July 31st-- Camp Opens

Fans were actually tailgating in the median of Loudon County Parkway around 1PM yesterday.. True story..

The heat caused a few issues for the Skins on day one of training camp.. FB Mike Sellars was carted off the field with cramps, he was treated with IV fluids and should be back on the field as early as tomorrow..
TE Chris Cooley cramped during practice but stayed on the field.. TE Buck Ortega dealt with cramping/dehydration issues as well..

WR Antawnn Randle-El was limited in practice, he suffered a mild back strain, the SI Joint (whatever that is), he jammed his leg running a pattern, he was held out of some drills, but is expected to be OK..
WR David Patten did not practice, he has a viral infection and was hospitalized for it..

DT Joe Salave'a was absent from camp for bereavement.. His mother passed away, he is expected back on Wednesday..

All of the players who had major injuries a year ago practiced.. T Jon Jansen was wearing a protective splint on his right thumb.. He was a full go in practice.. C casey Rabach reacted well to his first full practice well according to the trainers.. T Randy Thomas was also a full go on day one.. DE Reanldo Wynn is wearing an arm brace, he is cleared for practice..

I spoke with Wynn about dealing with what could be a more diminished role thanks to the signing of Andre Carter.. Wynn said he was blessed being able to start for as many seasons as he had and that he believes the addition of Carter will help the team.. He also said he is a competitor and he isn't going to just roll over, essentially, he intends to push Carter for playing time.. Wynn said it is possible he will be willing to play DE and DT, Wynn played an interior role on 3rd downs a few years back.. He can play positions..
Carter played most of the 9 on 9 drills at Right defensive end, he and Chris Samuels had some notworthy moments with Carter beating Samuels with bull and speed rush techniques..
Phillip Daniels is expected to play the bulk of his downs at left defensive end, he has been on the right side the first two seasons with Washington..
Carter promised versatility as well saing playing LB last year for San Francisco.. The Skins don't appear to be leaning toward using him as a linebacker...

Second round pick Rocky McIntosh was at the first team meeting last night and was on the field for the first practice yesterday.. All Skins are signed...

Optimism was very high.. Mark Brunnell said that if the Redskins don't do better then 10 and 6 and go deeper in the playoffs this year, he would consider it a dissapointment.. He also used the word "bragadocious." If this were a word in the English language it would have been used properly.. The context was: I don't want to be bragadocious but that's how we feel." It was in regard to the high expeectations..
Both Carter and Wynn addressed the expectations as well and weren't as open about it, but both held the contention that this team feels like it has everything in place, now they just need to win..
Joe Gibbs also talked about the expectations as well saying he hasn't paid attention to it, then contradicted himself by saying he has heard that no one is picking them to win the NFC East, so when the prognostication fits, Gibbs grabs...
Managed expectations was his credo for the day..

Adam Archuletta came close to the hit of the day at practice on Santana Moss.. The team was not in full hitting mode so Archuletta somewhat pulled up.. There was no incident..
First play of 9 on 9 drills brought a big roar when Clinton Portis cut back and broke loose, it brought a big roar from the crowd, it also included Al Saunders chasing Portis down the field hollering in joy...

As for the new offense, Brunnell says it is very different from the one that the team ran a year ago.. He also expressed surprise that Gibbs relinquished the offense to Al Saunders.. But he said the offense is explosive and efficient and was "not a mistake." He also said it " is our job to prove him right."
Brunnell's day was very off, but the offense is typically behind early in camp..

Fashion mistake of the day goes to CB Dimitri Patterson who wore gray spandex boxer shorts with nothing over them.. EEwwwwww..

OK.. First two a day is tomorrow..

July 30-- Gibbs Speaks as Camp Opens

Joe Gibbs held his introductory press conference as training camp 2006 opens on Monday.. The team has workouts/meetings in the morning and their first full practice at 4PM, this practice is open to the public..

All players had to report by 6PM on Sunday and it was expected that the entire team came..

Second round pick Rocky McIntosh has signed a rookie contract, he will be on the field when camp opens.. Terms of his deal were not disclosed.. All of the Skins draft picks are signed...
As for McIntosh's knee, he had a meniscus trimmed in his knee, it has been described as being in great shape, when he comes, he will be cleared to begin full go in practice...

