Arrington blasts Redskins

Tuesday, April 12, 2005 | 9:35 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

LaVar Arrington criticized the Washington Redskins for a failing to support him during his recent knee injury, an injury that forced him to have another surgery last week.

"It's like nothing in terms of the support from them, it's like nothing," Arrington told reporters at Redskins Park on Monday. "It's like, just let me disappear and die."

Arrington, walking on crutches, revealed that he had a second surgery last Wednesday on the same knee that forced him to miss 11 games this past season. He said he will be in no rush to come back.

"I'm taking as much time as I need, and if that means they're upset and want to get rid of me, then so be it," Arrington said. "But I'm not coming back before my knee is better. I tried it their way, and it got me on crutches again."

Arrington had the first surgery, which repaired torn cartilage, after Week 2 last season. His implication is that the team rushed him back onto the field. His return was delayed when a deep bone bruise was discovered in the knee, but he eventually played in two ineffective games as a reserve in December before being placed on injured reserve for the season finale.

Arrington said part of his problem is that he hasn't built a relationship with Joe Gibbs, who arrived last year as the fifth head coach in Arrington's five years with the Redskins.

"They're new, and then I get hurt, and every year it's always someone new," Arrington said. "Does that mean it's right the way it's being handled? I had a teammate that didn't even know that I had surgery on my knee, and that's the first one, too. It's just mixed emotions, man. It makes you wonder, man, what's their agenda?"

Asked to comment on Arrington's remarks, Gibbs said he's "always erred on the side of conservative" with Arrington.

"LaVar got mad at me last year because he said I was too conservative," Gibbs said. "He wanted to play."

Gibbs said the doctor feels Arrington will be fine by the time the season starts in September, but that the team will be "careful and cautious" with Arrington's rehabilitation for a couple of months.

The agreement guarantees the 30-year-old Dillon $10 million over two years and could be extended for up to five years and a total $25 million in base pay and various bonuses, said his agent, Steven Feldman.

Thompson's release was expected -- in two years, the 6-foot-3, 228-pounder went from being the second-leading tackler in 2002 to earning the disfavor last season of first-year coach Dennis Green.

The unrest began shortly after Thompson signed an $11.3 million, four-year contract extension after the 2002 season without letting the team know he had tested positive for what bcame his second strike under the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

The Ravens didn't disclose financial terms in a press release. Baltimore was looking to add depth at linebacker after Ed Hartwell signed with the Atlanta Falcons last month as a free agent.

Hawthorne spent the last two seasons with Green Bay after three with New Orleans. He was selected by the Saints in the sixth round of the 2000 draft.

Bradford caught 27 passes for 399 yards and three touchdowns this past season.

Cox, with more than 6 million customers in 22 states, will begin running the NFL Network on its digital cable systems in time for the league's preseason games beginning in August. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed by the NFL or Atlanta-based Cox.