Green Says He Isn’t Holding Out on Redskins

Free agent Darrell Green emphasized Tuesday he’s “not at war” with the Washington Redskins, his employer of six years’ standing, and has plans to attend next week’s minicamp.

Recent projections had been less promising, with Coach Joe Gibbs fearing a Green holdout, but the cornerback said he is thrilled a trade with Denver fell through and added that contract talks with the Redskins should progress amicably.

“They didn’t trade me, didn’t you hear?” said Green, who was shopped to the Broncos for a No. 1 draft pick and a player. The deal reportedly collapsed when Denver grew uncomfortable with Green’s contract demand--supposedly $1 million annually--though he would not confirm that figure Tuesday.

“Keep numbers out of the newspaper, OK?” he said.

Green’s agent, Kyle Rote Jr., has been hinting at the $1 million demand. Rote has said the best cornerbacks in the league are worth approximately $800,000 and the best punt returners are worth $200,000 and Green does both for the Redskins, so add it up. But Rote also said, “I can tell the Redskins what Darrell’s worth in Denver (because the Broncos told him), but not in Washington. Bobby Beathard has to tell me.”

Rote said Beathard, Washington’s general manager, has yet to open negotiations, but Green--who made $450,000 last season--hinted an agreement is imminent.

“I’ll be in minicamp,” he said. “Even though I have no contract, I will have one, and I will be on this team.”

Rarely has Green, 29, spoken so confidently about his contractual status, but friends say the aborted trade with the Broncos has him extraordinarily upbeat. Green, in the past year, has started a Youth-Life Foundation, designed to counsel, clothe and feed disadvantaged children in the District. If he had his way, he would finish his career here, yet he also has hinted displeasure over his salary base in recent years.

Two seasons ago, Green had a year lopped off his contract so he could become a free agent this off-season. Gibbs sensed Green might hold out from training camp, and that’s when this winter’s trade talks progressed. Rote’s understanding is that Beathard was willing to dangle Green as bait to get a running back, but the general manager managed to make deals for Gerald Riggs and Earnest Byner without giving the cornerback away. Gibbs apparently made it clear to Beathard he didn’t want to trade his own players, fearing he would “tear up” the team.

However, sources indicated that Green has been frustrating some in the organization with his perceived stubbornness. Although he’s a three-time Pro Bowl pick, his self-admitted weakness has been the “double moves,” when a quarterback’s pump fake freezes him, and the organization has questioned his willingness to overcome the problem. If he was going to be traded, this had to be a reason.

“Listen,” Green said, “the key thing is they kept me on the team. I guess I’m not that uncoachable.”

Sources said Gibbs has gone to bat for Green in discussions with others in the organization. The coach was unavailable for comment Tuesday, but has said recently he wants Green back.

“If Joe wants me here, that settles it,” Green said. “Joe’s done a great job for eight years. Joe has a great ability to judge talent and character. If Joe wants a player here, I can’t see it (Green’s contract) being a hard deal to do.”

Specifically, Green was tied with defensive end Charles Mann for third highest salary on defense last season, behind linebacker Wilber Marshall’s $900,000 and defensive tackle Dave Butz’s $500,000. “Hey,” he said of his contract unhappiness, “I just want to fall in line with what I think is fair for me.”

Sources are speculating he’d settle for a deal in the $750,000 range.

It has been said Green was the most valuable player in Washington’s 1987 Super Bowl drive--guarding the other team’s best receiver, returning a punt for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears and breaking up the tying touchdown in the NFC Championship against Minnesota. Several coaches have confirmed he was irreplaceable. Last season, though, a knee injury hobbled him throughout the year.

“Of course it did,” he said. “But the thing I try not to do is cover up. If I get beat, I get beat.

“Listen, in terms of my relationship with management and the coaches, there isn’t a problem there in terms of keeping me around. We have a good relationship . . . I think everything has been or is being ironed out, and I think this year their hopes and my hopes are high. It’s not unrealisitic to say we can go a real long way, and I don’t want to be somewhere else watching it.”

Green’s Olympic-level speed obviously will be a factor in negotiations, too. He is a two-time winner of the NFL’s Fastest Man contest, and he’ll be going for his third title. He has trained feverishly for the 60-yard sprint, and said he ran a 21.1-second 200 meters last week. The 200 and 400 are his best events.