CB Shawn Springs (All B1G, All-American, B1G DPOY, OSU HOF, Pro Bowl, All Pro)

[Buckskin86]

'No contact' drill: Gibbs hasn't heard from Taylor or Springs
Posted 2h 6m ago | Comment | Recommend E-mail | Save | Print |

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) ? Joe Gibbs said Thursday he has had "no contact" with Sean Taylor and that the team has "lost contact" with Shawn Springs, leaving the Washington Redskins coach in limbo as to the status of the two starters missing from the team's spring practices.
"Obviously, it's disappointing," Gibbs said as the team wrapped up its third day of workouts. "We want everybody here."

Springs, the team's top cornerback, has been the subject of trade rumors because of a contract that will cost the Redskins $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 on the team 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.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/redskins/2007-05-10-taylor-springs_N.htm

 

[Buckskin86]

Shawn Springs and his father Ron still talk about what would happen if they had squared off on the football field. (Helayne Seidman - For The Washington Post)

The Aging Process
Grappling With Uncertainty as His Career Transitions, Shawn Springs Takes Cues From His Father's Strength

By Howard Bryant
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 13, 2007; Page E01

"I'm going to have the best year of my career. I have to," Springs said between explosiveness drills, sounding like a boxer in training. He is talking to himself as much as anyone else in the room. "Everybody thinks I'm finished. The only way to prove them wrong is come out and ball."

Springs talks and time taps him on the shoulder. The last time his team won its final game was the 1997 Rose Bowl, a 20-17 Ohio State win over Arizona State. He looks at the Redskins and sees opportunities sprinting past, and his mood darkens.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/12/AR2007051200926.html

 

[Buckskin86]

Springs Makes Plans; Portis Defends Vick
Tuesday, May 22, 2007; Page E02


Washington Redskins cornerback Shawn Springs said he intends to report June 5 to Redskins Park after skipping the first two weeks of the voluntary organized team activities.

"I'm excited to get back in town and crack jokes with my teammates and catch up with my boys," he said. He added that he would have reported next week, but no OTAs are scheduled because of the Memorial Day holiday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/21/AR2007052101376.html

 

[Buckskin86]

After Reporting for Team Activities, Springs Expects to Practice Today

By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 5, 2007; Page E03

Cornerback Shawn Springs reported to Redskins Park yesterday for the first time since the start of Washington's formal offseason program, and will be on the field today for voluntary practice, he said. Springs, the only prominent player not participating in organized team activities, said he will remain in town through minicamp.

Springs, 32, who missed nearly half of last season with a sports hernia injury, had been training in Arizona. He bristled after being asked to take a $2 million pay cut this offseason, and was mentioned in trade talks. But when healthy, he is the Redskins' premier cover cornerback, and one of the best in the league. Springs arrived at Redskins Park early yesterday morning to check in with coaches and said he is healthy and happy.

"It's good to be back," Springs said. "It's business as usual, getting ready to play football."

Springs talked with the staff and teammates, got his locker in order and left Redskins Park with a notebook and backpack. The Redskins will have OTA practices today through Thursday and Tuesday through Thursday next week. Minicamp will be held June 15-17.

washingtonpost.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Springs pulls a veteran move
Jun 7, 2007 3:00 AM (9 hrs ago)
by Rick Snider, The Examiner

Shawn Springs is not the bad guy. Don?t let the backroom whispers, sports talk hacks and second-guessing bloggers fool you. The Washington Redskins cornerback knows after a decade in the NFL that it?s a business and wasn?t letting the team mislead him like they have so many others over the years.

Springs was the last starter to report for ?voluntary? organized team activities at Redskin Park on Tuesday. He waited for the June 1 salary cap deadline that better ensures he?ll be around this season. Beforehand, it was a little less certain so Springs worked out with a personal conditioning coach in the desert rather than Ashburn like coaches wanted.

Bravo, Shawn ? way to not let anybody run you.

Springs pulls a veteran move - Examiner.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Peter Lockley / The Washington Times Shawn Springs: "I think I can ball, I think other people think I can ball. I think this organization thinks I can ball."

Springs begins camp with extra motivation
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Shawn Springs was back in a Washington Redskins uniform yesterday after an eventful offseason that included recovering from a broken shoulder blade, being the subject of trade talks, refusing to take a pay cut and choosing to do much of his winter/spring work in Arizona.

Predictably, Springs said the trade talks didn't bother him. The Denver Broncos showed an interest in the 32-year-old cornerback.

"I've been around the league because of my dad and as an athlete, you're an independent contractor," Springs said after the Redskins opened training camp. "That's part of the business. I took it as flattering that other teams wanted me. Everybody was doing what they can do to improve their organization.

Springs begins camp with extra motivation?-?Nation/Politics?-?The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

 

[Buckskin86]

Redskins CB Springs wants to show he's still an impact player
By The Associated Press
Sunday, July 29, 2007

Springs was essentially hurt all season. He had a sports hernia, a hamstring injury and a broken shoulder blade. He played in only nine games and had one interception. The lack of a healthy No. 1 cornerback helped sink the Redskins defense to the depths of the NFL - 31st among 32 teams.

