Springs' youth not eternal

by Skin Patrol on Dec 27, 2007 4:43 PM EST

Like all human beings, even Shawn Springs isn't good enough to avoid the cliche even if it is meant more to describe the eternal feeling of youth rather than the actual physical aspect of it, but whatev. Hate to be a debbie downer but the bad news that isn't getting a ton of attention on the blogosphere and elsewhere is just how close Shawn Springs could be to playing his last game as a Washington Redskin. Per the Times (hat tip: Extreme Skins):

Springs turns 33 in March -- senior citizen status at his position -- and counts $7.5 million against the club's salary cap for next season.

And Springs still has bruised feelings from contract squabbles with the team this past offseason, when he declined to rework his contract and stayed away from Redskin Park and the club considered trading him.

"I'm not really thinking about it [so much that] it weighs down on me," Springs said. "If they change my contract, then I'll be happy to be here. But if they don't, I don't think I'll be here. When I left Seattle, I could have stayed but it was time for a change."

Asked if it was time for another change, Springs smiled and said, "I really can't tell you yet."

I thought it was the fact that we wanted to change his contract (asked him to take a paycut) that made negotiations so difficult? Yuck yuck yuck. He also said:

"Maybe it's my last home game. If it's my last game in Washington, then I would understand. I know I'll be playing somewhere next year. There are a lot of places where I know people and could be happy. I'm not sad about it. It's been a great four years."

Wow. It's also enormously unfortunate, since Shawn Springs has been an outstanding player the past four years and has proven how much we need him even when he isn't on the field; last year's defensive meltdown was accentuated whenever he was absent from the game, which was often. With Carlos Rogers an injury concern heading into 2008 (still recovering and could be for much of next year -- I'm not saying he's suddenly a persistent career injury concern) we need Springs more but I wonder where the money to pay him as he feels he deserves will come from, or even if it should. He is getting long in tooth.

What I don't understand is why players should feel entitled to contracts that modify ones they've signed? From what I can tell, Shawn Springs signed a 6 year deal that runs through 2010 and stands to make plenty of money given his age and position. If that deal was good enough to sign in 2004, it should be good enough to play through in 2009 and 2010. If it wasn't, you shouldn't have penned your name on it, correct? I understand where Springs is coming from if he's merely saying that the team won't be able to pay him less (they should honor their end of the bargain as well, afterall) but why is he entitled to higher pay? What is he signaling when he says "If they change my contract, then I'll be happy to be here. But if they don't, I don't think I'll be here"? A holdout? Is he just predicting what he thinks the team will do, cut him if he refuses to take a paycut?

I see a slight increase to 5M in base salary next year and a substantial increase to 6M the following year. That's a hefty price to pay for a very talented player. It was also a price negotiated by both parties and then signed, and also marks an amount of money that I could suffer as a fan. We need Springs. I think he should be willing to play with us even if it means collecting merely on the contract money he agreed to in the first.

But don't let me monopolize the conversation. Reader(s), what is Springs owed next season? More than his contract? Less? Do you want him in Washington at all?

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I think hes talking about

reworking his contract to spread it out more because he knows the cap situation which i feel is a little more severe than most fans think. He showed the team this past offseason he wont take a paycut. But im not sure if he means hes willing to take some kind of cut just to stay.

Not sure why you would suggest he would be owed more, i dont think he'll get more than what hes getting now at his age and he looks like he may be 1/2 step slower. But i would still rather him in Washington. He covers well and looks like he keeps himself in shape. Incidenatlly, in that video you posted with sellers, take a look at how big springs is next to him. As a CB he has some size to him, maybe he should lose 10 to keep his quickness. Just a thought.

by Sincethebeginning @ Hogs Haven on Dec 27, 2007 5:18 PM EST reply actions

My concern...

Spreading out your cap number always favors the player. There is no situation when a player would not immediately accept any team's offer to pay them the same amount except spread out over a number of years. That puts a check in the player's hand immediately and guarantees salary that was formerly unguaranteed. The only reason I assume he means an increased pay is because it's hard to imagine him suggesting otherwise; if he really meant that the team will either restructure (but no paycut) his contract or else he'd be gone, then he must know the team would be willing to that; we've done it every year with Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen, among others. That is the Redskins way.

