#56 Was One Of A Kind

Is it possible to be completely shocked and not surprised at all at the same time?

It was little surprise to Redskins fans that Lavar Arrington was released. For the past two years, his relationship with coaches and management had been deteriorating. His health had been has well. His on-field performance, when he was actually well enough to play, had slipped significantly. Still, the timing of the release was odd. With the Redskins and the rest of the NFL still trying to figure out the CBA mess, wouldn’t it have been better to see how everything shaped up? Most surprising, had things really gotten so bad with Lavar and the Redskins that Arrington was willing to pass on $4.4 million just to skip town and test his luck in the most uncertain free agency period the NFL has seen?

There are three ways to analyze this move by the Redskins. The first one is emotionally. Lavar was an original, one-of-a-kind player. A throwback if you will. A guy who would be playing football whether they were paying him $10 or $10 million to do so. He was the consistent face of an organization that was thoroughly inconsistent. To call Lavar a fan favorite is an understatement. No player loved the Redskins, their fans, their players, and the organization more than Lavar. I’m sure 90% or more of Redskins Nation is upset emotionally that the Redskins chose to release Arrington without so much as a second thought.


Arrington always seemed to be an emotional leader...if he was healthy enough to play

To emotionally analyze a move like this is perhaps the best and worst way to study it. Football is a game. The fans care about their team. They care about their players. The most dedicated live and breathe with their roster for three hours every fall Sunday. Even the most sane and rational person can have hard time separating reality from fantasy when dealing with their favorite football team. How many people know that guy who is superstitious enough to believe that what jersey he wears, or where he sits or where he watches the game can actually have an effect on the game itself? If you are even remotely interested in football, chances are you know that guy. Chances are that that guy/gal is you. I’ve come to think that about half of the population that call themselves football fans go through these rituals every weekend. And why? To feel like they’re a part of something. To forget about their problems for a few hours. To root and believe in people they’ve never met. There are millions of reasons. There is so much about the game that is emotional. The way the players play it. The way the coaches coach it. The way the fans watch, with scrutiny, every infinitesimal detail about every meaningless snap. How can you not judge the way the players…your players, your “family”…are treated without bringing sentiment into the equation? This game isn't played by machines. It isn't totally dependant on stat sheets and accounting numbers. This may be the bluntest way to say it, but emotionally, this move flat out sucked. There is no current Redskin that inspires such more emotion than Lavar Arrington.

But as I said, analyzing football moves emotionally is not only the best way to follow a team, but the worst way as well. Football is a business. The business is making money and winning football games. The fans care about their team, but after a while, if that team isn’t performing, even the most diehard fan has trouble following a loser. You happen to love a player? Great, good for you. Is that player making mistakes, being paid too much or hurting the team in the win column and therefore the money department as well? If that’s the case, he’s gotta go. In this free agency era, it is often said that the fan no longer root for individuals, but pieces of clothing. It is foolish to invest emotionally in a player that is basically a paid mercenary. It is a bad investment, because like most mercenaries, another bidder will eventually come along with more money. Or that mercenary will become expendable, his job over, his services no longer needed. And if you can’t grasp that notion, you’re not going to enjoy watching a game that revolves around what’s best for the team and the organization. You’re better off watching golf or tennis.

I said that there were three ways to examine this move. The first was emotionally. It was in this category that the Redskins failed miserably. The next two ways are from a business perspective and an on-field standpoint. Often times, and this case was no exception, it is hard to separate the two. When considering those groups, this was the best possible move for the Washington Redskins.

It is no secret that the Redskins have a bit of a salary cap problem. Although how big a problem remains to be debated (Dopes like Pete Prisco insist that the Redskins will have 20 rookies on their roster. Unless the salary cap is $70 million, I don’t see that happening. Prisco is simply one of those “Snyder bashers” that get giddy whenever something even remotely negative has a chance of happening to the Redskins. His days of unbiased journalism are well behind him. The more informed John Clayton and Chris Mortensen realize that the Redskins will be able to restructure enough contracts that they won’t have to cut too many players, regardless of what happens with the CBA). Without a new CBA, the Redskins will probably be around $17 million over the cap. Even with a new deal, the Redskins would still be slightly over. Just cutting Lavar would have made no sense, since he really doesn’t save the Skins much money. But, by agreeing to forfeit $4.4 million, and thereby allowing the Redskins to save that much against the cap, Lavar became instantly expendable. He became a luxury that the Redskins couldn’t afford. Would it have been nice to keep him? Sure. Is it worth it? Probably not, when you take in to account the two or three players the Redskins would have had to cut to make up for Lavar’s cap hit.