"It's a big difference when he was on the field - and it was a major difference when he was missing," defensive lineman Phillip Daniels said.

Still, the Redskins didn't show much appreciation. They asked Springs to take a pay cut and shopped him on the trade market. Springs refused to take less money, and he further frustrated the coaching staff by staying away when voluntary spring practices began in May. He then had to miss most of the June minicamp for the birth of his son.

Springs said he took the trade rumors in stride, calling himself an "independent contractor."

"It was part of the business. I took it as flattering," Springs said. "Other teams wanted me."

Now normalcy has been restored. Springs is healthy and on the field for training camp. And lest anyone forget, he's happy to remind them that he can still be a difference-maker. Asked how the team will get more takeaways this year, he said: "Me."

"That's the pride of an athlete," Springs said. "Everybody wants to come back and say, 'This is who I am. This is what I can do.'"

Skins' Springs wants to show he's still an impact player - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

 

[Buckskin86]

Springs hopes to awake from 2006 nightmare
By D.Laurant on August 9, 2007 12:16 AM

Shawn Springs suffered through it as stoically as he could. As recently as 2004, the former Ohio State star had finished with six sacks, five intereptions and 80-plus tackles. Those numbers slipped condiderably in 2005, however, and 2006 was a nightmare.

Spring missed the first six games with a sports hernia, then tried to tough out a nagging hamstring injury until a broken shoulder blade put him out of his misery.

During the offseason he trained with Walt Harris of the San Francisco 49ers , who had eight interceptions and four forced fumbles and made the Pro Bowl in '06.

"Walt Harris gets on me all the time," Springs told the Associated Press. "He's like, 'Y'all got rid of me and I had 12 myself.' I said, 'Whatever you're doing, I have to start doing.'"

Washington Redskins "Shawn Springs hopes to wake up from 2006 nightmare" - Realfootball365.com

 

[Buckskin86]

5The Redskins, who were forced to play Kenny Wright and Mike Rumph at corner too much last season, have five corners with at least two years of NFL starting experience. Shawn Springs, Carlos Rogers and Fred Smoot are the team's top corners, and one of those will end up being a nickel corner. It could be Springs, who missed all of last season with injuries. The last time Springs didn't start when healthy was 1993, when he was redshirting at Ohio State.

Star-Telegram.com | 08/19/2007 | Henry's up in running back roulette

 

[Buckskin86]

Redskins Cornerback Delivers Backpacks To Students

POSTED: 4:31 pm EDT September 4, 2007
UPDATED: 5:24 pm EDT September 4, 2007

On Tuesday morning, each student received a backpack full of school supplies during a special assembly.

"We decided to give back to the community and make sure that all the kids had a backpack and all the supplies and really just make people continue their education and do well in school," Springs said.

Redskins Cornerback Delivers Backpacks To Students - Education News Story - WRC | Washington

News report with Springs interview

Shawn Springs Delivers Backpacks To School - Videos - WRC

 

[Buckskin86]

Springs's Reserve Role Takes Some by Surprise

By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 11, 2007; Page E06

Cornerback Shawn Springs has the highest base salary of any Redskin (nearly $5 million), said he feels as healthy as he has in years and is the most accomplished of Washington's defensive backs, yet with the game in the balance Sunday, he stood on the sidelines watching. Springs was the third defensive back in the season-opening victory, with Fred Smoot and Carlos Rogers playing in the base package, a move that surprised some veteran players.

Coach Joe Gibbs said that during practice last week the coaches thought that Springs was not as explosive as normal, not quite 100 percent, but said the team's "concern" with Springs was not related to his sports hernia from last year or any particular injury. Springs said he feels great, and he was not listed on an injury report.

"We were kind of worried a little bit the week before about him from a health standpoint," Gibbs said. "Certainly, I am sure he will start this year but we feel like we're real solid at corner and we've got three guys there who have started a bunch."

Gibbs said that Springs was not breaking full speed as he normally would and was "holding up a little bit," although he practiced fully. "I felt better going into that game Sunday than I have in four years," Springs said. "I don't know what Coach Gibbs is talking about." Springs, who rebuffed requests for him to slash his salary in the offseason, said that he is not anticipating a quick change to his starting status. "Start? I doubt it," Springs said. "Usually when you start the season off like that, that's probably the way it is."

Springs said that he is okay with his role, and was not shocked to be on the bench, though privately some players said that the coaches did not clarify the starting situation with the corners until game day, and did not speak with them to clarify their status. Springs laughed that off.

"Man, with my salary this year I'm not trippin,' " he said.

washingtonpost.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Springs, Gibbs on same page
By Ryan O'Halloran
September 14, 2007

Despite playing less than half of the Washington Redskins defensive snaps, Shawn Springs believes he'll start at cornerback Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I think I am, I'm not for sure," he said. "I'll prepare like I'm going to start."

After practice, cornerbacks coach Jerry Gray said: "Hopefully on Monday, he's out there with the starting unit."

