The Washington Redskins opened up training camp Thursday, in preparation of their most anticipated season in years.
Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III is a reason for much of the excitement, as third-year head coach Mike Shanahan tries to deliver Washington's first winning season since 2007.
On the first day of practice, the Redskins veterans liked what they saw from RG3.
Cornerback DeAngelo Hall says, "He's just a cool guy. He's exciting to watch. He makes plays, he's charismatic, and has a lot of energy. It's rare to find that all in one package. He definitely has the total package. He came to a great city that's going to embrace him and love him. He just has to win games. That's the bottom line. If he wins games, he's going to be a rock star."
Linebacker London Fletcher says, "Being around this game for a number of years now, you can tell when you meet guys who have 'It.' I think he's on his way, just the way he carries himself. Not a sense of entitlement, wants to work hard, and continue to improve his craft. He wants to be the best quarterback he can be right now."
Head coach Mike Shanahan says, "It's really the way he handles himself. He handles himself really well. He's got a lot of charisma. He's very smart, he works hard, and he's going to do everything he can to make himself the best player. That's contagious to a football team."
"It's real exciting," adds wide receiver Josh Morgan. "We just have to keep at it, and put all the pieces of the puzzle together. We just have to keep working. It's going to be an exciting year."
Offensive lineman Trent Williams says, "We're not expecting him to step in and be Aaron Rodgers, but he'll grow, and we'll all grow together as a team."
At running back, former Richmond Spider, Tim Hightower will compete with Roy Helu and Evan Royster for playing time.
Hightower had his season end last year with a torn ACL.
"If I'm on that field, I'm going to give you 110%," says Hightower. "That's what you can expect, that's what my teammates expect, and if I don't feel like I'm 110%, someone else is going to be in there."
Hightower says his surgically repaired knee will be able to keep up with his heart this season.
"Oh, it's gonna be," says Hightower. "My knee is going to follow where my heart is. It has no choice. I've already told it that, we've had our little talks."
Shanahan says, "Sometimes you get a running back who can carry the load by himself. Most of the time you have two or three guys. But we just have to wait and see as the preseason goes on, and who earns the playing time."
The Redskins defensive line should be a strength with Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan, who had 7 1/2 sacks in his rookie season last year.
"We both know what we have to do," says Kerrigan. "A lot is expected out of us now. I'm not a rookie anymore, so there's not that little sidenote now. I got to play well, and I got to bring it every week."
Former University of Virginia defensive back, Chase Minnifield cleared waivers on Wednesday.
No other NFL team picked him up, which means the Redskins retain his rights.
The 'Skins put Minnifield on injured reserve Thursday, and he will not play this season.
