Monk Is a Minicamp No-Show

Art Monk, usually a man of few words, spoke volumes with his actions Friday.

In a rare public display of discontent, the Washington Redskins veteran wide receiver was a no-show when the team opened its annual weekend minicamp.

It was no surprise that linebacker Wilber Marshall, who’s irate about his franchise player designation, was the only other player on the 87-man roster to miss the opening of camp.

Monk’s absence, though, was out of character for the 35-year-old, 13-year veteran who is the NFL’s all-time reception leader and is noted for being a team leader.

Monk, who hasn’t given an interview since December when he saluted Sterling Sharpe of the Green Bay Packers for breaking his single-season reception record with 106 catches, was unavailable for comment.

But a source said that Monk, who is willing to accept his demotion to backup status, is unhappy the team is offering him a modest raise over his $1.1 million base salary of last year to $1.2 million. Monk wants about $2 million.

Monk lost his bargaining power when he didn’t get offers from any other team even though he was unrestricted free agent.

New Coach Richie Petitbon said he had no plans to talk to Monk about the situation.

“What would I speak to him about? That’s his decision. We’ll just leave it at that. You certainly can’t force people to come to camp,” he said.

Petitbon said he didn’t expect Marshall, who was in Houston on Thursday talking to the Oilers, to make it to camp, but he added, “I’m a little disappointed in Art’s case. I thought he would be here. I think he should be here.”

Richard Bennett, who represents Monk and Marshall, didn’t return several phone calls to his office.

Monk appeared to lose a step last year when his reception total dropped from 71 to 46, and Petitbon recently told him that the team expected to go with Ricky Sanders and Desmond Howard as the starters this season.

“I thought it went very well,” Petitbon said of his conversation with Monk. “We felt we wanted to give our younger guys a shot. I think we just felt we needed more speed.”

Monk called Rennie Simmons, the team’s wide receivers coach, and told him he wasn’t coming. “His agent advised him not to come,” Simmons said.

Explaining why the Redskins told Monk in advance that the team was going with younger receivers, Simmons said, “I think the worst scenario was painted to him so if the worst came to worst, it wouldn’t be any shock to him rather than have it all come out in training camp.”

Simmons and Petitbon stressed that Sanders and Howard have to earn the jobs, but Petitbon conceded, “The guy who has the position (in training camp) in most cases winds up keeping it.”

From a football standpoint, the Redskins don’t need Monk. They signed Tim McGee of the Cincinnati Bengals as a third receiver behind Howard and Sanders.

It’s more of a public relations problem because Monk is a popular player. Even Sanders, who now will become the No. 1 receiver, feels empathy for Monk’s diminished role.

“To not even have a chance to fight for your job, that’s tough. I’d be ticked off. I guess that’s the NFL,” he said.