What makes the business decision even more palpable is the fact that the Redskins aren’t losing any on field production in the process. How rare is it that a team can save a lot of money (a lot of money being defined as more than $2 million) by cutting just one player while at the same time not getting any weaker with on field talent? It’s extremely rare. Look around the league. The Rams just cut Issac Bruce. The Ravens have been trying to trade Double Murder and they won’t resign the other Lewis. You know, the one that actually did hard time. There’s also a good chance that they’ll cut Chris McAllister. The Seahawks, because they signed Shaun Alexander, won’t be able to retain his left guard Steve Hutchinson. The Bills could cut Eric Moulds. The Cowboys cut La’roi Glover. The Chargers can’t afford Drew Brees. The Jets have been trying to dump John Abraham. The Colts aren’t going to have enough money to resign The Edge. All these moves are smart moves in regards to the salary cap. But everyone of these moves or possible moves would effect the on field performance of each team. Do you think that the Ravens defense would be the same without Lewis and McAllister? Do you think that Alexander will have a similar season without Hutchinson? Are you crazy enough to believe that Phillip “Can’t beat Maryland” Rivers is better than Brees? I hope you don’t think so. These moves were made for business reasons. These teams have to get under the cap. Instead of cutting six or seven role players, these teams decided to get rid of one or two crucial parts. I’m not saying that these are bad moves. These are necessary moves. It's part of the business of the NFL.

But the Redskins are getting the double bonus here. Not only are they saving a ton of money, but they aren’t hurting the on field product at all. The Redskins played just fine on defense without Lavar Arrington. In fact, it seems to me that Lavar hurt the defense more than helped it when he was on the field. Lavar was just never able to adjust to Gregg Williams’ defense. His aggressive style was never going to fit. The Redskins already had Sean Taylor as their aggressive freelancer. Williams’ disciplined defense can’t compensate for two independent minds. Taylor is a vital part of the defense. When he left the first Tampa game with an injury, the Bucs went off. It was the only time all season when the Redskins got beat deep consistently. When Lavar was benched early in the year, the defense didn’t miss a step. When he was hurt last season, the defense was better than ever.

Forget about money for one second. Even if the Redskins were under the salary cap, they couldn’t have both Lavar and Taylor starting in Williams’ scheme. And a safety like Sean Taylor is more rare and more valuable than a linebacker like Arrington. If I had to choose between the two, I would chose Taylor 10 times out of 10, even with his off field issues.

There are some that say that Williams should have adjusted to Lavar. That Lavar was a talent and Williams, as his coach, should have found a way to fit his aggressive style into the defense. These people aren’t thinking rationally. Gregg Williams, if nothing else over the past two seasons, has proven over and over again that he possesses a great defensive mind. If you are asking me, or most Redskins fans, to pick a side, either Williams or Arrington, the logical choice is Gregg Williams. Lavar played here six seasons, and the Redskins made the playoffs only once. And last year’s playoff appearance had little to do with Lavar. Gregg Williams has been here two seasons, and made the playoffs once. Last year’s playoff appearance had a lot to do with Williams and his defense. The defense has improved immensely from the time that Steve Spurrier left it in ruins. The proof is in the stats. The proof is in the wins. The proof is in the results. Gregg Williams is talented enough to force players to adjust to him. Not the other way around. Lavar was never a Williams guy. He was never really a Joe Gibbs guy (although he should have been). So in the case of Arrington v. Williams, the Redskins made their choice when they signed Williams to a large contract extension. And they made the right decision.


Arrington's aggressive play was one of the reasons he was so good. It was also one of the reasons he could no longer play for Gregg Williams' defense.

Obviously the Redskins and Arrington could have handled the situation better. The past two seasons, the coaches and management seemingly have gone out of their way to alienate Lavar. But Arrington brought a lot of this on himself. Both sides are to blame. Lavar complained about playing time when the team was winning. He complained about money when he was making a lot more than the above-average player. He was no longer playing hurt. But the team exacerbated the situation. Instead of ignoring Lavar, they badgered him in the media. Linebackers coach Dale Lindsey, who should be fired for the way he treated Lavar and treats his players, skewered Lavar every chance he got. He felt he was making an example of Lavar, a warning to the rest of the team. Lindsey is the one guy who deserves the lion’s share of the blame for pushing Lavar out. Arrington and Williams got along pretty well. It was Lindsey and Arrington that hated each other. I’d choose Williams over Lavar, but not Lindsey.

