Gibbs hinted that Springs is hiding an injury

Without being behind the scenes, it looks like there's some vindictiveness going on here, Springs refused to get on board with a pay cut, and now it's payback, Springs looked like he wasnt quite cutting the way he should? Awfully astute for a coach who has been playing Mark Brunell for the last 3 years, to find out after every bad performance Mark may have had an arm or leg injury? What happened to letting Springs go out on the field and fight his guts out? Gibbs constantly sings the praises of players who fight through injuries, yet Springs and the players around him say he's fine and yet he's not on the field? I have to laugh, at least have the guts to leave out the lame excuses.

Gibbs would never utilize playing time to punish a player for not taking a pay cut. Even as team president, he does not negotiate contracts or manage the salary cap.

Springs comes off as sounding petty, money-obssessed, and self-centered. True, football is a business, but Springs is a vet and should know better about what to say and what not to say to the media. Was he pissed at Gibbs for talking about it at his press conference? Maybe. But come on, OF COURSE reporters were going to ask him about it. Gibbs had to have some sort of explanation - a no comment would have been even worse - and the explanation he gave was gentler than perhaps he could have been.

Gibbs' word choice struck me as sounding an awful lot like code for "Springs was dogging it in practice last week, so we didn't start him." This doesn't sound like the Shawn Springs we all know, but there are very other plausible explanations for why he didn't start. If he was injured, he would have been on the injury report. Gibbs said that the team was worried about him earlier in the week, and the injury report was due on Friday.

Hopefully this situation is remedied in the coming days. It's not a good thing at all to hear your top corner say "I don't know what Coach Gibbs is talking about."

There was an article in the wash post a month ago or so in which Springs was asked by the coaches about playing nickel & he said he was cool w/it as it would help extend his career. Now it sounds like he's pissed at not starting, or at least pissed at Gibbs' explanation.

Hopefully the two talk this week & it's settled. I agree w/those who said that this sounds too much like a lavar, l. coles situation. They should be over that stuff, can't expect the team to come together w/those circumstances.


no, he was asked about playing some safety. no just nickel packages.

Gibbs would never utilize playing time to punish a player for not taking a pay cut. Even as team president, he does not negotiate contracts or manage the salary cap.

Springs comes off as sounding petty, money-obssessed, and self-centered. True, football is a business, but Springs is a vet and should know better about what to say and what not to say to the media. Was he pissed at Gibbs for talking about it at his press conference? Maybe. But come on, OF COURSE reporters were going to ask him about it. Gibbs had to have some sort of explanation - a no comment would have been even worse - and the explanation he gave was gentler than perhaps he could have been.

Gibbs' word choice struck me as sounding an awful lot like code for "Springs was dogging it in practice last week, so we didn't start him." This doesn't sound like the Shawn Springs we all know, but there are very other plausible explanations for why he didn't start. If he was injured, he would have been on the injury report. Gibbs said that the team was worried about him earlier in the week, and the injury report was due on Friday.

Hopefully this situation is remedied in the coming days. It's not a good thing at all to hear your top corner say "I don't know what Coach Gibbs is talking about."

I think you're on point.

This comment by Springs caught me off guard a bit


"Man, with my salary this year I'm not trippin,' " he said.


I agree that Gibbs and the coaches may have felt that Springs just hasn't earned a starting job. I'm feeling a bit of the LaVar situation all over again. I think the coaches are sending him a clear message that he needs to step up his game and earn his playing time. That money comment by Springs is disappointing to me. I expect more from a proven vet like himself.

Hopefully he'll get his act in gear and get on board.

i don't believe that any NFL coach would try to use playing time as a punishment. springs is easily the skins best corner. that would lead to the defense playing better. that would lead to more wins. this is the bottom line in pro sports. winning

Without being behind the scenes, it looks like there's some vindictiveness going on here, Springs refused to get on board with a pay cut, and now it's payback, Springs looked like he wasnt quite cutting the way he should? Awfully astute for a coach who has been playing Mark Brunell for the last 3 years, to find out after every bad performance Mark may have had an arm or leg injury? What happened to letting Springs go out on the field and fight his guts out? Gibbs constantly sings the praises of players who fight through injuries, yet Springs and the players around him say he's fine and yet he's not on the field? I have to laugh, at least have the guts to leave out the lame excuses.

Jeez a little grumpy over that Skins win are we?

I thought the same thing about the money comment.

I decided not to comment on it because I always do when players say crap like that and it starts a shit storm saying the player doesn't deserve the cash.

Seriously though, his comments are ALWAYS over his salary, not about wanting to help the team.

To all that are calling this a lavar type situation:

When they did that whole thing with lavar it wasn't over a contract dispute. Lavar had a degenerative knee problem, meaning the cells and tissue in his knee were constantly deteriorating, he was never going to be the same player again. The coaches had to find other options. Lavar may have been slighted, but it was undeniably good for the team.

If springs to has some debilitating injury, and will never be the same player again, then yes this is another lavar situation, and yes the coaches should see what else they have in smoot and rogers.

But we have heard nothing to suggest that so I will have to assume there is simply some miscommunication. Gibbs said he didn't look sharp in practice, but looked good come game time, and we all know Gibbs makes his decisions based on how people look in practice. So if he looks as good in practice this week as Gibbs thought he looked in pregame warm ups Sunday, he will be starting in Philly.

For me, I'm thinking that if Springs really IS "doggin' it" in practice and ends up on the bench all year, this doesn't really speak highly of him if he KNOWS they'll cut him after this season.

If he wants someone to pick him up and play, he needs to show other teams that he's NOT injury prone and that he IS a team player. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt until next week.

I think you're on point.

This comment by Springs caught me off guard a bit



I agree that Gibbs and the coaches may have felt that Springs just hasn't earned a starting job. I'm feeling a bit of the LaVar situation all over again. I think the coaches are sending him a clear message that he needs to step up his game and earn his playing time. That money comment by Springs is disappointing to me. I expect more from a proven vet like himself.

Hopefully he'll get his act in gear and get on board.



The money comment was a pointed comment to the coaching staff and Snyder. I think he believes this all has to do with him not redoing his contract. Which i sort of believe as well. You can't tell me the coaches know his body more than himself. He said he is as healthy as he has been in a while. If they were concerned about him being hurt, then don't put him on the field at all. As far as this sounding like the LaVar issue, it does sound a bit similar. Both went through a little contract thing, then all of the sudden they can't play up the a certain level. I just find that hard to believe. That was proven wrong w/ LaVar at the end of the 2005 season after putting him back in. I hope springs get his chance to play. Our secondary needs him to play more than just Nickel.

what would you do for a klondike bar?

would you act like a monkey....

would you ...kill a man............

Were you watching that episode of Family Guy also yesterday?