Other injury updates: C Casey Rabach, the team was extremely worried about the gash he suffered in his leg due to an offseason ATV accident.. The team added two stitches recently to help it heal faster and he is expected to be able to take part in all drills.. T Jon Jansen will wear protective devices on his hands to help ensure no re-injury to either of his broken thumbs.. Jansen needed offseason surgery to repair them.. A thumb specialist has told the team he would be able to play with his fingers free but the team is going to take a cautious approach during the early part of the pre-season.. QB Mark Brunnell's broken finger is healed, he is ready to go.. DE Renaldo Wynn will wear a protective cast on the arm he broke last year but will be able to participate in all drills.. G Randy Thomas was a frequent visitor to the Park during the off-seaosn, his leg is healed and he is expected to practice..
Gibbs said he expects the entire team to be able to practice when camp opens...

On S Sean Taylor: Gibbs described his legal situation as "resolved and now we are just waiting to hear something from the league." Gibbs said he is not going to call the league himself to find out if a suspension is coming for his plea to misdemeanors relating to the incident last summer over a stolen ATV in Miami..

Jason Campbell will not start any pre-season games.. Mark Brunnell is the starter, but Gibbs admitted Campbell will play the lions share of the snaps.. If all goes to plan, Brunnell and the offense will have good enbough showings to allow Campbell to play the bulk of the pre-season games...

Gibbs touched on the subject of hiring Al Saunders, admitting the experience of not calling plays will be different for him, but he did this because he felt it was in the best interest of the team.. Gibbs's humility became yet another mantra as he stated that he believes that all coaches must always remain on a learning curve, that the day you start believing you know everything is the day you are in trouble..
He also credited Dan Snyder again for paying Saunders and allowing him to bring Saunders in.. Gibbs admitted initially he didn't think about hiring an offensive coordinator but convinced by it through discussions with numerous coaches including former Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil..

The Redskins say they have overhauled their training room in the hopes of not allowing any more infections to attack open wounds.. The team is using a specilized carpet and went through a vigorous sanitation process.. They had two incidents of staph infections a year ago most notably with DT Brandon Noble.. Many teams around the league have had issues in recent years with staph..

Gibbs also admits that the competition is going to be limited at camp, he says he knows that many of the players are going to realize that their jobs aren't on the line this summer, but he hopes that they have the wherewithall in their heart to work hard anyway..

July 30-- Gibbs Speaks as Camp Opens

Joe Gibbs held his introductory press conference as training camp 2006 opens on Monday.. The team has workouts/meetings in the morning and their first full practice at 4PM, this practice is open to the public..

All players had to report by 6PM on Sunday and it was expected that the entire team came..

Second round pick Rocky McIntosh did not have a contract done as of the time of writing this report, but the situation is being described as being close to being done.. The expectation is that a deal will be finalized before the first practice, whether McIntosh is there by that time is unknown...
All other draft picks are signed...
As for McIntosh's knee, he had a meniscus trimmed in his knee, it has been described as being in great shape, when he comes, he will be cleared to begin full go in practice...

Other injury updates: C Casey Rabach, the team was extremely worried about the gash he suffered in his leg due to an offseason ATV accident.. The team added two stitches recently to help it heal faster and he is expected to be able to take part in all drills.. T Jon Jansen will wear protective devices on his hands to help ensure no re-injury to either of his broken thumbs.. Jansen needed offseason surgery to repair them.. A thumb specialist has told the team he would be able to play with his fingers free but the team is going to take a cautious approach during the early part of the pre-season.. QB Mark Brunnell's broken finger is healed, he is ready to go.. DE Renaldo Wynn will wear a protective cast on the arm he broke last year but will be able to participate in all drills.. G Randy Thomas was a frequent visitor to the Park during the off-seaosn, his leg is healed and he is expected to practice..
Gibbs said he expects the entire team to be able to practice when camp opens...

On S Sean Taylor: Gibbs described his legal situation as "resolved and now we are just waiting to hear something from the league." Gibbs said he is not going to call the league himself to find out if a suspension is coming for his plea to misdemeanors relating to the incident last summer over a stolen ATV in Miami..

Jason Campbell will not start any pre-season games.. Mark Brunnell is the starter, but Gibbs admitted Campbell will play the lions share of the snaps.. If all goes to plan, Brunnell and the offense will have good enbough showings to allow Campbell to play the bulk of the pre-season games...

Gibbs touched on the subject of hiring Al Saunders, admitting the experience of not calling plays will be different for him, but he did this because he felt it was in the best interest of the team.. Gibbs's humility became yet another mantra as he stated that he believes that all coaches must always remain on a learning curve, that the day you start believing you know everything is the day you are in trouble..
He also credited Dan Snyder again for paying Saunders and allowing him to bring Saunders in.. Gibbs admitted initially he didn't think about hiring an offensive coordinator but convinced by it through discussions with numerous coaches including former Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil..

