Hauss Posted December 31, 2001 Share Posted December 31, 2001 December 31, 2001 Arrington sits out with sprained knee Redskins Notes NEW ORLEANS — Washington Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington was a late inactive last night against the New Orleans Saints after his sprained knee failed to improve. Linebacker Eddie Mason started for Arrington while guard Matt Campbell subbed for injured guard en Coleman, who remained active. Both Arrington and Coleman were downgraded from probable to questionable on Friday. Arrington underwent a limited practice on Friday after missing two workouts while Coleman never practiced last week. It was Arrington's second game missed after he suffered a sprained knee against Green Bay on Sept. 24. Arrington also suffered a concussion against Carolina, but returned later that game. Coleman was a reserve for the first five games while a preseason knee injury healed, but since started 11 games. Meanwhile, offensive tackles Ross Tucker and Terrance Simmons, guard Alex Sulfsted, receiver Darnerien McCants and linebacker Lemar Marshall were also inactive. Expensive yards Washington Redskins running back Stephen Davis picked up $2.5 million last night when he surpassed 1,200 rushing yards for the season. Davis triggered a guaranteed escalator clause in 2003. He will receive the money on April 1, 2003, even if he no longer is on the team. The payout increases his scheduled base salary that year to $7.5 million and his team-high salary cap figure to $11.4 million. Davis triggered the clause by rushing for 1,200 yards twice from 2000 to 2002. He also could have done it with 3,300 rushing yards total during that span. The $11.4 million cap figure almost certainly will force the Redskins to renegotiate Davis' contract or release him. To compare, the highest cap figure on this year's club is the $3.7 million of defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson; the highest scheduled figure next year is Davis' $5.9 million. A two-time Pro Bowl running back, Davis needed just 27 yards in last night's game to eclipse the 1,200-yard mark. He reached the milestone with 14:12 remaining in the first half on a 6-yard touchdown run to give him 33 yards for the game and 1,205 on the season. Davis' career-high rushing total is 1,405 yards, set in 1999. Besting that figure in Sunday's finale against the Arizona Cardinals would earn Davis another $750,000 payout, which would count against the 2002 cap. Only 15 of the 53 Saints on the active roster predate Haslett's hiring in 2000. Only 20 of the 53 Redskins on the active roster predate Schottenheimer's arrival last January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Angry Buddha Posted December 31, 2001 Share Posted December 31, 2001 Davis will have 6 years remaining on his contract in 2003-- lots of room if they want to guarantee a portion of his base salary to reduce his cap number. Big Daddy, Bruce, and Marco are all scheduled to make $4.5 million or more, but Bruce should be retired by then and Marco could be released. Darrell, Champ and Shade are the only other players making over $1 million in base in 2003. ------------------ <IMG SRC="http://home.earthlink.net/~wahoofamily/flag.gif" border=0> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted December 31, 2001 Share Posted December 31, 2001 Davis IS a top back in the league and even though some shananagans will be needed to work on the cap, I like that he's locked up for so many more years. Not thinking about a RB is nice for the off-season. Now if we can just solve the QB issue I'd be a happy camper. ------------------ <IMG SRC="http://tenaciousd.com/images/nuke2.gif" border=0><IMG SRC="http://a188.g.akamaitech.net/f/188/920/1d/www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/images/I44993-2001Sep05" border=0> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fansince62 Posted December 31, 2001 Share Posted December 31, 2001 how about an injury "de-esculator" for davis!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted December 31, 2001 Share Posted December 31, 2001 Al, correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't Davis played in every game this year and now rushed for over 1000 three straight years? Seems an injury contract wouldn't be a good thing for us. As for Davis, all along, his contract was essentially a three-year, $10-million deal. Next year is the third year. All the extra stuff was for show. We'll have to negotiate with him after next season. ------------------ Doom is in the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted December 31, 2001 Share Posted December 31, 2001 Davis right now is the best player on the team. Arrington, Samuels, Bailey, Smoot, et al are coming on, but Davis is in his prime and a top 3 back in the NFC. Art is right that we will have to renegotiate him after the third year and that was expected. Regardless, Snyder has the bucks and Marty or any other coach would be loathe to release a soon to be 28 year old player that is a 3-time pro bowler and has only been starting for 3 of his 6 year NFL career. That means less carries and wear at 27 than say an Eddie George or Corey Dillon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fuji869 Posted December 31, 2001 Share Posted December 31, 2001 How about a "fumble de-esculator" in his contract? OK I will shut up. I know Davis hasn't fumbled in a while and he is the work horse on our offense. I would like to see Stephen remain in the burgandy and gold for a while. I just hope that in a few years he does not become one of those salary cap caualties that get cut because their back-loaded contract counts too much towards the cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cskin Posted December 31, 2001 Share Posted December 31, 2001 Actually, I've noticed that Stephen has taken VERY good care of the football the last four or five games. Last night I noticed that he seems to "cover up" the ball when anticipating contact... with the help of those huge arms. So...after next year.... he'll be getting TOP money as far as running backs are concerned. Faulk....James... kind of money. I think he's worth it, although I'd like to see him hit the holes a little harder instead of hesitating and getting stuffed in the backfield sometimes. Last week against Chicago, it seemed he got a bit weary of the pounding and started to go down to easily. Of course, being pounded on by those to DT might make me find solace in a hole somewhere too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted December 31, 2001 Share Posted December 31, 2001 The Redskins offensive interior was overmatched by Chicago. You don't get many rushing yards when the center and guard are being pushed 3 yards back into the backfield after the snap of the ball. Raymer was just overmatched physically. Coleman was gamefully trying to play with a sprained knee and just didn't have his usual push off the ball. These things happen against good defenses. That is why you need a credible passing offense to pick up the slack. Remember all those games against the Giants where the Skins couldn't run the ball at all? We won a share of those games because we made plays downfield in the passing game. Without the threat of the pass to Clark or Sanders we would have been toast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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