(photo by Brian Murphy)

So far this week, we’ve cranked out more than 3,000 words to get you, the loyal fans, caught up to speed as the 2009 season officially kicks off for the Washington Redskins. First, we gave you five positions to watch and then we followed that up with five players worth keeping an eye on.

With training camp kicking off today we figured we’d up the ante and present 10 (semi) bold predictions.

1. The downfall of quarterback Jason Campbell in Washington will be the fact that he doesn’t throw enough interceptions.

On the surface that may be one of the most ridiculous sentences ever typed in the history of the world. There are few constants in this world, but it’s safe to say interceptions are bad. Similarly, guys who throw interceptions are bad. But it is our humble opinion that the reason Campbell will ultimately be run out of town is because he plays too conservative and refuses to take chances or throw high-risk, high-reward passes.

The main difference between a guy like Campbell and a guy like Jay Cutler (besides the fact that Denver had zero running game last year and had to throw a hundred times a game) is that Cutler isn’t afraid to take chances. If he thinks he can squeeze a pass through traffic, he’s going to do it and not think twice.

That’s why Cutler had 25 touchdown passes a year ago. Campbell has 25 touchdowns over the last two seasons (29 games). But Cutler also had 18 interceptions a year ago. And he had 14 the year before. He’s clearly a “live by the sword, die by the sword” kind of athlete and for better or worse, this front office seems enamored with players like that. If Campbell wants to win them over and prove he’s the long-term solution here in D.C., the best thing he can do is unleash his inner “gun slinger.”

2. Colt Brennan will continue to excel at holding a clipboard.

If you’re from Hawaii please skip this one. You won’t be happy.

Brennan, while wildly popular with the pothead surfer crowd, still has a ways to go before “The Tasty Drink” Todd Collins should worry about losing the backup quarterback job. Yes, Colt is a “gun slinger,” and yes, management has a chubby for those types of QBs, but Brennan simply isn’t ready to be a starter (or even a backup quarterback) just yet.

Collins is solid, but unspectacular. You know exactly what you’re going to get from him every time he takes the field. He’s not flashy, but he’s certainly dependable. Brennan still has to refine his fundamentals – stuff like footwork and being more consistent every time he drops back – before he can make a legitimate run at playing time.

The sad, harsh truth is that if Colt gets any kind of playing time in 2009 it’s because the season is lost and the team is in “screw it, let’s see what we’ve got with our bench players” mode.

Even if things don’t work out for Brennan this season you can still listen to Jack Johnson on your iPod, drink Fire Rock Pale Ale and relish the fact that you’re living in Hawaii.

3. Linebacker will be an issue and a veteran not currently on the roster will be brought in at some point before the season opener.

We have no inside information and we’re simply stating a hunch, but linebacker is every bit as much of a concern to us as the well-documented offensive line.

You’ve got London Fletcher, Rocky McIntosh and Brian Orakpo as your starters. That’s solid. But behind them? You’ve got an undersized H.B. Blades and a bag of balls. Alfred Fincher is fine for special teams, but can he be counted on when the game is on the line? We don’t know.

The team would love for Chris Wilson to successfully convert from defensive end to linebacker, but our money isn’t on it. Robert Thomas is a seven-year veteran, but he may very well be the least heralded player with at least 50 starts in the entire NFL. Cody Glenn and Robert Henson are rookies who need to simply make the 53-man roster before we can reasonably ask anything of substance from them.

The revamped defensive line looks stacked and the secondary has the potential to actually create turnovers for the first time in recent history. If any of the starters at linebacker suffer a serious injury, this paper-thin unit could be the only thing holding back an otherwise dominant defense from reaching maximum potential.

4. Speaking of that offensive line, Stephon Heyer will start more games at right tackle than Mike Williams in 2009.

Again, no inside scoop here. We’re just taking a shot in the dark. Heyer enters the season as the starter by default. Williams is the former first rounder who has amazed locals by dropping more than 100 lbs. as he attempts to resurrect his career. While we have no doubt Williams will get his turn to start at tackle, we’re leaning toward Heyer, the third-year pro out of Maryland, to do well enough to keep the job. As for Jeremy Bridges, the darkhorse in this race, our hope is he slides over to provide depth at right guard behind Randy Thomas.

