ESPN: Archuleta: 'I don't like getting lied to'

[mheisig]

AA proved his worth early on: pretty useless. I have no question he doesn't belong on this team, but once again we have a disgruntled player leaving the organization pissed off.

What the hell is with the management of this team that we seem to have more pissed players up and leave or get fired than any other team I'm aware of? Is it just because I follow the Redskins a lot closer than other teams, or does this team genuinely screw people over season after season?

I'm not arguing that AA should play or that he's good, I'm just wondering in general why these situations happen so freakin' often to this team.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by mheisig

AA proved his worth early on: pretty useless. I have no question he doesn't belong on this team, but once again we have a disgruntled player leaving the organization pissed off.

What the hell is with the management of this team that we seem to have more pissed players up and leave or get fired than any other team I'm aware of? Is it just because I follow the Redskins a lot closer than other teams, or does this team genuinely screw people over season after season?

I'm not arguing that AA should play or that he's good, I'm just wondering in general why these situations happen so freakin' often to this team.

Dude, you pretty much took the words right out of my mouth. I mean, we all knew Arch was unhappy and he didn't fit this scheme. I think that's a moot point.

But the bigger question is, why does this seem to be a consistent theme with our staff/management? Why is it that the coaches play the silence game with the media, toe the company line, and all of sudden we have another disgruntled player that is leaving the team. No way in hell it's always the player that's the problem.

Why do I get the impression that Gibbs has no control over this team??

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Dude, you pretty much took the words right out of my mouth. I mean, we all knew Arch was unhappy and he didn't fit this scheme. I think that's a moot point.

But the bigger question is, why does this seem to be a consistent theme with our staff/management? Why is it that the coaches play the silence game with the media, toe the company line, and all of sudden we have another disgruntled player that is leaving the team. No way in hell it's always the player that's the problem.

Why do I get the impression that Gibbs has no control over this team??

I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to the organization as a whole to a certain point. The league is full of arrogant, crybaby players, but there are also plenty of decent guys who are honest, hard working players.

One, two, maybe three disgruntled players and I'd say it's a string of bad luck. This is getting to be a yearly occurrence, however. Every season it's one or two guys who get pissed off and leaving hating the team, season in and season out.

I'm not saying we should be out to make friends - yes, business is business and it can be rough. At a certain point you've got to start wondering if maybe it's not just a string of bad luck or some selfish players...

[Bill B]

Does this article pretty much mean that Archuletta was indeed the mole and not Springs like many had thought?

[dgack]

Originally Posted by Bill B

Does this article pretty much mean that Archuletta was indeed the mole and not Springs like many had thought?

Unless it was just a smokescreen, weren't there a number of references to how things had been run in the past, which would indicate it wasn't someone new like Arch?

[Bstanley]

Id just tell that "fag" to stop plucking his eyebrows for real!

[AlvinWalton'sNeckBrace]

still a load of crap. Did he really need Williams and Gibbs to sit down and hold his hand. They're the Redskins not the Archulettas...he's not special, you play like crap, you sit on the bench...I think it was pretty clear to everyone why he wasn't playing and when is Gibbs ever going to say "he sucks...he isn't playing well, blah blah blah." He's not going to do that ever, he tries to pump people up, so Arch needs to shut up...pack up his depends, and get out of town

[The Huddle]

I don't have any idea whether Archuleta has been lied to or not because I don't know what has/hasn't been said to him behind closed doors.

What I do know is that it was the Redskins, not Archuleta, who made him the highest paid safety in the history of football. In order for them to have done that, you've got to believe they gathered 'round a table and said "Look, whatever it takes to get this guy we've got to pony it up because we just can't risk letting him get away, he's going to be our difference maker- he's that good." And then- oops- he wasn't.

What's really new here? The Redskins have been paying top dollar for mediocre players on the open market for years now. No shock there. Now, they've got a pissed off player accusing the organization of lying to/misleading him. That's becoming a disturbingly common occurance as well.

It's time to stop shooting the messenger. Archuleta might have had a horrible season, but if he was drawing a journeyman's salary this wouldn't be a front page story and we'd all be shrugging it off as "we need another saftey."

