goldenster95 Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7062060 Arrington takes wait-and-see approach By Vic Carucci National Editor, NFL.com HONOLULU (Feb. 4, 2004) -- Some things never change. LaVar Arrington is here, preparing for another Pro Bowl. Back in Ashburn, Va., his team, the Washington Redskins, is beginning another offseason with a new coach. "Same old story, huh?" Arrington said as he left Aloha Stadium after practicing with the NFC squad. You'll have to forgive the talented outside linebacker if he isn't exactly caught up in all of the massive hype surrounding the return of Joe Gibbs to the Redskins sideline. Don't get Arrington wrong. He knows all about Gibbs' successful history with the franchise -- his 124-60 record and three Super Bowl victories -- and the fact his bronze bust is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is as encouraged as anyone connected with the team that Gibbs could, once and for all, be the answer to its underachievement. It's just that Arrington has heard the same sort of talk before. He has had his hopes elevated by the arrival of a new coach, only to see them trampled when the team failed to make progress. "We had a nice buzz with (Steve) Spurrier and we had a nice buzz with Marty (Schottenheimer)," Arrington said of the excitement generated by the hiring of his previous two coaches. "We'll see (about Gibbs). We'll see." Arrington has just finished his fourth season with the Redskins. The fact he is making his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance says that he has spent the bulk of his career ranked among the more dominant players at his position. Gibbs is Arrington's fifth head coach with the Redskins, and that says something, too. It says Arrington has excelled as a player despite instability at the number one leadership position on the team. Norv Turner and Terry Robiskie were at the controls in Arrington's rookie season in 2000. Schottenheimer was in charge in his second year. Spurrier was at the helm for his third and fourth seasons, then stunned the Redskins with his resignation in late December. Their combined record was 29-38. "I'm just looking for a chance to be in a system where there's tradition, where there's stability, where there's just consistency," said Arrington, who is joined on the NFC squad by Washington teammates Champ Bailey and Laveranues Coles. "That's what I hope that Joe Gibbs is going to bring into it." It's important to remember that Arrington is in this for the long haul. After the 2003 season, he signed an eight-year contract extension that is designed for him to finish his career with the Redskins. He has dealt with the different personalities and approaches, from Schottenheimer's drill-sergeant style to Spurrier's far more casual way of running things. He has coped with new defensive systems -- as well as the alterations and tweaks to his role -- that come from changes at the top. He has taken losing hard and has often bristled at criticism, but he has not allowed either to take away from his performance. "I'm not a coward," Arrington said. "I'm not one to run away from a problem. Let's continue to keep trying to fix it. "You get discouraged sometimes and you get a little bothered, but in the end I feel, if you persevere through all of those trials and all the tribulations that come your way, it's huge when you start to become successful. I try to see the positives in everything. I figure, at some point, there has to be a happier ending to all of this stuff that's going on." And Gibbs could very well be the author of a new finish to what has become a tired, old story. Arrington sees the possibilities. Although he has yet to meet his new coach, he feels as if he knows him. "I'm a fan of the game, so I know everything about him," Arrington said. "I know he's been successful in everything he's done. I know he's the one that brought those Super Bowls to Washington. All the tradition that Redskins fans talk about it, he's part of the reason it was built like that. "He's been successful in everything he's put his hands on, from owning a (NASCAR) racing team to owning a piece of the Atlanta Falcons before they made it to the second round of the playoffs. Everything he's been a part of has flourished, so I'm putting stock in the fact he knows how to build a winner. "We just need to know that he believes in us and believes in the system that he's implementing. We have the talent. We just need somebody that's taking us in the right direction." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atloldskin Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Once again, LaVar needs to read some Redskin history books before uttering a word. He should be elated; Joe Gibbs has won three SB rings. Maybe LaVar just needs to see the rings to believe (and then stay in his gaps and make the plays). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. D Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 you know I don't really blame LaVar that much. Danny has made such a mess of things. One can only hope Joe brings back the magic. I was watching the ESPN today and they were doing this thing on Bill Walsh........ I think the message here is not for Gibbs but Danny.... Don't fire the coach Danny let him grow let things work out have a plan and stick to it. etc etc To be honest we would all be on the verge of mutiny int he same place. Hiring Gibbs as a huge PR move (for us) but the players have seen enough PR moves they want to see the BEEF! so BRING IT JOE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldskool Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Its crap like this that Arrington says that makes me not really like him as a person or be one of my favorite players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey T Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 I think LaVar called it 'right on'. Let's hope we have stability in the coaching arena and our gifted young players will FINALLY have a leader they can believe in and rely on for leadership. I'm counting on two MORE from Gibbs, before he retires. Now that's a legend anyone can build on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TODD Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 I don't see anything wrong with this whatsoever... He's right about everything. There is absolutely no guarantee we're going to win a Super Bowl or a division for that matter in the next 5 years. But we do know that nobody can argue nor dispute that Gibbs can't put us in a fantastic situation to do so. What makes you so sure that Lavar is completely wrong about this, and how is it not "the same old story." It's nearly exactly the same. Why dispute that Lavar hasn't gone through rough times and trials and tribulations in his career. He's under a new scheme and coordinator yearly, and it's difficult to maintain consistency when this happens. Not one time in this article did Arrington suggest that Gibbs wasn't a winner or a great coach. Read between the lines, or maybe even the lines themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinsfan62 Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 I don't blame Lavar one bit for his skepticism or apprehension. He wasn't with the 'Skins when Gibbs had all of his success and this is his 5th head coach!!! Lavar is just being honest, he will find out that the Gibb's system works and when he buys into it, he will be on board. The guy plays hard all of the time and he has a warrior's spirit and he doesn't complain all that much. I think he's acted as well as can be expected