5. If healthy, Malcolm Kelly will out-produce Devin Thomas and Fred Davis.

One year ago, Kelly caught our attention as he hauled in seemingly every pass thrown his way during training camp. The guy looked like the real deal … until injuries derailed his rookie campaign. While Thomas and Davis could very well become big-time NFL players, we’re inclined to stick with Kelly because he’s the only one of the three who we’ve seen heading down that path.

6. Ladell Betts is a bona fide fantasy football sleeper.

We love Clinton Portis and everything he brings to the table. But that doesn’t mean Betts can’t contribute as well. Before a knee injury got in the way, the Redskins’ offense was already moving towards utilizing both running backs together more frequently. Lining up both Portis and Betts in the backfield at the same time adds a dynamic to this offense that’s been lacking. Over the last seven years Portis has clearly established himself as a top-notch back, but Betts should be considered one of the better backups in the entire NFL. He’s also has very good hands and can provide a safety valve to Campbell in the passing game.

Whether he’s on the field with Portis or stepping in to simply give C.P. a breather, it’s a safe bet that Ladell will be much-more involved this season.

7. Antwaan Randle El will give us an aneurism this season.

If we have to watch one more pitiful attempt at a punt return, we might not survive the 2009 season. On the bright side, with James Thrash, Shawn Springs and Jason Taylor all gone, Randle El is now the only player on the current roster we’re not a fan of.

So we’ve got that going for us, which is nice.

8. Renaldo Wynn will not make the 53-man roster.

This one is a bummer, because we love Wynn. But when you take an objective look at the defensive line, something’s got to give. Andre Carter, Albert Haynesworth, Cornelius Griffin, Phillip Daniels, Kedric Golston, Anthony Montgomery, Lorenzo Alexander, Jeremy Jarmon, Brian Orakpo on third downs … the list goes on and on.

Other players who could possibly find themselves on the outside looking in include Chris Wilson, Todd Yoder, Reed Doughty and possibly even Fred Smoot. We still think Yoder, Doughty and Smoot survive, but you never know for sure until the last playbook is turned in.

9. Albert Haynesworth’s first season in Washington will be a disappointment.

Don’t get us wrong, we think he’ll be a stud this year and make it difficult for teams to get any kind of push with their offensive line against the ‘Skins, but Fat Albert’s lucrative $100 contract has pushed expectations to a whole new level.

If you’re expecting Haynesworth to get 20 sacks, create countless turnovers for his teammates and cure cancer, then failure is in your future. If you’re looking to him to provide a new wrinkle to Greg Blache’s side of the house and to anchor a potentially dominant defense, then you might be alright. It’s all about managing expectations, people.

10. DeAngelo Hall will be the defensive MVP.

We openly admit it, we’re not capable of being objective when it comes to Hall. When the team signed him halfway through last season, we believed the hype that he was a coach killer and a diva. We feared he’d walk around town like he was better than everyone else and get toasted every time the opposition threw his way. Thankfully, that didn’t happen.

The guy is the real deal on the field. It seems all he ever needed was a team to use him in a way that maximizes his abilities. Imagine that.

Something as simple as letting him drop back while facing the QB so he can get a read on the play instead of forcing him to keep his back to the play has given Hall his swagger back, which in turn gives the Redskins a true playmaker at corner for the first time since Champ Bailey left town. With guys like Haynesworth up front making life difficult for opposing quarterbacks, we have a hunch that Hall will have ample opportunities to get his hands on the football. That, my friends, is a good thing.

That’s it. That’s all we got.

Baseball players get millions of dollars to bat .300. We’re going to go out on a limb and say we’ll do much better than that with these 10 (semi) bold predictions. Feel free to add your two cents and let us know if you’re with us or if we’ve lost it. Either way we’re just glad to have football back in our lives.

(photo by Brian Murphy)

[Editor's note: After enduring the slowest part of the sports calendar, we’re ramping up for the 2009 Washington Redskins training camp with all kinds of goodies. Yesterday, we tackled five key positions heading into the season. Today, we’re digging deeper and looking at some of the names and faces who’ll play a part in the upcoming season.]

Imagine, if you will, that the 2009 Washington Redskins season is a movie. Instead of focusing on the entire organization or even the 53-man roster, our movie is going to spotlight five players who could very well become central characters when its all said and done.