Springs had hamstring tightness last week, an ailment that wasn't revealed until Tuesday because he had practiced the entire week. On Monday, coach Joe Gibbs stammered about why Springs played only 23 of 58 defensive snaps in the overtime win over Miami. By comparison, Fred Smoot and Carlos Rogers 56 and 53 snaps, respectively.

Springs and Gibbs are apparently on the same page after a conversation Wednesday or yesterday.

"We had a good talk, it was an excellent talk," Springs said. "We're on the same page with everything and that's good."

Springs said he wrapped his hamstring after lifting weights Sept. 3, "because that's what veterans do sometimes."

Even though Springs practiced last week, Gibbs and the coaching staff cut Springs' playing time, they said, to avoid him injuring his hamstring.
"[Gibbs] was like, 'I'm just looking out for you. I want you for 16 games,' " Springs said. "That was pretty much it."

Springs had two tackles and a fumble recovery against Miami.

"I thought Shawn played well last week, especially after coming in and talking about having some tightness," Gray said. "Shawn knows his body. He's been playing for a long time and he communicates with us and the trainers so there isn't a discrepancy. Our job is to make sure he gets to Sunday."

http://washingtontimes.com/article/20070914/SPORTS01/109140103/1005/SPORTS

 

[Buckskin86]

As Necessary, Corner Springs Into Action
Redskins Defender Helps Dad, Team Overcome Adversity

By Dan Steinberg
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 22, 2007; Page E15

Shawn Springs arrived at Redskins Park on Saturday morning, having spent much of the past week in a Dallas area hospital with his ailing father, Ron. The veteran cornerback met with assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams and said he'd like to participate in this weekend's game, and after some cursory tutorials about the Arizona Cardinals' offense, Williams decided to use Springs in limited situations.

Then starter Fred Smoot pulled his hamstring in the first half yesterday, and suddenly Springs was back to full-time duty in Washington's 21-19 win over the Cardinals.

"I laughed," Springs said of his unexpected playing time. "I told Smoot, I said 'Man you put me out there for about 60 snaps and I haven't even stretched. I've just been sitting in the hospital.' " Springs said this with a slight smile, and as he told coaches, teammates and media members, his profession has served as a welcome distraction in recent days.

"That's the beauty about football," he said. "You get three hours to just get away from your everyday life. You don't worry about too much. You just worry about being out there with a group of guys with one common goal, and that's win the game."

washingtonpost.com

With father ailing, Springs plays on
By Bob Cohn
October 21, 2007
While his Washington Redskins teammates focused on the Arizona Cardinals last week, cornerback Shawn Springs had a more serious and urgent concern.

Springs missed nearly the entire week of practice to be with his father, former college and NFL star Ron Springs, who lapsed into a coma at a Dallas hospital 10 days ago after checking in to have a cyst removed from his arm. According to news reports, the elder Springs is on a respirator, showing no signs of brain activity and is not expected to recover.

Yet to the surprise of just about everyone, his son returned to Redskin Park today. And today he played more than he or anyone else expected, helping the defense carry a nonproductive offense in a 21-19 win over the Cardinals at FedEx Field.

With father ailing, Springs plays on?-?-?The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Springs returns from ailing father's side to play for Redskins

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) ? Washington Redskins cornerback Shawn Springs returned from his father's bedside to play in Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Springs spent most of last week in Texas, where former Dallas Cowboys running back Ron Springs remained hospitalized in a coma. Ron Springs, a diabetic, received a kidney donated by ex-teammate Everson Walls in February.

"It all started with a simple procedure on his arm," Shawn Springs said. "He needed a cyst removed from his arm."

Springs said his father still had pain in the arm after the operation, so a second one was scheduled three days later, on Oct. 11. Springs said his father lost oxygen for a time during the surgery and lapsed into a coma.

Springs returns from ailing father's side to play for Redskins - USATODAY.com

 

[lovin_bobby42]

My thoughts & prayers are with the Springs family. :( Going from a simple procedure to a coma with no chance for recovery is indescribable.


:osu2:

 

[Buckskin86]

Tough times for Redskins' Shawn Springs

With his father, Ron, in a coma, cornerback deals with pain


01:32 AM CST on Sunday, November 11, 2007
By RICK GOSSELIN / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

ASHBURN, Va. ? His body is in Washington, D.C. His mind is on the football field for 90 minutes daily during the week and three hours on Sunday. But Shawn Springs' heart is always in Dallas these days.

That's where his father, Ron, a former NFL player himself, lies in a coma.

Eight months after undergoing delicate and dangerous surgery to receive a kidney from former Cowboys teammate Everson Walls, Ron Springs went back into a hospital Oct. 12 for minor surgery to remove a cyst from his arm. But he never regained consciousness from the surgery and remains in a coma.

"I've come to peace with it," said Shawn after a Washington Redskins practice Friday. "If you have faith, when you see him in the hospital you know he's no longer in pain, he's not hurting. He's at peace."

Tough times for Redskins' Shawn Springs | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | SportsDay: Football: Cowboys