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Arrington: Gibbs 'a coward' for leaving 'Skins

Ex-linebacker also says his relationship with owner Snyder is strained

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updated 10:03 p.m. ET Nov. 11, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former Redskins NFL linebacker LaVar Arrington had choice words for his ex-coach Joe Gibbs and team owner Dan Snyder, according to an interview published in the Washington Times.

Gibbs, who initially retired from the Redskins after the 1992 season, rejoined the team in 2004 and coached Washington for the next four seasons.

Arrington played for Gibbs in 2004 and 2005 and eventually left the team in in February 2006 after injuries slowed him.

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"I called Joe Gibbs a coward for leaving," Arrington said in the interview. "You came in, you made some money for your NASCAR team. No one else is going to say that. I'm sure more people thought I was a [jerk] for saying that. Joe wouldn't call me because he knows. There are a lot of people who know the truth about what went down with me and the Redskins."

Arrington would later play with the New York Giants before a ruptured Achilles tendon ended his career.

He also reportedly has a strained relationship with Snyder.

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"I think Dan Snyder is scared to death of me," Arrington told the paper. "He won't look at me. I tried to shake his hand at [a] luncheon. He shook my hand and was like, 'How you doing, LaVar?' and kept moving. I'm probably the only person that's ever stood up to him and never backed down."

Arrington told the Times he tried to reach out to Snyder after the death of Sean Taylor a year ago, but was rebuffed.

"I root for the Redskins because how I feel about the fans outweighs how the organization treated me. I always take pleasure in taking jabs at Dan because people like him need that. There's got to be a person out there who's not afraid to do it."

Arrington is now the owner of an Annapolis, Md., sports bar. He played in 85 NFL games, picking up 411 career tackles and 23½ sacks.

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