For the purpose of this exercise we’re not concentrating on marquee names like Jason Campbell, Clinton Portis or Chris Cooley. Simply put, their stories have already been told. Instead, we’re simply presenting five characters who you may not know much about now that could become more prominent players as the season unfolds.

Brian Orakpo - “The New Guy”

Orakpo made a name for himself as one of the top pass rushers in the country while playing defensive end at the University of Texas. At 6-3 and 263 lbs., the Longhorn was a first-team All-American and easily one of the most decorated players in the country.

After an impressive four-year career, Orakpo earned the 2008 Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He also took home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (given to the country’s best defensive player), the Ted Hendricks Award (top defensive end) and the Lombardi Award (best lineman or linebacker). Some folks thought Orakpo was so good that he even warranted Heisman considerations. Like we said, dude cleaned house.

Well, after he graduated, Orakpo was ready for his next challenge – namely the NFL. And while ‘Skins fans were hoping and praying he’d fall to them, realistically most people didn’t think he’d ultimately end up here. But once USC quarterback Mark Sanchez was off the board, the Redskins’ front office settled for Orakpo. And what a consolation prize he could be.

Orakpo, known to be a “workout warrior” while at Texas, bench pressed 225 lbs. a staggering 31 times, tops among all defensive ends (and roughly 30 more reps than Fred Smoot). He also posted a ridiculous 39.5 inch vertical and a 10 foot, 10 inch broad jump.

That being said, we’re more impressed with his on-the-field production – such as his 11.5 sacks his senior year – than anything he did at the Combine.

Draft experts considered Orakpo to be a defensive end in a 4-3 defense or an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. So naturally, in Washington he’s being asked to be an outside linebacker in a 4-3. Since coming to town Orakpo has said all the right things. He’ll play wherever the coaching staff feels he’s best suited to help the team win. He’s athletic enough to make the transition from pass rusher to a linebacker who must drop back in coverage. Playing in Washington is a “dream come true.”

While a guy like Chris Wilson, who is also attempting to switch from defensive end to linebacker, is probably not going to make it, Orakpo shouldn’t have such problems. Once he adjusts to the difference in speed between the college and pro games, chances are he’ll have little problem finding ways to make an impact. Plus, he still gets to put his hand on the ground and get after the quarterback on third downs.

The ‘Skins had the fourth best defense in football last year, but lacked true playmakers. Adding Orakpo, along with guys like Albert Haynesworth and DeAngelo Hall, should go a long way towards creating more sacks and turnovers. This, my friend, is a good thing.

Devin Thomas - “The Question Mark”

From this year’s top draft pick to last year’s.

The success/failure rate of receivers taken in the first or second round of the NFL Draft is typically 50/50, at best. So when a team bucks conventional wisdom and grabs a trio of pass catchers with their top three picks … well, it’s safe to say people are going to take notice.

As you know by now, that’s the story of the 2008 Redskins’ draft class, which featured Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and tight end Fred Davis. Clearly Vinny Cerrato and friends were admitting their team had a deficiency and took steps to remedy the situation. Unfortunately, a year has passed and it’s still unclear what the ‘Skins have at receiver.

Santana Moss is the real deal. Antwaan Randle El is a serviceable third option. What this offense needs is someone – ANYONE – to step up and lock down the second wide out spot.

After trading away their first-round pick to Atlanta, the Redskins used their top selection in 2008 on Thomas, a speedy receiver out of Michigan State. While the team was able to land Thomas in the second round (34th overall), they’re also on record saying they would have drafted him with the 21st overall pick had they not been able to trade away the pick.

That doesn’t make fans happy, not after Thomas finished year one with just 15 catches for 120 yards. If Thomas is going to shed the bust label that some critics have rushed to apply to him, he’s going to have to not only work himself into regular playing time, but also contribute. Fifteen catches for 120 yards is fine – for the first month of the season. To his credit, Thomas knows what he’s up against and seems to relish the chance to prove his detractors wrong. He’s spent much of the offseason running routes with Jason Campbell in hopes of getting a head start on his sophomore season.

