Gibbs: No Truth to Report

[MTK]

Hopefully this will squash the rumors, from the WP

According to Redskins sources, Gibbs was flabbergasted about an ESPN report that said he was mulling stepping down because of health-related issues. Gibbs emphatically dismissed the report in his postgame interview. However, because the rumors were bandied this weekend, players said, Gibbs briefly reiterated his stance in a team meeting yesterday.

"He cleared it up to us," cornerback Fred Smoot said. "He said he's not going anywhere. That's what we're going by. It made me feel good. When I heard the rumors it made me think about his health. I wanted to make sure he was all right. That's what really counts. Even if you love football, you can't base your life around it."

Other teammates were skeptical of the report, and said they didn't need to hear Gibbs's denial. "I knew it wasn't true at all," Daniels said. "A couple of times before, he told us: 'We'll finally get things turned around. And if you want to be here go out and play hard . . . we'll win a championship one of these years.' Someone just wanted to make up a story."

Gibbs, 64, who signed a five-year, $28.5 million contract in January, is a diabetic. But one coaching assistant noted that Gibbs has shown no signs of tiring recently, working until late most of last week and sleeping on his hideaway bed at Redskins Park.