http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20051228-120248-9729r.htmLaVar Arrington knows he won't be a member of the Washington Redskins much longer. That's fine with him. In fact, Arrington is not sure he wants to play football for any team after this season."It's not a given that I'll continue playing if the Redskins get rid of me," the 27-year-old linebacker says, sitting in the dining room of his majestic, 20,000-square-foot mansion east of Annapolis. "I don't really want to play for anyone else. I don't feel bad about it. I've had my time. I'm capable of doing other things besides football."For three seasons, from 2001 to '03, Arrington was the Redskins' biggest star, a three-time Pro Bowl performer. He was well-rewarded by the club, and that's when things began to go bad.Arrington says an 18-month dispute over a $6.5 million bonus in the contract extension he signed two years ago poisoned his relationship with owner Dan Snyder, then the rest of the organization.Arrington wouldn't be a Redskin next season even if things still were amicable between him and the organization. He is due $12 million in 2006, and he likely will be cut before a July 15 deadline in his contract that calls for him to be paid $6.5 million if he still is on the roster.
haha thank good this is wat im talking bout even though i feel bad 4 him this is gonna help out the Cowboys
I love Arrington. I think he could be a HoF linebacker some day, and he's soo young. I don't think he'll retire, I think he might just be doing this to get some attention, he should come to the Rams...then he'd know what it's like to win!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Dec 28 2005, 12:01 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>I love Arrington. I think he could be a HoF linebacker some day, and he's soo young. I don't think he'll retire, I think he might just be doing this to get some attention, he should come to the Rams...then he'd know what it's like to win! </div> He isnt a fit for any real system defense...because he has a tendency to do his own thing instead of being where the system is supposed to be. Sometimes this sets him up for big plays, and sometimes its exploited for a big play. If there was a defense which would allow him to do his own thing, hed be a terrific player though. (Maybe he should become a free safety. lol)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Elevation @ Dec 29 2005, 03:01 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, I know...isnt he like 28 or 29?</div> Some people 1) Show loyalty to the Franchise that drafted themOr2) Have other interests for their life then playing football and I dont think you can really fault him for either of those...either that, or it might be a ploy to kill any trade value he has so he will be cut and be able to choose what team he wants to play for.Who knows....
I read in the Washington Post this morning that he wouldn't mind playing for San Diego next season if the 'skins get rid of him.As for this article, I bet he's just saying that to get the Redskins attention; let them know how much he loves being a Redskin.I'd hate to see him leave the 'skins and hate it even more to see him leave the league. Hope we resign him after all this is over.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs reacted sharply Wednesday after LaVar Arrington discussed his expected departure from the team.Arrington told The Washington Times he expects the Redskins to try to trade him or cut him in the coming months because of his high salary. If that happens, the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker said he might retire."It's not a given that I'll continue playing if the Redskins get rid of me," Arrington told the newspaper. "I don't really want to play for anyone else. I don't feel bad about it. I've had my time. I'm capable of doing other things besides football."Asked for his reaction, Gibbs said he had not read Arrington's comments, but he took exception to anything that might distract the team ahead of Sunday's game at Philadelphia. The Redskins will clinch their first playoff berth since 1999 if they beat the Eagles."Right now, for anybody in this organization -- I would hope in the entire town -- to be focused on anything other than Philly would be ridiculous," Gibbs said. "We're getting ready to play the most important game that a lot of our players will play. ... If we lose the game, we're not going anywhere. So my mindset is on one thing, Philadelphia. That's the way I feel about it."Arrington missed most of last season with a knee injury and was used sparingly early this year as he worked back into shape. He regained his starting job Nov. 6 against Philadelphia, but has usually been replaced by Chris Clemons on passing downs. Arrington missed two games earlier this month with a bruised thigh, but returned for last week's game against the Giants. He doesn't have a sack, interception or fumble recovery this season."At some point during that six-game drought when I wasn't playing much, I lost my mojo," Arrington told the Times. "I accepted being on the bench for the good of the team. But I shouldn't have. I was like, 'Is this the way my career is going to end?"'Arrington declined interview requests immediately after Wednesday's practice, but he later said his comments were taken out of context."It's not going to be a distraction," Arrington told WJLA-TV. "This isn't causing any friction or anything like that."Although his talent is considered boundless, Arrington has often been criticized for being a freelancer on the field. Former teammate Jeremiah Trotter, now with the Eagles, reinforced that reputation Wednesday in a conference call with Washington reporters."I always said -- even when I played there -- if we could ever get this guy to play within the scheme, study, and be a professional, he probably could be the most dangerous player in the league," Trotter said.Arrington told the Times that Penn State coach Joe Paterno was responsible for the freelancer tag."Joe Paterno started the whole thing of me being a freelancer and it has continued through my whole career unwarranted," Arrington said. "I've been called a freelancer doing what I was asked to do. If I ran into any gap I wanted, how long would you keep me in the game? [Former defensive coordinator]Marvin Lewis said, 'LaVar ran around like a chicken with his head cut off until I got here.' But I made a Pro Bowl before he got here."Arrington also said a long-running contract dispute over a signing bonus derailed his relationship with Redskins management."Obviously, using me sparingly or not at all is a very clear message," Arrington said. "I'm not wanted here. I believe in my heart that the Redskins faithful love me as Ravens fans love Ray Lewis or Packers fans love Brett Favre. Some individuals hate it that there are more of my jerseys in the stands than anyone else's."</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2273580
In response to that ^^^, the bottom paragraph, I honestly believe that LaVar is the kind of guy that wants to stay with his team for the rest of his career, meaning the team that he STARTED out with. Favre did play in Atlanta but he will never be remembered as an Atlanta Falcon, but as a Green Bay Packer.Ray Lewis has always been a Baltimore Raven....LaVar Arrington has always been a Washington Redskin, and you can see why he wants to keep it that way.LaVar came into this league and played amazingly and went to a few ProBowls, just an awesome player. He came to love the team he plays for and the fans that stand beside him. If it comes down to the situation where that is torn away from him, you can see why he would want to leave the league.He loves his team.
