to the board!

[FRPLG]

Wow...
I am 100% torn on this one guys. I have been an ardent coaching staff supporter but part of me is now conflicted.

While I trust Gibbs and company 100% to make proper personel decisions I wonder how this situation got so mismanaged. The problem here seems to me not that Lavar should or shouldn't be playing but that Lavar seems to want to be treated one way but all his actions and reputation have soured enough opinions of him that he can't possibly be treated that way.

Let's clear one thing up. There have been rumors since he was drafted that he freelanced too much and couldn't be counted on to stick to assignments. These were rumors from everywhere and not within the Skisn necessarily. I think it is pretty obvious that the defensive coaching staff felt strongly that Lavar wouldn't fit in with his style of freelancing and by sheer bad luck he never got a chance to prove them wrong because of injuries. This whole situation has pretty much convinced me that Lavar does indeed freelance too much. It is hard for us to see because we don't know what assignments are what and for whom but considering this defense has been successful for two years now and there are exactly 0 complaints from other players it is real obvious that Lavar is not fitting in as well as we would hope given his abilities.

Given all that I would advocate moving Lavar on since he is getting way more money than his value should indicate.

But on the other hand I see a guy who is clearly very talented and clearly very positiviely emotional about being a Redskins and I would have thought the coaches could have cultivated this and found the best way to use him since he really seems like a Gibbs kinda guy. I don't think changing a scheme to fit him in is the right thing to do but I can't honestly believe that with work the coaches couldn't get him into the mental state that they needed for him to honor assigments. It disappoints me that it seems they are far too willing to move on without a guy who should be a star player for you even though you have been successful but I also realize that this is the way the league works now. Take it or leave it. Guys can't just stick around because they are liked by fans. The cap means if he can't produce up to what he is paid he has to go. I just wish he could have been treated better. I also wish he didn't take everything so personally and inflame the situation. Nothing good can come from any of this I don't think.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Wow...
I am 100% torn on this one guys. I have been an ardent coaching staff supporter but part of me is now conflicted.

While I trust Gibbs and company 100% to make proper personel decisions I wonder how this situation got so mismanaged. The problem here seems to me not that Lavar should or shouldn't be playing but that Lavar seems to want to be treated one way but all his actions and reputation have soured enough opinions of him that he can't possibly be treated that way.

Let's clear one thing up. There have been rumors since he was drafted that he freelanced too much and couldn't be counted on to stick to assignments. These were rumors from everywhere and not within the Skisn necessarily. I think it is pretty obvious that the defensive coaching staff felt strongly that Lavar wouldn't fit in with his style of freelancing and by sheer bad luck he never got a chance to prove them wrong because of injuries. This whole situation has pretty much convinced me that Lavar does indeed freelance too much. It is hard for us to see because we don't know what assignments are what and for whom but considering this defense has been successful for two years now and there are exactly 0 complaints from other players it is real obvious that Lavar is not fitting in as well as we would hope given his abilities.

Given all that I would advocate moving Lavar on since he is getting way more money than his value should indicate.

But on the other hand I see a guy who is clearly very talented and clearly very positiviely emotional about being a Redskins and I would have thought the coaches could have cultivated this and found the best way to use him since he really seems like a Gibbs kinda guy. I don't think changing a scheme to fit him in is the right thing to do but I can't honestly believe that with work the coaches couldn't get him into the mental state that they needed for him to honor assigments. It disappoints me that it seems they are far too willing to move on without a guy who should be a star player for you even though you have been successful but I also realize that this is the way the league works now. Take it or leave it. Guys can't just stick around because they are liked by fans. The cap means if he can't produce up to what he is paid he has to go. I just wish he could have been treated better. I also wish he didn't take everything so personally and inflame the situation. Nothing good can come from any of this I don't think.

I pretty much agree, good post

[skins052bgr8]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Wow...
I am 100% torn on this one guys. I have been an ardent coaching staff supporter but part of me is now conflicted.

While I trust Gibbs and company 100% to make proper personel decisions I wonder how this situation got so mismanaged. The problem here seems to me not that Lavar should or shouldn't be playing but that Lavar seems to want to be treated one way but all his actions and reputation have soured enough opinions of him that he can't possibly be treated that way.

Let's clear one thing up. There have been rumors since he was drafted that he freelanced too much and couldn't be counted on to stick to assignments. These were rumors from everywhere and not within the Skisn necessarily. I think it is pretty obvious that the defensive coaching staff felt strongly that Lavar wouldn't fit in with his style of freelancing and by sheer bad luck he never got a chance to prove them wrong because of injuries. This whole situation has pretty much convinced me that Lavar does indeed freelance too much. It is hard for us to see because we don't know what assignments are what and for whom but considering this defense has been successful for two years now and there are exactly 0 complaints from other players it is real obvious that Lavar is not fitting in as well as we would hope given his abilities.

Given all that I would advocate moving Lavar on since he is getting way more money than his value should indicate.