The Redskins say they have overhauled their training room in the hopes of not allowing any more infections to attack open wounds.. The team is using a specilized carpet and went through a vigorous sanitation process.. They had two incidents of staph infections a year ago most notably with DT Brandon Noble.. Many teams around the league have had issues in recent years with staph..

Gibbs also admits that the competition is going to be limited at camp, he says he knows that many of the players are going to realize that their jobs aren't on the line this summer, but he hopes that they have the wherewithall in their heart to work hard anyway..

July 28th-- Vinny Responds to LaVar

Skins VP of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato joined Redskins Lunch today: Second round pick Rocky McIntosh is not expected to have a deal done today, it is likely it will happen Sunday morning, the day the players are to report for Skins training camp.. Cerrato says now that players around him are being signed, the deal should not be a difficult one to consummate.. Cerrato also pointed out that the agent for McIntosh currently has two unsigned first rounders, and thus McIntosh’s deal will likely wait through the weekend..

Cerrato also responded to the quotes by LaVar Arrington in the Washington Times.. Arrington said the organization is only interested in creating buzz, making more money, not caring about winning and losing.. He also sharply criticized Skins owner Dan Snyder saying Snyder is going to “have to come up with some kind of something about me in order to legitimize the dumb stuff they do.”
Cerrato said “That’s LaVar being LaVar.” He pointed to the team bringing in Joe Gibbs and making the playoffs a season ago as a sign of their intentions…

Asked about the dealings with Reggie Bush in NO, Cerrato admitted the agents for Lavar Arrington had asked for more money when he was drafted then top pick and former Penn State teammate Courtney Brown because, “he thought he was better then Brown.”

Cerrato believes the suspension of Arrington’s agent Carl Poston validates the Redskins position that the alleged missing 6.5 million dollar bonus that began a two year contract flap between the Redskins and Arrington was “never there.” Poston was suspended partially for negligence in regard to this contract negotiation back in December 2003.. The Redskins have contended all along that this bonus LaVar said went missing never was in the contract in the first place.. The team renegotiated Arrington’s deal and added bonus money that he ultimately never received due to the timing of his release this offseason..

Camp opens on Monday, the team reports Sunday..

Check out the re-designed Bramshow.com for more articles on the Skins and other things that interest me.. I'll have a training camp preview up by the weekend..

April 24th-- Saunders Speaks, Injury updates

T Jon Jansen is scheduled to see a thumb specializt this week.. Team officials are expecting him to be cleared to resume full contact practice... Jansen had post season surgery to repair one of the two borken thumbs he suffered last fall..

G Randy Thomas has been described as "doing great." He has been at the Park practically every day minus a week off for vacation.. The belief is he'll be prepared to practice when camp starts Monday..

DE Renaldo Wynn will wear a protective cast on the arm he broke last winter.. He did participate in OTA practices and is cleared for the practice when it starts next Monday..

The team is expected to release former Maryland WR Derrek Fenner is the next day or two.. ** Do not air until Tuesday at the earliest**

Listening in on a Larry Michael interview with new Offensive coordinator Al Saunders, when asked about the progression of Jason Campbell, Saunders said that Campbell has great physical potential, but like many others there is an emotional and pressuirzed mental aspect of the game that remains in question.. It was the first mention of apprehension about just tossing Campbell into the fray if need be.. Right now, all he is doing is competing for a back-up job.. The tone was not to suggest that Campbell isn't ready, just a minor dose of reality, the fact is he hasn't played yet.. Campbell can expect significant playing time throughout the pre-season..

Bramshow.com has been re-designed and has more articles and info on Bram, the Skins, etc.. Check it out!

July 20-- Rabach Talks about ATV accident

C Casey Rabach told us about the accident that caused a deep gash in his leg and forced him to miss much of the OTA's and last mini-camp.. he says he was doing some yard work when he slipped and an ATV rolled over his leg.. He said he didn't know he had hurt himself until he stood up.. There never was an infection but the gash was deep and needed stitches.. He is still wearing a wrap on his leg but says he believes he will be ready for the start of training camp...