“Big” Mike Williams - “The Feel-Good Story”

Williams was the fourth overall pick in the 2002 draft. He was a highly-touted lineman out of the University of Texas who was drafted to stabilize the Buffalo Bills’ offense. After four uneven years, Williams was released and rumors of questionable work ethics came into play, which is understandable when talking about someone who was listed at more than 370 lbs. at the time of his release.

Fast forward a couple years and things went from bad to worse.

At well over 450 lbs., the guy basically ate himself out of the NFL. Not to mention he was living on Derrick Dockery’s couch at some point. When the Redskins signed him this past offseason, we jokingly said it was to help get him out of Dockery’s house. All jokes aside, he’s been nothing short of a model citizen since the team gave him a second chance more than two years after the league turned its back on him.

The NFL player who most resembled “Sherman Klump” has since shed more than 100 lbs. and is legitimately competing for a starting role on the offensive line. Regardless of how this plays out, his story is destined to be remade into a Disney classic in the mold of “The Rookie” and other equally heartwarming tales.

Williams was once a former first rounder who couldn’t live up to the expectations. Now he’s simply a low-risk, high-reward project for the ‘Skins coaches and training staff. Anyone who has spent more than five minutes around the guy says he’s impossible not to root for. If you’re tired of the constant tragedy and disappointment that often fills the sports pages, then feel free to rally around Williams as he continues his comeback. Even if he doesn’t claim the starting right tackle position, he’s still managed to bring a much-needed feel-good story to Redskins Park this offseason.

Hunter Smith - “The Stabilizer”

Who knew that after the team wasted a draft pick on a rookie punter they’d finally see the light of day and bring in a veteran who can be counted on?

Hunter the Punter.

Trust us when we say you’ll learn to love him. A year ago, there wasn’t much to get excited about when it came to the Redskins’ special teams. Sure, Rock Cartwright is reliable on kick returns and Santana Moss was lights out in spot duty on punt returns, but that’s where the good times ended.

Mock Pro Bowl votes aside, Ryan Plackemeier was awful. Kicker Shaun Suisham wasn’t much better. And if we have to watch one more Randle El punt return (one step to the left, one step to the right, fall forward for a two-yard return), we might go postal.

But thankfully, adding Hunter Smith to the mix suddenly helps us feel a whole lot better about Danny Smith’s side of the house. He’s a steady veteran who, if nothing else, is good at remaining irrelevant. Let’s face it, if you notice your punter, it’s probably not for a good reason. Here’s hoping this is the last time we put thought to a Redskins punter for a long, long time.

Kareem Moore - “The Break-Through Candidate”

A year ago it was Chris “The Predator” Horton who, as a rookie safety, exploded onto the scene. This year, we humbly offer the name of a fellow safety from the same draft class as our best guess to be the breakout player of 2009.

We’re not saying that Moore is going to go from unknown to Ed Reed status over night (although that would be awesome). We’re simply suggesting that between now and the 2009 season finale this guy is someone who very well may work himself into regular playing time on defense and special teams.

During limited playing time, Moore was someone who carved a nice niche for himself as a hard hitting free safety. And although he found it tough to crack the defensive lineup, he’s someone who clearly stood out to us whenever he entered a game on special teams. During a game in Dallas against those damned Cowboys last season, Moore registered six special teams tackles. That’s always a way to get the locals to love you.

But our favorite Moore moment of 2008 came in Cincinnati. While many of his teammates seemed to be going through the motions as the season spiraled out of control, Moore was the guy who nearly decapitated Chad Johnson with a bone-crushing hit. Others might have been content to show up and collect a paycheck. Not Moore.

That’s good enough for us.

photo by Brian Murphy

With training camp less than a week away, we decided now is the perfect time to spotlight the five biggest focal points for the 2009 Washington Redskins. Whether the ‘Skins are able to return to the playoffs for the first time since Joe Gibbs retired (again) or the team is left standing on the sidelines while the NFL postseason rolls around (again) will hinge largely on these five positions.

1. Offensive line - Everyone knows about the right tackle situation. Jon Jansen, for the first time in his professional career, will earn a paycheck from a team other than Washington (he was cut this offseason and is now a member of the Detroit Lions). Stephon Heyer, who has never shown he’s anything more than a serviceable backup, is currently listed as the starter.