of him. I think he'll have a great season this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSF Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 I'm a huge fan of Lavar, but at this point he needs to STFU! He's right of course, but we heard enough about it during SB week. This will all go away as soon as Gibbs spends some time with the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jethrodsp Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Lavar will see. They will all see soon enough. When he steps on the field for the first regular season game and realizes how prepared he and the team is, thats when we'll see him be able to let it all hang out and play some football. I cant blame his apprehension though. These days, even when Joe Gibbs comes back to town, I myself find it extremely difficult look at the upcoming season without some sense of impending doom. I take solace in the fact that Joe Gibbs realizes the difficulty of this challenge as well and is willing to devote himself completely to rebuilding the character and performance of his team for the second time. At least if we lose, everyone will know that it wasnt for lack of effort on the coach's (read ultimate leader's) part. Hail Skins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibrahim Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 men he needs to just shut up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redskns21 Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 LaVar is right on here. The context to me seemed to imply that he was not taking a wait and see approach to Joe Gibbs but to the team, front office and/or season ahead. I think that he is looking at this with some realism, and everything he said is TRUE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mookie0720 Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 All of you people are just trashing LaVar because he hasn't annoited Joe Gibbs god. He's been through all this a bunch of times before, and gone out on a limb and put himself out there by saying hes excited and that the team will win. So until something is proven to him, why should he worship Joe Gibbs. Just because Lavar doesn't worship the ground Gibbs walks on doesn't mean he's a piece of crap, or that he doesn't respect the man and doesnt know the history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just skins baby Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 He signed the contract so for good or bad he is here! So play your assignment, no more un-necessary roughness penalties and get with the team! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Bryant Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Gibbs should consider doing something to get Lavar's attention. Something that makes him sit up and take notice. Something that gets across the message that this time is going to be a bit different. Like, say, move him to strong safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet Sassy Molassy Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 I don't think Lavar said anything wrong. I'm as excited as everyone else is, but I feel the same way. He was right on with everything he said. I think that once he gets in training camp and realizes that Gibbs is the real thing, he'll change his tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdsknbill Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 He was spot on. No criticism here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grinder Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 I don't begrudge Lavar being concerned about another coaching change, I'm sure he's not the only one. But to air it out to the media by essentially crossing his arms and saying that Gibbs needs to call him if he wants to talk?! Wasn't he saying something about being a team leader recently?? Hey Lavar, here's how a team leader handles his business: "Hi Coach, I'm your all-pro linebacker Lavar Arrington...what can I do to help? " And then do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet Sassy Molassy Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Originally posted by Grinder I don't begrudge Lavar being concerned about another coaching change, I'm sure he's not the only one. But to air it out to the media by essentially crossing his arms and saying that Gibbs needs to call him if he wants to talk?! Wasn't he saying something about being a team leader recently?? Hey Lavar, here's how a team leader handles his business: "Hi Coach, I'm your all-pro linebacker Lavar Arrington...what can I do to help? " And then do it. You've got a point there G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonnyRules Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Originally posted by Grinder I don't begrudge Lavar being concerned about another coaching change, I'm sure he's not the only one. But to air it out to the media by essentially crossing his arms and saying that Gibbs needs to call him if he wants to talk?! Wasn't he saying something about being a team leader recently?? Hey Lavar, here's how a team leader handles his business: "Hi Coach, I'm your all-pro linebacker Lavar Arrington...what can I do to help? " And then do it. I couldn't agree with you more. Shut up and put up Lavar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdsknbill Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 A very good point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atloldskin Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 LaVar--READ THIS. Norv Turner never won; Marty never won; Spurrier never won; all of the other coaches in-between never won. Joe Gibbs has won it all--three times in four appearances. Now, he may not win with you but he has won with lesser talent than you. That makes it different. Respect the difference. Show some leadership--reach out and touch someone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dent19 Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Another coach, another system, why not sound off. Gibbs has to earn his trust. Norv,Marty,Steve, and the others i can't remember, had to. We remember Joe for past success. Lets wait and see what happens now that he's back. Gibbs should reach out to all the key players and make sure they know what the team is about to go through. If all goes well, whose gonna remember what 56 said in Hawaii. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDawg Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 I don't blame LaVar one bit... Come on, guys... Really, I look at some of your ages and wonder how some of you are so childish... He doesn't buy into Gibbs like we do... He'll learn... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmythehair Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 I'm sure it won't take long for Lavar to come around. Once he meets Coach Gibbs and they hit the field he will understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Master Jay Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Lavar has a point history means nothing we need some consistency. He hasn't said anything negative except that he'll wait and see. We're pumped up and we love Gibbs. Once he talks to Gibbs and see what's going on things we'll be fine. He doesn't have to kiss Joe Gibbs Butt to play for him and why should he? Coaches have to earn respect just like players. Gibbs himself said he hasn't done anything so he has to earn the players respect. It's no doubt he will so will is it a big deal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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