WP: Redskins Trainer Tyer to Retire

[Henry]

The end of an era ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37129-2003Jul23.html?nav=hptoc_s

Redskins Trainer Tyer to Retire

By Mark Maske

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, July 24, 2003; Page D01

Bubba Tyer, the Washington Redskins' longtime trainer and their longest-tenured employee, has told the team that he will retire next month, club officials said.

Tyer has spent 32 seasons with the Redskins, 25 of them as the head trainer. He served as a front-office administrator last season after being talked out of retirement by Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.

He was out of town yesterday and was not available to comment, but team officials said he has told the club that he will attend the first week of training camp next week at Redskins Park before retiring on Aug. 1. The Redskins are scheduled to report to training camp on Sunday.

He becomes the third Redskins fixture to retire since the end of last season. Cornerback Darrell Green retired after 20 seasons with the team, and assistant general manager Bobby Mitchell stepped aside after 40 seasons with the club as a player, scout and front-office executive.

Snyder is close to Tyer and again attempted to persuade him to stay, but was unsuccessful. Tyer most recently had the title of special assistant for football operations and focused on

the planning of training camp and scheduling and travel during the season after helping to find his replacement in the training room, veteran trainer Dean Kleinschmidt.

Tyer joined the Redskins in 1971 under late coach George Allen after serving as the head trainer for the U.S. Marine Corps' varsity sports program at Quantico. He was on hand for the team's three Super Bowl victories and is among the best-liked people in the organization. Redskins officials said they plan to honor him before his departure but still were trying to decide exactly how to do so.

Redskins Notes: The team was unable to sign quarterback Gibran Hamdan, its seventh-round draft pick, yesterday but remained close to a deal. The Redskins also were progressing toward a contract agreement with their third-round choice, guard Derrick Dockery. The players drafted immediately before and after Dockery have signed, leaving him in line for a three-year contract worth just less than $1.4 million, including a signing bonus of about $484,000. The two sides were haggling over the length of the contract, with a longer deal likely meaning a larger signing bonus. Club officials remained confident that they would have all three of their selections, including second-round wide receiver Taylor Jacobs, signed and in camp on time.

© 2003 The Washington Post Company

[Chief skin]

WOW!!! Bubba is finally retiring, I remember him working for Allen

CONGRATS Bubba and have a relaxful retirement

[Awesome]

The old faces are really packing it up these days. Darrell, Bobby, now Bubba?

Kinda makes me sad.

[Jimbo]

George Allen really DID prefer veterans. Bubba didn't become head trainer for the Skins until George left.