Cornerback Shawn Springs and safety Sean Taylor have not been attending voluntary mini camps this past week and according to the Washington Post, head coach Joe Gibbs is a little surprised.
Springs was on the trading block for most of the offseason, but Gibbs insured him he wouldn’t be cut and expected him to be in camp by now. But Springs has been working out on his own in Arizona and hasn’t given coaches a definitive timetable on when he’s returning.
The Taylor situation is a little more complicated than Springs’ however. There’s speculation that he’s upset with his contract and the fact the Redskins didn’t give fellow safety Ryan Clark – who signed with Pittsburgh last year and one of Taylor’s best friends – a $1.5 million raise in 2006, yet signed Adam Archuleta to a six-year, $30 million deal with $10 million guaranteed. Apparently Taylor is a little miffed he hasn’t gotten a pay raise, yet Archuleta cashed in and rookie LaRon Landry will soon enough. He actually has a legitimate beef considering how big of a bust Archuleta turned out to be, but it’s not like Taylor hasn’t been a thorn in the Redskins’ side since he was drafted in ’04, including being arrested for DUI, armed assault as well as missing the entire ’05 training camp complaining about his contract. So maybe he should just shut his mouth and be happy Washington hasn’t shown him the door. Gibbs must be longing for the days he didn’t have to put up with all this crap from players.
