Arrington: 'I could have handled things a bit better'

I don't understand : (1)Lavar will say the right things now because they have to play him ? .... or (2)he will say the right things now because or else - they will bench him ?

I added the rhetorical #2 question. I think we all need to get something straight - no player is above the team. If that player thinks he is above the team then it is time for that player to have an MRI on his ego or have it surgically removed, cause that sucker must be getting too big. One player doesn't make a team (ask Michael Jordan when he was playing for the Wizards) and this is a totally different issue then T.O. and whoever has a contract dispute. As fans, questioning the coaches for their personnel decisions is absurd - you don't even know what the hell is going on except what the media and the team leaks to you. Whether the reasons are an attitude adjustment, motivational issues, or player performance, you as a fan are getting a filtered and skewed image of these reasons. No one is above being benched - No One, if that is what is needed to improve them and the team.

Not saying this is the reason, but would you bench someone if you think that player is not playing to his full potential and benching him would allow him to reach it ?

And as for questioning the hall of fame, triple superbowl-winning coach - do you really think that your football and personal knowledge of the situation is greater than Gibbs ? And to me, gibbs is the team - I'd rather have it his team than having it Lavar's team. So to me personally, you either back up gibbs and the redskins or Lavar, the player - and not both. Pick one to keep or kick off: gibbs or lavar ?

The reason I said he playing is because the side that Holdman was playing was getting gashed. the reason LaVar played the 2nd half. If LaVar was getting gashed, then fine replace him. I dont understand why I as well as anyother 56 fan have to defend ourselves when we think one player is better than the one playing. I was not the only one questioning it, The football people, who by the way know a hell of a lot more than you and I, questioned it also. Look we can agree to disagree. Never have I said LaVar is above the team. If for one second I thought he would hurt our chances from winning, I would say replace him. send him packing. Now if he doesn't make the impact we all think he can, then he will be playing else where next year. If he makes the impact then he may be back. who knows. No one was more excited to have Joe back than me. I grew up in the late 70's early 80's when Joe was a god in DC, and still is. I would choose gibbs over any player, that is a no brainer. But because I feel one player is better than the other I have to listen to you all bash what I say, so I say bring it on!! I am game.

I'm new to this but I think what everyone's looking for is something along the lines of Lavar's 'I could have handled things a little bit better' comment

Welcome to the board. I like that username

I know Joe, and you my friend, are no Joe.

Thats funny, a bad choice of names in this thread, maybe I should have used Adam or some other common name!

The reason I said he playing is because the side that Holdman was playing was getting gashed. the reason LaVar played the 2nd half. If LaVar was getting gashed, then fine replace him. I dont understand why I as well as anyother 56 fan have to defend ourselves when we think one player is better than the one playing. I was not the only one questioning it, The football people, who by the way know a hell of a lot more than you and I, questioned it also. Look we can agree to disagree. Never have I said LaVar is above the team. If for one second I thought he would hurt our chances from winning, I would say replace him. send him packing. Now if he doesn't make the impact we all think he can, then he will be playing else where next year. If he makes the impact then he may be back. who knows. No one was more excited to have Joe back than me. I grew up in the late 70's early 80's when Joe was a god in DC, and still is. I would choose gibbs over any player, that is a no brainer. But because I feel one player is better than the other I have to listen to you all bash what I say, so I say bring it on!! I am game.

For the record, I wanted Lavar playing as much as anyone and I think he is and will be the best weakside olb we have - but wanting him to play and questioning the coaches for not putting him in the game - are 2 different things.

You questioning knowledgable football coaches (to say the least) and that have first-hand knowledge that is very close to the situation versus your opinion that has been attained through the media. I say whatever is best for the team - and that is gibbs making the decisions for the team.

you people dont know me from me Joe, so to say I am not a true fan of the Redskins is totally wrong. I have been a die hard fan since I was born. Because I have a feeling that one player is better than the other and should be playing doesn't discount my loyalty as well as anyone elses. didn't everyone think benching Brunell was in the best interest of the team? That Ramsey was the better QB. Isn't that the same situation here. Just because I have 56 in logname doesn't make me a LaVar fan, and not a Redskins fan. I have been a fan before LaVar got here and will be a fan when he leaves. All this crap is getting old, you have one side saying I told you so and the other going off about the comments made by LaVar the last couple of days. I have no theories about this team or why he wasnt playing. I was only stating what I heard from programs on TV or columnists in the paper. I have no idea what goes on in the organization as much as you do. I dont know why you and the other people who continuously bash what I say. I thought this was an opinion site. So if Green Bay decided to sit Brett and play Aaron Rogers, you dont think some green bay fans would question the coaches decision. If you think they wouldn't you are crazy. Same thing w/ Vick and all the other superstar players. (and before you start bashing me with this one, In no way am I saying LaVar is a superstar) dont forget we are comparing a LB in his prime to a veteran(who is servicable) but not that good. I would be making the same comments if it were Marcus Washington getting benched infavor of Holdman. Regardless of the player, if anyone feels one player is better than the one in front of him, there are going to be questions, and opinions on why there aren't playing. Cant you just leave it alone.

