ATTNER: 'Skins still throwing money away

[CowboysUK]

Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

POSTED 2:21 p.m. EST, March 5, 2004

'SKINS CRITICIZED (AGAIN) FOR TURD HAUL

League insiders are engaged in their annual buzz-fest regarding the early free-agent signings made by the Redskins.

Per one source, owner Dan Snyder is "playing the system like fantasy football again, overpaying and not caring about character."

The source describes defensive end Phillip Daniels and cornerback Shawn Springs as "two turds in the locker room. They'll have [coach Joe] Gibbs wishing he was playing with a lube gun again by November."

Though no one ever will accuse us for being shills for the 'Skins, we're intrigued by the question of whether Gibbs will be able to polish these and other turds. Gibbs won in the 1980s with guys like Dexter Manley on the roster, and our guess is that John Riggins had his moments, too.

Our biggest concern for Gibbs isn't any of the new signings, but veteran linebacker LaVar Arrington. If he sets a negative tone as a result of his belief that the 'Skins shorted him by $6.5 million in his new contract, it'll be hard to get everyone on the same page.

For the same reason that the Redskins gave new running back Clinton Portis a contract extension when they didn't have to, the 'Skins need to get Arrington happy quickly -- or get rid of him.