'No contact' drill: Gibbs hasn't heard from Taylor or Springs
Associated Press
National Football League News Wire
ASHBURN, Va. -- Joe Gibbs has had no contact with Sean
Taylor and has lost contact with Shawn Springs, leaving the
Washington Commanders coach guessing about the status of the two
starters missing from the team's spring practices.
"Obviously, it's disappointing," Gibbs said Thursday as the
team wrapped up its third day of workouts. "We want everybody
here."
The two defensive backs were the only no-shows when the team
reconvened Tuesday after a longer-than-usual offseason break.
Veterans were informally given leeway to do their offseason
conditioning away from Commanders Park during March and April, but
Gibbs was expecting everyone to attend the May and June practices.
Under league rules, players aren't required to attend any
practices until the three-day minicamp in mid-June. Taylor has
routinely been dismissive of any workouts not deemed mandatory,
although he did participate in most of the offseason program last
year.
Taylor has also stayed away in the past to express his
displeasure over his contract, an issue that could arise again
following the Commanders' decision to select another safety, LSU's
LaRon Landry, with the No. 6 overall pick in the draft. Landry's
contract is expected to be bigger than Taylor's.
"With Sean Taylor, I've had no contact whatsoever," Gibbs
said. "I'm not aware of anything there, so that's about all I can
say about it."
Springs, the team's top cornerback, has been the subject of
trade rumors because of a contract that will cost the Commanders $7.4
million against the salary cap this season.
Gibbs said he had spoken to Springs extensively during the
offseason -- including a sit-down during the NFL meetings in Phoenix
in March -- and that the team had decided to keep the cornerback
under the current contract.
"Up to two weeks ago, we thought we were in real good shape,"
Gibbs said. "The coaches were talking to him, but then all of a
sudden we lost contact."
Neither player's agent responded to requests for comment.
Gibbs, meanwhile, would prefer to hear something from the
missing players. Any word is better than no word at all.
"I think it helps when you know what the situation is," Gibbs
said, "and they'll talk to you and say 'This is what I don't
like.'