QB Jason Campbell admits he doesn't know who the second string QB on the team is as they enter into training camp.. Campbell was working on the field this morning and he says "I expect myself to produce." He says he went through a phase of impatience but is excited about the opportunities in front of him.. he said he spoke with Steve McNair during the offseason and McNair told him to be patient.. he didn't play his first two seasons in the league..
Campbell said the offense is not much different from the one the team ran last year except to expect a more spread out scheme and a an emphasis on the QB getting the ball out quicker... Campbell by all accounts has been on the field during numerous so called off days preparing for the season..
Players do not have to report to Redskins Park utnil the 30th, still well over a dozen were there, working out etc..

July 19th-- First show from Redskins Park with News

Vinny Cerrato joined us on the Redskins lunch show..

He says the team is in no rush to sign second round pick Roccky McIntosh allowing others around him to sign first so that he ultimately is slotted. Teams often wait until the final days appraoching camp before inking 1st and second round picks..

Cerrato says the team was never interested in trading David Patten although there were rumors in the offseason about Patten wanting to go somewhere where he would definitely want to start..
Mark Brunnell said Patten has been exemplary during the offseason in his attitude. Cerrato said all Patten wanted to be certain of was that the "best" players would start.. Joe Gibbs told him yes, and so Patten is renergized by it..

This is not news but considering Vinny drafted T.O. in San Francisco, we asked if he ever gave thought to the Skins brining him in and Cerrato cited the character issue as the reason why Washington has no interest in the Cowboys receiver...

Randy Thomas was on the show as well. He says he isn't sure how his recovered broken leg will react when the team starts training camp in a week and a half.. He believes he will be ready for practice, it may be limited inititally to ensure the right guard's health..

Mark Brunnell told us the other day the finger he broke during OTA's is almost fully healthy, he expects to be ready for the start of training camp...

John Hall was seen on the practice field working on field goals..

There are limited players there, the team is due to arrive at the Park on July 30 with camp beginning on the 31st..

July 17th 2006-- Triple X ESPN Radio set to debut

So I dissappeared for about 6 weeks after resigning from Sportstalk 980. Red Zebra hits the airwaves tomorrow at 4PM with the debut of the John Riggins show on Triple X ESPN Radio.. And I'll be a big part of it..
I will be covering the Redskins for the 7th straight season, I also will be co-hosting with Larry Michael weekdays from 12-1PM on Lunch with the Redskins, live from Redskin Park.
The access I will have with the team will be far more then I ever experienced in covering the Skins for 980. And thus, I am really looking forward to getting back in the locker room for what should be an interesting season to say the least. Among my new job roles, I will be the game day sideline reporter for the station as well as co-host of the pre-game show. Yes, I will continue to say my name in a rediculous manner when I sign off my daily reports (much to the dismay of some. Sorry folks it's too late to change it, I clowned myself, and now I have to live with it)

As for Triple X ESPN radio, the air name for Red Zebra Broadcasting: The name is derived from the call letters of the three stations which plan on tri-mulcasting the initial programming. Each of the three stations acquired by Red Zebra will have an X in it, thus Triple X.
ESPN radio will be the bulk of the programming. The John Riggins show will air from 4-7PM daily. Despite reports to the contrary, I am not a co-host on this show, but I will be a frequent contributer.
We will have more local programming to follow which I intend to be a critical part of..

As for where you will be able to hear us. 730AM covers much of the Washington DC region, Their signal is strong in the daytime, it may lag a little at night. Those familiar with 980's signal issues at night will understand. AM frequencies power down in the evening making it sometimes hard to hear.
92.7 FM has great coverage in Maryland and in DC. 94.3 FM appears to be the best station for those who live in the VA suburbs and west, thus you'll hear us saying a lot, "94.3 to the west, 92.7 to the east and 730 all over DC." Honestly the signal will be an issue, but it was for 980 and for WJFK as well. In short time, people will be accustomed to where they can best hear us. We will stream our programming through our wesbites as well making work listening easy.

Today, I sat in on Larry's Redskins.com TV webcast, in the hour we had, Chris Cooley and Mark Brunnell joined us.Imagine the possibilities when the team is actually in training camp!

So here we go.. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. A lot of conjecture was bandied about during my hiatus. I'd like to personally thank all those who were concerned with my whereabouts and can only promise to do the best I can covering this team for my new home.

This will be the last post on the blog about me, it's back to the matter at hand, covering the Redskins.
Thanks for reading and I hope you continue to read my blog and listen to Triple X ESPN radio. 92.7, 94.3 and 730AM..

Also, check out the all new bramshow.com which will be debuting this week! I'll be writing a weekly column on the Skins and other sports of interest.

Thanks again for your interest.. Bram