In general, the Redskins treatment of Lavar speaks volumes about a disturbing trend that appears to be getting worse. The Redskins continue to treat their high-drafted players, players who should become the cornerstone of their team, rather poorly. Patrick Ramsey has been left out to dry for the past two seasons. Champ Bailey was traded the minute Gibbs got here. Fred Smoot wasn’t rewarded after playing well with a separated shoulder for most of 2004-05. Chris Samuels has been close to being cut several times. I think this will probably be Samuels’ final season with the Skins. Arrington’s situation is as bad as the rest. This is something the Redskins are going to need to rectify if they ever hope of building a long-term dominate dynasty, instead of a pay-for-play group of free agents.

Despite this mess, the Redskins still have two great linebackers. Marcus Washington is a pro-bowler. Lemar Marshall is one of the more promising young players in the league. Julian Peterson (49ers) and Will Witherspoon (Panthers) are both on the market and will probably be a cheaper option than Lavar. Witherspoon is very intriguing. He played in John Fox’s scheme defense and would be a perfect fit in DC. Without a new CBA, the Redskins should be able to afford Witherspoon with the money they save from Arrington getting cut. With a new CBA, not only can the Redskins sign Witherspoon, they could sign Antwaan Randle-El and a moderately priced pass rushing defensive end. These are moves they couldn’t make if they had kept Lavar. If the Redskins are able to obtain two of those three pieces, and stay relatively healthy during the season, they should be the odds-on-favorite in the NFC.

This deal is good for Arrington as well. He gets cut before the free agency period starts, which means he will be able to choose wherever he wants to go. If the Redskins cut him after the June 1st wavier period, Arrington would have been pigeonholed into taking less money from a team he may not have wanted to play for. But in this case, he’ll be able to go wherever he wants and get paid well. And you know what? I believe that Lavar will be a pro-bowler again. Maybe not this season, but by 2007, he’ll be in Hawaii. I’m going to root for him wherever he goes. Unlike ungrateful Champ Bailey (the one-yard line is not the endzone), selfish Laveranues Coles (how were the Jets last year, buddy?) and greedy Antonio Pierce (nice playoff game, chief), I wish Lavar all the best. It appears he will be playing for the Chargers next year. Hopefully he goes to San Diego, where he will reunite with Marty and play with his friend Shawne Merriman (Man, Arrington on one side and Merriman on the other. I would not like to be the offensive coordinator planning to face that team.). The Vikings, Steelers and the rest of the NFC East also have interest in him. Even if he goes to, heaven forbid, Dallas, I think I would still root for him. Just not when he plays the Redskins. Lavar is a player that is easy to root for. Sometimes, even in this era of free agency, the fan has to root for the player, not the uniform.

Redskins fans have to realize that the team stands to benefit from this move. Once they do, it will take some of the sting out of losing a fan favorite. I hate the fact that the Redskins cut Lavar. I loved watching him play here. He is what a linebacker and a football player should be. It won’t look right to see him in another uniform. And when Lavar gets back into all-pro form, fans will be wondering “what if” and “why’d we do that”. There is no doubt that Lavar is still one of the most talented linebackers in the league. Maybe we’ll all regret that the Redskins made this move two or three years from now.

Then again, maybe not. I started this post by wondering why people followed football, or sports in general, at all. Personally, I follow the NFL, and more specifically, the Redskins, because I like the feeling of knowing that I’m a part of a much larger, countrywide community. I like knowing that when I watch the game on Sunday, there are millions of people across the country that are doing the exact same thing and rooting for the exact same group of coaches and players. Wherever you go, there will be Redskins fans. That is the great thing about following this team in particular. Redskins Nation is like a big family. You might not know everyone in it, but it’s great to know that they are out there.

Another great thing about the Redskins is their tradition of winning. I think the five NFL championships speak for themselves. That’s another factor that attracts me and so many other fans to the team. Tradition, outside Boston and Chicago, is based loosely on winning. For whatever reason, the Redskins with Lavar Arrington in the lineup were never able to replicate the winning tradition of years past. It’s ironic in a way. No player understood the Redskins tradition more than Lavar. He wanted nothing more than to win a championship in Washington, and cement his name in burgundy and gold lore. He was one of the ultimate team players. The Redskins, competing in a world of reality that includes free agency and the salary cap, needed to make this move. The franchise will be better because of it in the short term, and maybe in the long run as well. And even in the end, to his credit, in the Redskins’ hour of need, Lavar Arrington stepped aside and did what was best for the team. A team and a family that he is no longer part of.


One of the fan favorites, #56 will be missed. Best of luck, Lavar.