I don't think Springs will take a paycut and stay. It sounded to me like he expected a changed, better, contract to remain. I hope I'm wrong.

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by Skin Patrol on Dec 28, 2007 6:36 PM EST up reply actions

I

"If they change my contract, then I'll be happy to be here. But if they don't, I don't think I'll be here."

I think he's saying something along the lines of - "If they want me, we both know they have to restructure, and I'm cool with that. If they don't want me, they won't offer restructure and will just release me."

Talkin' Sports

by BlackOps on Dec 27, 2007 6:10 PM EST reply actions

I hope so.

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by Skin Patrol on Dec 28, 2007 6:36 PM EST up reply actions

The importance of the draft

is starting to come to light now in a big way.
Before ST passed i would have said DE and OL for first picks, but now with ST gone and Springs dillema and Rogers injury and his time frame, we'll have to look at safety and cornerback.

I know i hear everyone say how we somehow manage our inflated cap every year and its not a big deal but i still believe we dont. Misuse of draft picks really hurt us even though it doesnt seem like it does. Its just the way their hiding it and explaining it to us. Dont use the excuse about injuries either, i know we have many of them. Thats the reason we shouldnt overspend and misuse draft picks. Room for error flows over to the negative side now.

by Sincethebeginning @ Hogs Haven on Dec 27, 2007 7:48 PM EST reply actions

What's your opinion on Doughty?

Is he longterm, in your opinion? I'm undecided on him right now, though will admit he's played way better than I imagined he would.

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by Skin Patrol on Dec 28, 2007 6:38 PM EST up reply actions

I liked him as a STer last year...

and he's progressing well this year. I like the kid.

The Post did an amazing piece on him last year regarding his newborn child (who was in the hospital) and his job security (last year, he had none) which has kinda biased me.

I think the S position is a lot better off than it probably should be, given the circumstances. And I think we have AA to thank for that.

by TexSkins on Dec 29, 2007 12:32 AM EST up reply actions

Im kinda with you on this one

still undecided. Hes playing well right now but he was a 6th round pick for a reason. Although i am rooting for him. If i had to guess he will be given a shot at that pos. next year and may very well be the starter.

Developing a young OL,DE or now possibly a CB would seem to be a bigger issue. Doughty is young and those positions are getting old fast. Alot could depend on best available like what they did with Landry which was a blessing in disguise, with ST gone.

Would like to see them draft a receiver if they can squeeze one in to.

by Sincethebeginning @ Hogs Haven on Dec 29, 2007 9:16 AM EST up reply actions

I've been saying it...

and I still am...Springs is overpaid. I'm thrilled he's been pretty healthy this season, but it's more the exception, not the rule. the rule is, he's getting old and will likely see consistent injury. Poor guy may not have much of a body when he's 53, but he'll have heaps of undeserved Redskins money to replace some joints.

I think that the front office is finally starting to see the a good draft can pay dividends straighway as well as the (much better known) long term. We do well in the draft-even if we don't do much. That will continue to change for the better, I think. And the ONLY good thing that may come form a 2 year Gibbs extension is that they will have more of the patience needed for the draft. With a younger coach and with a more patient owner (good luck there) the draft becomes invaluable. Anyways, that's more than enough outta me.

by JustinU804 on Dec 28, 2007 2:32 PM EST reply actions

An interesting idea

I think Springs is not overrated -- I think he's been playing great football this season. He is an invaluable tackler and has done a great job in coverage despite getting up there in years.

What if we were able to keep him around as a safety? He played some safety in the last few weeks (I can't remember if it was last week or the Giants game) but he's too good of a tackler to ignore and a good cover guy who wouldn't have to stick to one man as much and be able to cover more field and have more control. It would save him a few years and would keep him on the defense. Anyone?

by mmford10 on Dec 29, 2007 2:13 PM EST reply actions

He's an outstanding

player and the more I see of him, the more I want to keep him around next year. I don't think he's missed a step at all and proved how valuable he is to the defense. Against Dallas he was, as usual, spectacular.

I think we need to keep him. I like the idea of moving him to safety, and was all over it last year when we were stuck with Troy Vincent, Vernon Fox, Adam Archuleta, whoever, but he's more valuable at corner imo.

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by Skin Patrol on Dec 31, 2007 10:41 AM EST up reply actions