The reason we "bash" what you say is b/c what you were saying about the lavar situation was bashing the team. Your way off base here and missing the point. Lavar was hurt, recovering... thats the main reason why he was not starting. The other reason is because he was hurt and recovering he miss a full season worth of running a new system so he had to catch up there too. Did u read the article. He said he had to learn to run again!! This is nothing like benching a superstar for no reason. There was a reason ... re-read that article if you have too...

I love how this has turned around. When LaVar played well in the San Francisco game, all of the "xxxnamexxx56" people were throwing "I told you so's" around, and all the coach followers where saying things like "There's no need for I told you so's... that's childish" blah blah. Suddenly, LaVar admits he wasn't playing at full speed, and there's 3 pages of coach f'ers slamming the LaVar fans... can we say hypocrisy?

And for the record, I was one of the LaVar supporters, but I was by no means a Williams hater. And regardless of whether he was %100 or not, LaVar at half speed is still better than Holdman at full speed.

For the record, I wanted Lavar playing as much as anyone and I think he is and will be the best weakside olb we have - but wanting him to play and questioning the coaches for not putting him in the game - are 2 different things.

You questioning knowledgable football coaches (to say the least) and that have first-hand knowledge that is very close to the situation versus your opinion that has been attained through the media. I say whatever is best for the team - and that is gibbs making the decisions for the team.

Do you ever question anyone? You didn't question some of the moves made with playcalling last year? When players from other teams knew what was coming. that comes from interviews with quotes(and no I am not going to be able to find them) from teams we faced. Is every Redskin fan suppose to sit there and not have an opinion about anything? You never question anything? I find that hard to believe. Boy, you question something out here and watch out you get jumped on from all angles. From now on what ever you say is right , and I will just agree with everything said. maybe that will make you people happy. Or maybe you are just the kind of people that look for something to argue about.

I love how this has turned around. When LaVar played well in the San Francisco game, all of the "xxxnamexxx56" people were throwing "I told you so's" around, and all the coach followers where saying things like "There's no need for I told you so's... that's childish" blah blah. Suddenly, LaVar admits he wasn't playing at full speed, and there's 3 pages of coach f'ers slamming the LaVar fans... can we say hypocrisy?

And for the record, I was one of the LaVar supporters, but I was by no means a Williams hater. And regardless of whether he was %100 or not, LaVar at half speed is still better than Holman at full speed.

AMEN!!!

I love how this has turned around. When LaVar played well in the San Francisco game, all of the "xxxnamexxx56" people were throwing "I told you so's" around, and all the coach followers where saying things like "There's no need for I told you so's... that's childish" blah blah. Suddenly, LaVar admits he wasn't playing at full speed, and there's 3 pages of coach f'ers slamming the LaVar fans... can we say hypocrisy?

And for the record, I was one of the LaVar supporters, but I was by no means a Williams hater. And regardless of whether he was %100 or not, LaVar at half speed is still better than Holman at full speed.

I think the Lavar-is-better-in-there supporters that want him in there because he is better than Holdman is not seeing the big picture. It's not Lavar's performance vs. Holdman's performance. It may be Lavar's present performance vs. his complacency or his attitude or what could be holding him back or his injury or all of the above... whatever it is, I don't think it was a just a matter of who was best at that position.

As fans, questioning the coaches for their personnel decisions is absurd - you don't even know what the hell is going on except what the media and the team leaks to you. Whether the reasons are an attitude adjustment, motivational issues, or player performance, you as a fan are getting a filtered and skewed image of these reasons. No one is above being benched - No One, if that is what is needed to improve them and the team.

....

And as for questioning the hall of fame, triple superbowl-winning coach - do you really think that your football and personal knowledge of the situation is greater than Gibbs ? And to me, gibbs is the team - I'd rather have it his team than having it Lavar's team. So to me personally, you either back up gibbs and the redskins or Lavar, the player - and not both. Pick one to keep or kick off: gibbs or lavar ?

See, now this is exactly the SH!T I am talking about. First of all, you fail to recognize that as fans we also know what we see on the field. There is nothing "filtered" or "skewed" about what you can see with your own two eyes on gameday. As a result, it is not "absurd" to question the coaches' personnel decisions.

Second, Joe Gibbs (as much as I love him) is NOT "the Team". No one person, no one coach, no one player is "the Team." You cast aside anyone else who believes Lavar should have been the starter as someone who isn't choosing to back the team. The absurdity of your argument is its hypocracy. It's ok for you to back Gibbs (one man) above all else, and that should be equated with backing the skins, but those of us who back Lavar (one man) can't possibly be behind the Skins as a team? How's that?

Finally, there is no reason for your mandate of "Pick one to keep or kick off: gibbs or lavar?" In case you haven't noticed, they are both on the same TEAM. They are both striving for the same goals. You're assumption that the Team, the coach and the player can't coexist together is rediculous. The fact that they can explains how I can be a fan of the Redskins, Joe Gibbs, and Lavar Arrington without conflict. How you fail to see that is unbelievable to me.

Therefore, as a second, and hopefully final, plea. STOP calling people's fanaticism for the Redskins into question simply because your opinion differs from theirs as to whether it's possible to question personnel decisions and still love your team to no end. Nothing is going to enrage people more than having their being a fan called into question on this site, and I don't see that as a fight we need to have AGAIN.