luckie
07-29-2006, 03:31 PM
Arrington ready to prove "haters" wrong
Asbury Park Press
07/28/06
BY ERNIE PALLADINO
STAFF WRITER
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060728/SPORTS/607280494
ALBANY, N.Y. — LaVar Arrington was fired up Thursday.
There he was, moving into his dorm at the University at Albany with a supply of air fresheners he and his wife picked up at the local Target, not to mention the two-wheeled Segway human transporter and that healthy-sized chip he carried on his shoulder. Ah, the chip. All off-season, Arrington worked to fit in with his teammates and put perceptions of his being a me-first freelance maverick behind him. Then, a few nights ago, ESPN analyst and former Steeler Merril Hoge insinuated not only that Arrington may not get along with the disciplined Tom Coughlin, but that he may be a little light between the ears. "He questioned my intelligence," Arrington said. "He's talking about whether I'll be able to pick up the defense. That just wasn't called for."
Even as players girded themselves for today's first two practices, Arrington proved he's not afraid to share his opinions. He's just wondering when everybody's opinion of him, formed over his last, unfortunate season in Washington, will change for the better. "I've been fighting this whole bad-rap thing about doing my own thing and not staying with the team and everything," Arrington said. "People can say what they want, but I know how I feel about coaching and how I feel about helping this team."
If individuality leads to making a difference, Arrington has certainly taken the first step. His Segway, rigged for off-pavement purposes with extra-thick tires, went down as the most unique possession that passed through the dorms. He said he plans to use it to go to early-morning treatments, an almost sure thing as he battles a case of Achilles' tendinitis that cropped up just before June mini-camp. He originally bought the battery-powered contraption to make it easier to round up his dogs on his large estate in Annapolis, Md.
He assured coach Tom Coughlin that riding around on a Segway is in no way akin to riding a motorcycle without a helmet. "I've never had a fall, so it's not dangerous," Arrington said. Tendinitis might be more of a problem than any potential mishap with a Segway, however. Coughlin said Wednesday that Arrington might be limited in the early workouts.
Arrington said the nagging injury shouldn't hurt his preparation. "Who doesn't play with a little pain?" Arrington said. "If you're not playing with a little pain, you're really not playing at all." He seemed prepared to make an impact on the defense. And yet, at least in his own mind, a legion of doubters, led by Hoge, stood ready to bash Arrington and his teammates. "People want to hate on the Giants," Arrington said. "People want to make statements about Eli Manning, about who's going to be the biggest flop this year. They really hate on the Giants, and it's funny.
"I guess it's a great situation because people have always hated on me. I came from a hated team, and now I'm being hated on here, and maybe that's good." The three-time Pro Bowler said Hoge accused him of having his only good years when he played up near the line, coming out of a three-point lineman's stance, which simplified his list of responsibilities.
He didn't like that.
Not at all. Not after last season, which included injury, a benching, and some verbal warfare with the coaching staff and organization.
Hence the chip.
Then again, that might be a good thing.
"I always play with a chip on my shoulder," Arrington said. "I seem to be the guy people love to hate, for some strange reason. I don't know. "I play with a chip on my shoulder, anyway, because it just seems like it's much better to play as an underdog than it is to play as the guy everybody's chasing. I don't want to get caught up in all the expectations or what people are saying."
Except, maybe, those pesky TV analysts.
Asbury Park Press
07/28/06
BY ERNIE PALLADINO
STAFF WRITER
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060728/SPORTS/607280494
ALBANY, N.Y. — LaVar Arrington was fired up Thursday.
There he was, moving into his dorm at the University at Albany with a supply of air fresheners he and his wife picked up at the local Target, not to mention the two-wheeled Segway human transporter and that healthy-sized chip he carried on his shoulder. Ah, the chip. All off-season, Arrington worked to fit in with his teammates and put perceptions of his being a me-first freelance maverick behind him. Then, a few nights ago, ESPN analyst and former Steeler Merril Hoge insinuated not only that Arrington may not get along with the disciplined Tom Coughlin, but that he may be a little light between the ears. "He questioned my intelligence," Arrington said. "He's talking about whether I'll be able to pick up the defense. That just wasn't called for."
Even as players girded themselves for today's first two practices, Arrington proved he's not afraid to share his opinions. He's just wondering when everybody's opinion of him, formed over his last, unfortunate season in Washington, will change for the better. "I've been fighting this whole bad-rap thing about doing my own thing and not staying with the team and everything," Arrington said. "People can say what they want, but I know how I feel about coaching and how I feel about helping this team."
If individuality leads to making a difference, Arrington has certainly taken the first step. His Segway, rigged for off-pavement purposes with extra-thick tires, went down as the most unique possession that passed through the dorms. He said he plans to use it to go to early-morning treatments, an almost sure thing as he battles a case of Achilles' tendinitis that cropped up just before June mini-camp. He originally bought the battery-powered contraption to make it easier to round up his dogs on his large estate in Annapolis, Md.
He assured coach Tom Coughlin that riding around on a Segway is in no way akin to riding a motorcycle without a helmet. "I've never had a fall, so it's not dangerous," Arrington said. Tendinitis might be more of a problem than any potential mishap with a Segway, however. Coughlin said Wednesday that Arrington might be limited in the early workouts.
Arrington said the nagging injury shouldn't hurt his preparation. "Who doesn't play with a little pain?" Arrington said. "If you're not playing with a little pain, you're really not playing at all." He seemed prepared to make an impact on the defense. And yet, at least in his own mind, a legion of doubters, led by Hoge, stood ready to bash Arrington and his teammates. "People want to hate on the Giants," Arrington said. "People want to make statements about Eli Manning, about who's going to be the biggest flop this year. They really hate on the Giants, and it's funny.
"I guess it's a great situation because people have always hated on me. I came from a hated team, and now I'm being hated on here, and maybe that's good." The three-time Pro Bowler said Hoge accused him of having his only good years when he played up near the line, coming out of a three-point lineman's stance, which simplified his list of responsibilities.
He didn't like that.
Not at all. Not after last season, which included injury, a benching, and some verbal warfare with the coaching staff and organization.
Hence the chip.
Then again, that might be a good thing.
"I always play with a chip on my shoulder," Arrington said. "I seem to be the guy people love to hate, for some strange reason. I don't know. "I play with a chip on my shoulder, anyway, because it just seems like it's much better to play as an underdog than it is to play as the guy everybody's chasing. I don't want to get caught up in all the expectations or what people are saying."
Except, maybe, those pesky TV analysts.