bummer to realize that almost every NFL player is younger than we are....DOH! Come on Darrell...uno mas! <g>
Green considering return in 2002
December 14, 2001
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green is thinking about playing another season.
The 41-year-old player also said in an appearance on the ``John Thompson Show'' on a Washington radio station that his mood suffered early in the season because coach Marty Schottenheimer told him, in essence, ``Get to the back of the bus.''
Green said Sept. 4 that this would be his last NFL season, but in recent weeks has avoided a direct answer when asked if he would reconsider. Fans have urged the cornerback, the oldest ever to play his position, to return for a 20th year.
``The community has a say,'' Green said Friday. ``That doesn't mean I'm going to come back, but that's the only thing that got me thinking about it. Not the coach said you could come back, or the players want you back, or any other things outside of that. It's the community.''
Green also discussed his relationship with Schottenheimer, who has been criticized for cavalier treatment of Green during training camp. Green recited that, at one point early in the season, defensive end Marco Coleman told Schottenheimer that Green's behavior was different from years past.
``Marco said, `Well, Darrell doesn't act like himself,' '' Green said. ``Hey, the man in so many words said, `Get to the back of the bus.' Well, if that's where I have to get to help the team be successful -- I'm not bigger than the team.''
During camp, Schottenheimer gave Green, who has been to seven Pro Bowls, remedial instruction on how to play the position. He also had Green returning punts, something Green hadn't done in more than a decade. The coach eventually awarded rookie Fred Smoot the starting job after a three-way competition involving Green and Donovan Greer.
``I know this much: I will never be a Marty Schottenheimer guy,'' Green said. ``I'm not his guy. I was here before he got here. He's got young players. He's got players that he brought in.
``I believe he wanted Donovan Greer to be the starter. I don't know if he was necessarily expecting Smoot to come on so quickly. I don't think he was going to build his life with Darrell Green, and I'm not mad at him for that.''
Schottenheimer said this week he regretted his treatment of Green and would do things differently if had the chance. Green has said that Schottenheimer was one of the reasons he announced his retirement. The recent improved relationship between coach and player has made Green's return more feasible.
Green has played well this season, including three solid starts when Smoot was injured. Meanwhile, the Redskins have gone from 0-5 to 6-6.
``When it went bad, it was his fault,'' Green said. ``When it was going well, it was his fault. So with that in mind, he's not wrong -- he's not wrong in any regard -- so that's why I can't be mad at him. But the reality is I will never by Marty's guy, because I'm too old.''
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