[Longtimefan]

During the process of negotiation with Archuleta and his agent, the team made clear the role they expected him to play. There was uncertaintity surrounding the status of Sean Taylor at the time, and they had made up their mind if Ryan Clark wanted more than they were willing to pay, they would let him walk because they wanted to up grade the position, and felt Archuleta would be a physical upgrade to Clark.

In reality ,there wasn't much in terms of negotiation, the Redskins made him an offer he couldn't refuse. They were well aware of his limited coverage skills, but they led him to believe he and Marcus Washington were going to be used in blitz packages, and that's what they were expecting from him. It was clear in September that Archuleta was not going to be the starter oposite Taylor. Pierson Prioleau was to be the starter, but when he got hurt on the opening kickoff, and Shawn Springs got injured, they could not play Archuleta the way they had intended to play him. When he speaks about being lied too, this is obviously what he is refering too. They contracted him to blitz, injuries foiled the plan, they had to use him, but in ways they were well aware he was not best suited. When we all witnessed he could not cover, he was left holding the bag with basically no place for him in the defense You really can't blame Archuleta for an experiment gone bad, the team should have taken more into consideration his limitations, and not been so willing to make such a huge financial commitment to a player that limited.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by mheisig

AA proved his worth early on: pretty useless. I have no question he doesn't belong on this team, but once again we have a disgruntled player leaving the organization pissed off.

What the hell is with the management of this team that we seem to have more pissed players up and leave or get fired than any other team I'm aware of? Is it just because I follow the Redskins a lot closer than other teams, or does this team genuinely screw people over season after season?

I'm not arguing that AA should play or that he's good, I'm just wondering in general why these situations happen so freakin' often to this team.

It happens all around the NFL. You just notice it more because you pay closer attention to the Redskins

[724Skinsfan]

Not a bad question.

Here's my glass half full theory....

The Redskins are one of the few teams that don't cater to whiney crybabies. They would rather them leave disgruntled and unhappy instead of elevate those few to the lofty pedestal in which they foolishly believe they entitled to.


just a theory...

[saden1]

I totally understand where you are coming from AA. I too hate being lied to. They told us you were a hard hitter, smart, and all around good player. The truth is, you suck. Any moron can play close to the line and play the run. That's basic prerequisite to being a safety. What everyone expected was a Strong Safety. That means someone who can lay the smack down as well as cover the TE. Which in tern means someone who doesn't bite harder than a BDSM mistress on a pump fake and who can keep up with a TE in the 4th qt when your team is leading.

Know that I know that it's not your fault. It's the talent evaluator at Redskins Park's fault.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by saden1

I totally understand where you are coming from AA. I too hate being lied to. They told us you were a hard hitter, smart, and all around good player. The truth is, you suck. Any moron can play close to the line and play the run. That's basic prerequisite to being a safety. What everyone expected was a Strong Safety. That means someone who can lay the smack down as well as cover the TE. Which in tern means someone who doesn't bite harder than an BDSM mistress on a pump fake and who can keep up with a TE in the 4th qt when your team is leading.

Know that I know that it's not your fault. It's the talent evaluator at Redskins Park's fault.

Saden - the talent evaluator you are referring to - what that be Cerrato or Gibbs or both?

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Bill B

Saden - the talent evaluator you are referring to - what that be Cerrato or Gibbs or both?

Do I have to choose? Asking me to choose is akin to asking a man to choose which one of his children he would prefer dead.

I choose all of the above including the security guard at the parking lot and the lady that washes player's towels.

[GoSkins!]

It is funny how every guy on this board said about the same thing before the season started... "We overpayed for AA, but there is no question he is an upgrade over Ryan Clark". Hind sight is 20/20. I agree he is bad in coverage, but I don't understand why people bust on his tackling. He is and has always been a good tackler, led the team before being benched (AA didn't miss that tackle against Jackson last week , but Taylor gets a by?)

I still think that AA was brought in to be a hitter if Taylor went to jail, but the coaches expected that they could magically teach him to become a better pass defender if Taylor avoided jail. They couldn't... and here we are.

He was talked into joining the skins, then used wrong, then benched. I am amazed that he has been as silent as he has been throughout this whole thing. Wouldn't anyone else here be pissed? (Personally I could temper my frustration with the 10 million.)