NFLPA’s Smith attends Redskins workout
This isn’t exactly the way the rookies had this planned in their minds. Their first practice with the Redskins involved no coaches, less than a full roster and no helmets or pads. And, at the end, they received a visit from the most-important person in the players’ minds these days: DeMaurice Smith.
For all the work the 41 Redskins did on the field at this undisclosed high school, perhaps Smith’s words carried the most significance. After all, as the executive director of the NFL Players Association, Smith is in charge of negotiating a deal to end the lockout. After the practice, Smith met with the players and answered questions.
Not that it resolved anything.
“The uncertainty lingers, you just want to know what’s happening,” Redskins quarterback John Beck said.
What’s happening now is nothing. The players remain locked out, which is why they’ve organized a three-day minicamp. Ten of the 12 rookies attended, with receiver Aldrick Robinson and defensive end Jarvis Jenkins the lone no-shows. Beck and free agent quarterback Rex Grossman alternated snaps. Among the notable no-shows: linebacker Brian Orakpo, safety LaRon Landry and left tackle Trent Williams.
The three days will provide the rookies a chance to start learning the playbook. Beck made copies for the new players Monday. He has three new receivers and a lengthy lockout won’t help their transition. They need to study the plays.
“Last night I couldn’t sleep I was so ready to come out here and work out with my teammates,” rookie receiver Niles Paul said.
Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan received his playbook after the draft during a one-day lockout hiatus. He studied it for hours, but Tuesday provided him an opportunity to start transitioning from end in college to linebacker in the NFL.
“It was a little different,” he said. “There was a lot of learning on the fly. But London [Fletcher] and Lorenzo [Alexander] have been doing a good job helping me learn the position and learn the defense.”
Fletcher said of Kerrigan, “He looked natural in coverage. He didn’t make any mental errors when he was supposed to rush or cover.”
But the big question is: When will those skills be shown in front of his coaches? Smith, who declined to speak with the media, could not answer that question for the players.
“I’m still an optimist,” Fletcher said. “We haven’t missed training camp. We haven’t missed games. We’re not in a panic mode. There is still a lot of time to get something done. We want to get things done right now, though.
“I understand the situation. Nobody’s happy now. We want to play. They’re not allowing us to play, and that’s why we have to organize our own practices.”
And corner DeAngelo Hall said he remains optimistic, though the longer he spoke the more he wasn’t sure.
“We have a pretty significant game on 9-11 and hopefully we can give the fans what they want to see, which is American football on the anniversary of that tragic event,” he said. “Could it not be? Absolutely. We might be sitting here doing the same things we’re doing now.”
