The frustration of a losing season, injury and poor play may have taken its toll on Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien.
Rypien, the most valuable player in Washington's Super Bowl victory over the Buffalo Bills two years ago, Sunday said he did not expect to be back with the Redskins next season."As much as I would like to stay . . . finally you get an understanding that it's time to move on," said Rypien following a 35-3 loss at Dallas that dropped the Redskins to 4-11 on the season.
"Not because you want to, but you can just sense from a feeling around that this might be the time," he told The Washington Post.
Rypien, who arrived in Washington in 1986, is the second lowest rated quarterback in the NFC.
He started off strongly this season, but he injured a knee in a loss to Phoenix the next week and missed several games before being reinstalled as the starter last week in a victory over Atlanta.
"I've had a great run here. You wish it was not over with," said Rypien. "I've had eight great years in the organization. But you kind of get the sense that it's time."
He said the Redskins had promised to rework his non-guaranteed $3 million a year contract that has two years and an option season remaining.
He also said he would be willing to renegotiate and take less money to stay in Washington.
But Rypien said he had not heard back from the team about his contract over the past 2 1/2 months.