2005 Question: Who benched Lavar Arrington and Why?

[SolidSnake84]

I was reading LaVar's column this morning, and listening to his comments on how Portis' injury could be his last as a redskin, got me thinking back to when LaVar was still a skin.

Given his extremely limited playing time in 2005, who benched him and why? Was it due to injuries, attitude, or something else??

[mredskins]

GW for poor performance/whining if memory serves me correct.

[NYCskinfan82]

Like to freelance to much & GW's system required you to play within the system.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by NYCskinfan82

Like to freelance to much & GW's system required you to play within the system.

this...I was so pissed too. Lavar was awesome

[firstdown]

I think NYC has it correct.

[Longtimefan]

If memory serves me correctly, based on the various media reports, LaVar began to fall out of favor for a variety of reasons.

He didn't enjoy the best of relationships with then DC Dale Lindsey, questions were often raised about his style of play. There were an assortment of injuries coupled with the grievance he filed against the team over a $6.5 mil dollar bonus excluded from the deal he signed in late 2003. I think it's safe to say injuries, attitude and style of play played a vital role in his demise.

[SolidSnake84]

Is he just retired from him being a jerk in the business? or can he not legitimatley play?

He is only 32. I saw him on Pros vs Joes, and even though he looked out of shape, is an NFL return completely out of the question? Would no team take him even for vet minimum?

[Dread-Skin]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

Is he just retired from him being a jerk in the business? or can he not legitimatley play?

He is only 32. I saw him on Pros vs Joes, and even though he looked out of shape, is an NFL return completely out of the question? Would no team take him even for vet minimum?

Thats good to hear, I think he had knee issues in NY but Im glad he recovered from his motorcycle accident to be on P v J. No team would want him- respectively.

[redsk1]

All of the above most likely. Some coaches have their system and you as a player better conform or sit. Some coaches try to fit their teams talents to their systems. For Gregg Williams, you better do what he sais or you won't play. Lavar is a bit of a freelancer, overpursuer who was immensely talented. He was a get the QB type of player and I don't think that fit too well w/ GW system. JG's let GW run his defense, rightly so, and couldn't do anything about it. Too bad injuries took their toll on LA.

[saden1]

Didn't he bang heads with the linebacker coach Dale Lindsey?

[skinsfan_nn]

Lavar fell out of any good grace with Dale Lindsey. Before long he was buying his way outta DC.

[jdlea]

What's funny is GW said it was because he didn't play within the system, then they replaced him with Warrick Holdman, who may have been the most useless LB in the history of the Redskins. Seriously, I love how GW said LaVar "wouldn't stay in position" apparently, as long as you stay in position it doesn't matter if you're getting blocked and not making tackles.

I was really upset about LaVar getting benched, he was one of my favorite Redskins at the time, but I was even more pissed when I watched Warrick Holdman get out there and do nothing, but hurt the defense.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by jdlea

What's funny is GW said it was because he didn't play within the system, then they replaced him with Warrick Holdman, who may have been the most useless LB in the history of the Redskins. Seriously, I love how GW said LaVar "wouldn't stay in position" apparently, as long as you stay in position it doesn't matter if you're getting blocked and not making tackles.

I was really upset about LaVar getting benched, he was one of my favorite Redskins at the time, but I was even more pissed when I watched Warrick Holdman get out there and do nothing, but hurt the defense.

A lawn chair would've been more effective than Warrick Holdman. I was thrilled that Lavar finally got some more time as the '05 Skins made a late push for the playoffs. In the playoff victory at Tampa, he had an INT that set up the Skins first TD, and in the subsequent playoff game in Seattle, Lavar knocked Shaun Alexander out in the 1st quarter with a concussion. He was fun to watch, even if he was out of control/position at times.

[JoeRedskin]

Sorry, the LaVar love always got me. LA was a headcase. Even players were saying things like "LA cost us two TD's for being out of position." I've said before and I'll say it again, the reason LA didn't play was b/c of LA. I was at the first rally when GW and Gibbs arrived someone from the crowd shouted out to Gibbs "How you gonna rush the passer?" GW, standing behind Gibbs, flashed a "5" "6" to the crowd with his hands. Clearly, GW started out impressed by LaVar just like all the couch coaches out there. Once he had to actually coach the guy, well, he found out what Marvin Lewis found out before him - LA is gonna be LA and sometimes that is a very good thing and sometimes that is a very baaad thing.

The final straw for me was when, in an interview when he was playing for the Giants, he was asked "Who is the worst coach you ever played for?" and his response? No hesitation - "Joe Gibbs". Sorry, you just lost all credibility.

As for the reason he is no longer playing, he had a couple injuries and just didn't fully recover. Plus, he's a headcase.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

As for the reason he is no longer playing, he had a couple injuries and just didn't fully recover. Plus, he's a headcase.

I think his motorcycle accident sealed the deal. And he was driving without a license.