Content provided in partnership with

An L.A. revival in N.Y

Sporting News, The, July 21, 2006 by Ralph Vacchiano

The first thing LaVar Arrington saw when he walked into the Giants' locker room was a mostly empty stall just inside the door. Above it was a plaque in honor of the last man to use it: Lawrence Taylor. Old No. 56.

"For so long, that is who people were likening me to--L.T.," says Arrington, who will give up the No. 56 he wore in Washington and wear No. 55 in New York. The Giants just hope he plays like the old L.A.--the stud linebacker who had 17 total sacks in the 2002 and '03 seasons.

In his last two injury-plagued, unhappy seasons in Washington, Arrington had one sack, feuded with qcoaches and developed a reputation as a free-lancer who couldn't--or wouldn't--play inside a defensive scheme.

Most Popular Articles in Sports: The first family: Archie, Peyton and Eli are incredibly famous, immensely ...; The growing gap: driving distances are skyrocketing on the PGA Tour. So why ...; Which pistol caliber for self defense? Four different people come to four ...; Drag racing - National Hot Rod Association; The world's most popular .22: the Marlin Model 60 just keeps on ticking; More »

What the Giants see, though, is a player with a healthy knee, motivated by a change of scenery and a chance to redeem himself, who is just as powerful and explosive as he ever was. Arrington will start on the strong side because, as coach Tom Coughlin Says, "he's powerful over the tight end." But Arrington's biggest asset will be his pass-rushing ability--a dangerous weapon coming from behind ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora.

That will work only if Arrington can play within a complicated and varied scheme that won't have much room for the free-lancing he supposedly did in D.C. "I wouldn't be too worried about the free-lancing rap," says one AFC scout. "He sounds happy and motivated in New York, and the Giants have made him feel needed. That'll be enough to keep him in line."

But will it be enough to get Arrington to play like L.T., or at least the old L.A.?

"I know I can thrive in this system," he says. "This is going to be a rebirth for me."--Ralph Vacchiano

An L.A. revival in N.Y

Sporting News, The, July 21, 2006 by Ralph Vacchiano

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Reference

Most Popular Articles in Sports

Most Popular Publications in Sports