Springs Not Surprised Redskins Cut Him
Cornerback Shawn Springs, who signed with the New England Patriots after being released by the Washington Redskins, spoke to reporters via conference call Wednesday. He said he hadn't been surprised to be released by the Redskins on the opening day of free agency.
"I talk to the coaches and everything," Springs said, according to a transcript provided by the Patriots. "It was a good thing. I wasn't surprised at all. I had talked and possibly could have stayed in Washington if things had worked out, but I wasn't surprised at all. I'm happy to be in New England, I can tell you that."
Springs will continue to face wide receiver Terrell Owens twice per season now that Owens has signed with the Buffalo Bills.
Owens was in San Francisco when Springs was in Seattle, and Owens was in Dallas when Springs was in D.C.
"I texted him and told him, 'Stop following me around,' " Springs said. "We've been in the NFC West together, we were in the NFC East together and now we're in the AFC East together. With me and Terrell, people know that I think he's a competitor and I'm a competitor.
"We never made it about us. It was always both of us trying to work really hard to help our teams win. I guess the media people make it more like a rivalry, but it was never like that. I'll play within the game, whatever the game plan is and he plays within his game plan and we just go out and play football."
Springs apparently is to play cornerback in New England after the Philadelphia Eagles reportedly wanted him to play safety if he'd signed with them. Springs said the Patriots have not mentioned the possibility of him being moved to safety.
"He didn't go into it in any detail," Springs said of his conversations with Patriots Coach Bill Belichick. "We just talked about me being a Patriot. He didn't go into much detail about the type of things I would do or what I would be playing. He was just like, 'Come over to New England.' I didn't actually question him. I have so much respect for what he's done for players in the past, I don't ask questions, I just said , 'Coach, wherever you want me to line up, I'll play.' "
Springs said he still believes he is a top cornerback.
"I know for one, I think I have veteran experience that I can bring to the team, but I can really run and I still feel like I can run and I can play at a high level," he said. "Obviously seeing that in the games I played last year, matching up on different guys--I feel I can still compete at a high level, and basically, I'm just coming in to just do my part on the team and help out any way I can."
By
Mark Maske
|
March 12, 2009; 11:54 AM ET
| Category:
Patriots
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Redskins
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