Look at him in the huddle. There was Troy Vincent telling guys he didn’t even know two weeks ago to keep believing. They listened.
Look at him on the sidelines. There was Vincent greeting a kicker who had just missed a last-minute field goal attempt, telling him they would need him later.
Look at him in the locker room. There’s Vincent talking about earning a player of the week award for his game-saving blocked field goal, trying to dish off the honor to that kicker, Nick Novak. And reminding anyone who would listen that the win was great, but plenty of things need correcting.
Whether or not Vincent can fill the role at safety alongside Sean Taylor remains to be seen; but the veteran defensive back has already established his presence on the team.
“He’s a real mature, classy guy,” Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. “He’s extremely well-prepared and he puts a lot of extra time into it. I walk by that [meeting] room in there and he’s a guy who’s in there late at night.”
Said Vincent, “I expect to be a leader by my play, not by my words.”
But his words carry weight, perhaps because he’s also the president of the NFL Player’s Association. Vincent also can serve as a mentor to Taylor, much like he did in Philadelphia with safety Brian Dawkins. He’ll see his best friend, and former team, when the Redskins play at the Eagles on Sunday.
“I was a rookie so he helped me out with football and also life,” Dawkins said. “I call him my big brother. Troy cares about people. He genuinely cares about their well-being. He’ll say some unpopular things sometimes because he believes what he believes in.”
Vincent did not grow up serving on student councils (though his 11-year-old son does) or being named team captain. But since entering the NFL, Vincent has often been put in leadership situations. He notices teammates follow his lead.
“All the time,” he said. “It’s the way I approach people. It’s not what we say, it’s how we say it and obviously we all want to do well. Sometimes it doesn’t happen. When you respect your peers and approach a man a certain way, he understands where you’re coming from. He knows you’re not trying to sugarcoat anything. He listens to you.”
But Vincent knows how to become an effective leader. His 15 seasons and 47 career interceptions mean more than anything else.
“The best way to be a leader is make plays and keep your mouth shut,” Vincent said. “And you earn the respect of your peers.”
Week 10 Notes
» Redskins rookie linebacker Rocky McIntosh was stunned by the death of former University of Miami teammate Bryan Pata, who was shot and killed in Miami Tuesday night. Pata was a senior defensive lineman.
“It’s very unfortunate,” McIntosh said. “He was a great guy. I checked my phone [Tuesday night] and they said he got shot and I couldn’t go back to sleep the rest of the night. I was up just thinking about it, just missing him. We said a prayer for him, me and my wife.”
» Wide receiver Santana Moss returned to practice Wednesday, albeit in a limited role, raising hopes he’ll play against Philadelphia on Sunday.
Moss participated in individual drills, running at about half-speed on the wet field, and caught passes. But he’s still listed as questionable after missing last weekend with his hamstring injury.
“It was encouraging,” Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said of Moss’ return. “Today was a big step up.”
» Tight end Christian Fauria (ankle) did not practice and is questionable. Offensive tackle Jon Jansen (calf) did not practice, but is probable. Quarterback Mark Brunell did not practice; Gibbs said it was to give him a rest.
» The Redskins have been outscored, 50-17, in the third quarter this season, including 7-0 against Dallas this past Sunday.
“So far, I would say we haven’t found a key,” Gibbs said. “Certainly it’s nothing you can practice. Or maybe there is something you can do, maybe stop practice and say, ‘OK, it’s the third quarter.”