But on the other hand I see a guy who is clearly very talented and clearly very positiviely emotional about being a Redskins and I would have thought the coaches could have cultivated this and found the best way to use him since he really seems like a Gibbs kinda guy. I don't think changing a scheme to fit him in is the right thing to do but I can't honestly believe that with work the coaches couldn't get him into the mental state that they needed for him to honor assigments. It disappoints me that it seems they are far too willing to move on without a guy who should be a star player for you even though you have been successful but I also realize that this is the way the league works now. Take it or leave it. Guys can't just stick around because they are liked by fans. The cap means if he can't produce up to what he is paid he has to go. I just wish he could have been treated better. I also wish he didn't take everything so personally and inflame the situation. Nothing good can come from any of this I don't think.

Well put, I share these same feelings, not furious at either side, but upset that it has come to this and trying to rationalize that we may loose a great talent, that could have been prevented. Many factors have fueled this fire from both sides and nothing good can come from this except when we win this week and go to the playoffs. I hope they can reconcile the differences, but I do think it has been damaged on both sides to move on beyond this season, but maybe it just sounds so bad from our stand point as fans and observers and the team and players move on.

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Wow...
I am 100% torn on this one guys. I have been an ardent coaching staff supporter but part of me is now conflicted.

While I trust Gibbs and company 100% to make proper personel decisions I wonder how this situation got so mismanaged. The problem here seems to me not that Lavar should or shouldn't be playing but that Lavar seems to want to be treated one way but all his actions and reputation have soured enough opinions of him that he can't possibly be treated that way.

Let's clear one thing up. There have been rumors since he was drafted that he freelanced too much and couldn't be counted on to stick to assignments. These were rumors from everywhere and not within the Skisn necessarily. I think it is pretty obvious that the defensive coaching staff felt strongly that Lavar wouldn't fit in with his style of freelancing and by sheer bad luck he never got a chance to prove them wrong because of injuries. This whole situation has pretty much convinced me that Lavar does indeed freelance too much. It is hard for us to see because we don't know what assignments are what and for whom but considering this defense has been successful for two years now and there are exactly 0 complaints from other players it is real obvious that Lavar is not fitting in as well as we would hope given his abilities.

Given all that I would advocate moving Lavar on since he is getting way more money than his value should indicate.

But on the other hand I see a guy who is clearly very talented and clearly very positiviely emotional about being a Redskins and I would have thought the coaches could have cultivated this and found the best way to use him since he really seems like a Gibbs kinda guy. I don't think changing a scheme to fit him in is the right thing to do but I can't honestly believe that with work the coaches couldn't get him into the mental state that they needed for him to honor assigments. It disappoints me that it seems they are far too willing to move on without a guy who should be a star player for you even though you have been successful but I also realize that this is the way the league works now. Take it or leave it. Guys can't just stick around because they are liked by fans. The cap means if he can't produce up to what he is paid he has to go. I just wish he could have been treated better. I also wish he didn't take everything so personally and inflame the situation. Nothing good can come from any of this I don't think.

Very well put.

With respect to your last paragraph, I wonder the same thing about the "system." Clearly Lavar improved enough and adapted enough during this season to go from warming the bench to starting. He obviously showed GW and Co. SOMETHING in order to get back on the field.

What is it that's holding him back? Has he learned the system and now is forgetting again? What gives?

Granted I'm no defensive coordinator, but I find it a little difficult to believe that this system is such a work of art and runs like a swiss watch that there is just no room whatsoever for a guy with tremendous physical ability and spirit. I disagree that he needs to be "coddled" or "babied" as others have mentioned. He needs to be coached.

Take a gifted player and find a way to work him into the system, use the resources you have. I'm not saying totally overhaul the system for one guy, but work to your players strengths. That's not "coddling," it's called coaching.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by mheisig

Very well put.

With respect to your last paragraph, I wonder the same thing about the "system." Clearly Lavar improved enough and adapted enough during this season to go from warming the bench to starting. He obviously showed GW and Co. SOMETHING in order to get back on the field.

What is it that's holding him back? Has he learned the system and now is forgetting again? What gives?

Granted I'm no defensive coordinator, but I find it a little difficult to believe that this system is such a work of art and runs like a swiss watch that there is just no room whatsoever for a guy with tremendous physical ability and spirit. I disagree that he needs to be "coddled" or "babied" as others have mentioned. He needs to be coached.

Take a gifted player and find a way to work him into the system, use the resources you have. I'm not saying totally overhaul the system for one guy, but work to your players strengths. That's not "coddling," it's called coaching.

My thoughts exactly. You'd think they could have taken a more positive approach with Lavar. I guess they didn't realize how difficult it would be to convince him that he needed work and they ended up being so frustrated that they couldn't coach him like they seem to be able to coach other players.
His quote about not realizng that he needed to prove himself on the practice field speaks volumes about Lavar's opinion of hinself and his piosition on the team. Seems like that was the biggest stumbling block in this whole deal.