For all you D Hall lovers

[SmootSmack]

I think there is no way to say with confidence that someone has or doesn't have heart on the field. If I recall correctly, when Brunell was playing hurt back in 2004 (or maybe it was '06) he was being ripped for being selfish and refusing to sit out when he was clearly hurt. But I guess he had heart.

Selfishly, I'd like the team to keep Springs. He can still play the game and is one of our best and smartest players when he's on the field (which is more often than not). But I also know that from a monetary standpoint it may be best to let him go. And I know that Shawn Springs has too much going on with his life to need to put up with fans accusing him of having no heart every step he takes.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think there is no way to say with confidence that someone has or doesn't have heart on the field. If I recall correctly, when Brunell was playing hurt back in 2004 (or maybe it was '06) he was being ripped for being selfish and refusing to sit out when he was clearly hurt. But I guess he had heart.

Selfishly, I'd like the team to keep Springs. He can still play the game and is one of our best and smartest players when he's on the field (which is more often than not). But I also know that from a monetary standpoint it may be best to let him go. And I know that Shawn Springs has too much going on with his life to need to put up with fans accusing him of having no heart every step he takes.

I think there is no way to say with confidence that Springs gives a crap what fans say about him... unless you or I are shawn springs, we cant know for sure what is going on in his head. all we have to do is look at the evidence as we see it and make our own judgements. this isnt a court of law. its a court of public opinion. Springs has done nothing to endear himself to fans. He has done nothing to earn his salary last year and he has done nothing to show he's worth 8.5M in 2009. If Springs were making the vet minimum and pushed himself to be in games, that would be one thing. But he's been making an insane amount of money to do next to nothing. If springs choses to restructure and extend his contract to stay here at a reasonable rate for a guy with his history of making the team wonder whether hes going to play or not all week, every week, then my opinion of him will change. If he retires, my opinion of him will change.

However, when he refuses to restructure, gets cut by the Skins, and then signs with Dallas within a week for a fraction of what he would have made here, then we'll see how you feel about him then. I can feel sympathy for Springs as a person with his off-field trials just like i can feel sympathy for Reed Doughty... but at the end of the day, its what they do on the field that counts. If you cant get on the field, or if you don't play well when you are on the field, you cant expect to be on the team and you certainly cant expect fans to love you. If feeling that way makes me a cold-hearted sob, then i guess thats what I am.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

I think there is no way to say with confidence that Springs gives a crap what fans say about him... unless you or I are shawn springs, we cant know for sure what is going on in his head.

Sure, but I'm not the one who said he had "no heart" or even brought such an intangible factor into the discussion.

all we have to do is look at the evidence as we see it and make our own judgements. this isnt a court of law. its a court of public opinion. Springs has done nothing to endear himself to fans.

Nothing? Really?

He has done nothing to earn his salary last year and he has done nothing to show he's worth 8.5M in 2009. If Springs were making the vet minimum and pushed himself to be in games, that would be one thing. But he's been making an insane amount of money to do next to nothing.

He was hurt last year, but you'd like him to give back the money due to him in exchange for the vet min?

However, when he refuses to restructure, gets cut by the Skins, and then signs with Dallas within a week for a fraction of what he would have made here, then we'll see how you feel about him then.

I'd always thought he would end his career in Arizona actually (but Dallas is a possibility I suppose). If he does that, I'd miss him as a player on the Redskins but I'd wish him the best as he'd be closer to home and family.

I can feel sympathy for Springs as a person with his off-field trials just like i can feel sympathy for Reed Doughty... but at the end of the day, its what they do on the field that counts. If you cant get on the field, or if you don't play well when you are on the field, you cant expect to be on the team and you certainly cant expect fans to love you. If feeling that way makes me a cold-hearted sob, then i guess thats what I am.

But you don't seem to want to evaluate his performance on the field.

[Paintrain]

I'd think that most rational Redskins fans would agree that we'd be best served going into next season with a defensive backfield that contained Springs, Hall, Rogers, Smoot, Horton and Landry. Whether we're able to make that happen is a big question mark but if we are able to re-sign Hall and we don't trade Rogers then starting Hall and Rogers at CB with Springs and Landry at the safety spots would give us the best DB grouping the league.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Sure, but I'm not the one who said he had "no heart" or even brought such an intangible factor into the discussion.

Fair, but as I also said, its my opinion and its just as valid as yours. i feel i have far more evidence to show he has lost his heart for the game than you have to show he hasnt.

Nothing? Really?

The goodwill he had when he came here has slowly deteriorated over the years as his performance and availability for games has declined. He was a question mark every single week last year. sometimes he played, sometimes he didnt. he (allegedly) secretly went and aired dirt in the media two seasons ago. when you listen to him on the radio, its obvious he is just in it for the money, and doesnt care about staying in Washington.

He was hurt last year, but you'd like him to give back the money due to him in exchange for the vet min?

dont be ridiculous. he was grossly overpaid last year. we all know it. Springs knows it. we're suckers and he's milking us for all we're worth. Its very smart from his perspective as he's getting money no one else would pay him... but from the team perspective, its foolish.

I'd always thought he would end his career in Arizona actually (but Dallas is a possibility I suppose). If he does that, I'd miss him as a player on the Redskins but I'd wish him the best as he'd be closer to home and family.

He'd love to play on the same team as his bff Terrell Owens. the fact that Springs is so close with Owens is all we really need to know about his character.

But you don't seem to want to evaluate his performance on the field.

i know he's started only 29 of his last 48 regular season games and been paid handsomely for it. I also know that in 3 of the last 4 years, he only had one interception a year. i know he defended 7 passes in 2008 and made about a million bucks for each of them. I know at this point in the his career, he would make a very good free safety if he could stay healthy, which is a huge question mark.

i know if he really wants to play football, and if he really wants to play football for the redskins, we will be more than willing to give him a new contract that pays him more than anyone else would pay him to play safety... i'm also 90% certain that Springs would reject such an offer. id like nothing for than for him to prove me wrong, but we'll see where Springs is on opening day 2009.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Fair, but as I also said, its my opinion and its just as valid as yours. i feel i have far more evidence to show he has lost his heart for the game than you have to show he hasnt.

I think Crazy Canuck lacks Warpath heart, judging by how infrequently he posts here. Sounds pretty dumb doesn't it. But hey if you've got the evidence, then more power to you.

He'd love to play on the same team as his bff Terrell Owens. the fact that Springs is so close with Owens is all we really need to know about his character.

Because he's friends with TO he's a bad person?