bubba9497
July-31st-2005, 10:49 PM
Gibbs in good mood
Personnel situation has Redskins' coach feeling lighthearted
BY PAUL WOODY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Monday, August 1, 2005
ASHBURN -- His eyes, Joe Gibbs said, were wide open last year when he walked back into the NFL after an 11-year absence.
Even so, the Washington Redskins' 6-10 record and ineffective offense were surprises to Gibbs. His wife, Pat, might have been a bit less taken aback.
"When I told Pat I wanted to coach again, she said, 'You are going to ruin your good name,'" Gibbs said. "After the first year, we're halfway there, and we will continue down the road to see where we go."
And Gibbs laughed.
Gibbs could afford to be in a cautiously upbeat mood yesterday. Almost all his players were present and accounted for, and he has no major concerns about those who are not here.
Troubled free safety Sean Taylor reported for duty as promised. He completed his physical testing yesterday, and Gibbs liked the results.
"He breezed it," Gibbs said. "He looks like he's in good shape."
Taylor, facing a felony charge for assault and a misdemeanor charge for simple battery in Florida, was in a pleasant mood when he arrived at the Redskin Park. He promised to hold a news conference today.
The news was less pleasant on the team's first-round draft choices, cornerback Carlos Rogers and quarterback Jason Campbell.
Neither was signed as of yesterday. Gibbs said the contract for Campbell, taken 25th overall, could be completed soon.
The deal for Rogers, the ninth player selected in the first round, is expected to take a while longer.
"Our problem has been that I think the agents are reluctant to sign people unless the people around them in the draft order have been signed," Gibbs said. "This year, we have a large number of those players missing.
"I think the fact that Green Bay with their situation, finally got it done last night probably will help Jason's deal along."
Green Bay took quarterback Aaron Rodgers with the 24th pick in the draft and agreed to a contract with him Saturday night.
Even if Rogers agrees to a contract soon, he will not be ready to practice for a while. He is recovering from a sprained ankle suffered during the Redskins' June minicamp. Examination of the ankle also revealed a bone bruise and a stress fracture.
"The stress fracture was what was most alarming, but it was old," Gibbs said. "We'll be careful with the bone bruise."
Starting weak-side linebacker LaVar Arrington remains weak in the knee. Arrington started just two games and played in just four last season because of a knee injury and bone bruise. He had a second surgical procedure on the knee during offseason and still is not able to run full speed. Gibbs said Arrington could remain sidelined for a while.
Defensive tackle Brandon Noble, who suffered an infection in his knee after offseason surgery, also will not be able to practice for a while.
"I'm figuring they'll all be here and ready to go when we open the season," Gibbs said.
Gibbs also plans to give his players a few breaks during training camp. He pushed them to take part in the offseason workouts, has praised their work ethic and now is backing up his words with deeds.
"We're going to reflect that hard work and preparation," Gibbs said. "There probably will be less practice and less work. We got way on down the road mentally and, physically, I think we're in good shape. We're going to shorten things as a reward for our players, because they have worked extremely hard."
AND FURTHERMORE: The Redskins' afternoon practice will begin at 4 p.m. today, not 4:30 as they originally announced. That is the first training camp practice that is open to the public. . . . Tight end Brian Kozlowski was re-signed yesterday.
Contact Paul Woody at (804) 649-6444 or pwoody@timesdispatch.com.
This story can be found at: http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArti cle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784173841&path=%21sports%21redskins&s=1045855935462
Personnel situation has Redskins' coach feeling lighthearted
BY PAUL WOODY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Monday, August 1, 2005
ASHBURN -- His eyes, Joe Gibbs said, were wide open last year when he walked back into the NFL after an 11-year absence.
Even so, the Washington Redskins' 6-10 record and ineffective offense were surprises to Gibbs. His wife, Pat, might have been a bit less taken aback.
"When I told Pat I wanted to coach again, she said, 'You are going to ruin your good name,'" Gibbs said. "After the first year, we're halfway there, and we will continue down the road to see where we go."
And Gibbs laughed.
Gibbs could afford to be in a cautiously upbeat mood yesterday. Almost all his players were present and accounted for, and he has no major concerns about those who are not here.
Troubled free safety Sean Taylor reported for duty as promised. He completed his physical testing yesterday, and Gibbs liked the results.
"He breezed it," Gibbs said. "He looks like he's in good shape."
Taylor, facing a felony charge for assault and a misdemeanor charge for simple battery in Florida, was in a pleasant mood when he arrived at the Redskin Park. He promised to hold a news conference today.
The news was less pleasant on the team's first-round draft choices, cornerback Carlos Rogers and quarterback Jason Campbell.
Neither was signed as of yesterday. Gibbs said the contract for Campbell, taken 25th overall, could be completed soon.
The deal for Rogers, the ninth player selected in the first round, is expected to take a while longer.
"Our problem has been that I think the agents are reluctant to sign people unless the people around them in the draft order have been signed," Gibbs said. "This year, we have a large number of those players missing.
"I think the fact that Green Bay with their situation, finally got it done last night probably will help Jason's deal along."
Green Bay took quarterback Aaron Rodgers with the 24th pick in the draft and agreed to a contract with him Saturday night.
Even if Rogers agrees to a contract soon, he will not be ready to practice for a while. He is recovering from a sprained ankle suffered during the Redskins' June minicamp. Examination of the ankle also revealed a bone bruise and a stress fracture.
"The stress fracture was what was most alarming, but it was old," Gibbs said. "We'll be careful with the bone bruise."
Starting weak-side linebacker LaVar Arrington remains weak in the knee. Arrington started just two games and played in just four last season because of a knee injury and bone bruise. He had a second surgical procedure on the knee during offseason and still is not able to run full speed. Gibbs said Arrington could remain sidelined for a while.
Defensive tackle Brandon Noble, who suffered an infection in his knee after offseason surgery, also will not be able to practice for a while.
"I'm figuring they'll all be here and ready to go when we open the season," Gibbs said.
Gibbs also plans to give his players a few breaks during training camp. He pushed them to take part in the offseason workouts, has praised their work ethic and now is backing up his words with deeds.
"We're going to reflect that hard work and preparation," Gibbs said. "There probably will be less practice and less work. We got way on down the road mentally and, physically, I think we're in good shape. We're going to shorten things as a reward for our players, because they have worked extremely hard."
AND FURTHERMORE: The Redskins' afternoon practice will begin at 4 p.m. today, not 4:30 as they originally announced. That is the first training camp practice that is open to the public. . . . Tight end Brian Kozlowski was re-signed yesterday.
Contact Paul Woody at (804) 649-6444 or pwoody@timesdispatch.com.
This story can be found at: http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArti cle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784173841&path=%21sports%21redskins&s=1045855935462