The rest of the pack? Mike Williams, the former first rounder whose fall from grace included ballooning to well over 400 lbs. and living on Derrick Dockery’s couch, and Jeremy “Not Jeff” Bridges, who was previously with the Panthers, head into camp the two players most likely to challenge Heyer.

And while it’s easy to see why folks are focused on the uncertainty at right tackle, we’d like to bring up the right guard position. Yes, Randy Thomas is your starter. And yes, when he’s healthy he’s solid. But that’s the problem. At 33, Thomas isn’t getting any younger and/or healthier. And the only depth behind himis Chad Rinehart, who has taken longer to develop than anticipated and someone named Will Montgomery, who even the coaching staff couldn’t identify in a police lineup.

So basically, the best-case scenario is someone from the Heyer/Williams/Bridges trio steps up and entrenches themselves as a bona fide starter at tackle and Thomas is able to stay healthy for 16 games and remains dependable.

But what happens if things play out the other way – no one can lock down right tackle and Thomas gets injured yet again?

2. Linebacker - No one can question the heart or production of middle linebacker London Fletcher, who rose from the unheralded John Carroll College to play 12 seasons in the NFL. Next to Fletcher is Rocky McIntosh, a former second rounder from “The U,” and Brian Orakpo, quite possibly the biggest named defensive player selected in this year’s NFL Draft. On paper, this linebacking corps is solid. But please allow us to play devil’s advocate for a moment.

Fletcher is a 34-year-old who, thanks to injuries last season, looked human for the first time in his impressive career. McIntosh, even though he’s only 26, has the knees of a senior citizen and Orakpo made that big name for himself as a pass-rushing defensive end. Not at linebacker.

A year ago, guys like Marcus Washington, Khary Campbell and H.B. Blades were also in the rotation for playing time, giving plenty of depth in the middle of the defense. With Washington and Campbell no longer with the team, we’re left with Blades and a bunch of uncertainty coming off the bench this season. If someone like Alfred Fincher, Chris Wilson or Robert Thomas can step up, then great. If not, things could get ugly on an otherwise stout defense.

3. Wide receiver - Santana Moss cannot be questioned. Everyone else can.

Once the ‘Skins get through training camp and finalize their 53-man roster, it’s a safe bet that they’ll have just five wide outs left standing. That group will be Moss, Antwaan Randle El, Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and a player to be named later.

Randle El is, at best, a third receiver. Unfortunately, he’s been cast as a number two during his time in Washington, which is why the only fans who speak fondly of him reside in Pittsburgh. And while we’re grateful that James Thrash is finally gone, it’s not even a lock that any of the remaining receivers will match his “production.”

Thomas and Kelly have done nothing but take heat since they came to D.C. They’ve heard the criticism and devoted their offseasons to ensuring their sophomore seasons go better than their rookie year. If one, or both, can make the leap and haul in something like 40-50 catches this season, all will be forgiven. If not, those questioning management’s drafting abilities will only get louder.

The rest of the pack at WR consists of “Daredevil” Keith Eloi, Roydell Williams, Trent Sheldon, Marko Mitchell and Marques Hagans. Eloi is great when it comes to jumping out of pools or onto truck beds, but we have no clue whether he can actually play receiver. Williams posted solid numbers – 55 receptions for 719 yards and four touchdowns – with Tennessee in 2007, but hasn’t been healthy since. And the rest of the pack? Well, your guess is as good as any.

Bottom line – someone other than Moss needs to step up this year at receiver. Otherwise, teams are once again going to take away Santana deep on first and second down and double team Cooley on third downs and in the red zone, ensuring the ‘Skins offense hovers around 15 points per game. Again.

4. Cornerback - The worst thing that could happen to the Redskins secondary is a prolonged injury to DeAngelo Hall. While it’s odd to think a guy who has been in the burgundy and gold for only half a season is that vital to the team’s success, it’s the sobering truth. Because after him you’ve got Carlos Rogers, Fred Smoot and … well, that’s it.

Kevin Barnes, the hard hitter out of Maryland, is a rookie and will need time to grow. If you don’t believe us, look at Justin Tryon, who looked thoroughly lost last season during his inaugural campaign. There are some folks at Redskins Park who swear Tryon is the real deal and will make the leap this year. We’ll go ahead and take the “wait and see” approach.

When Rogers is on, he’s a true lockdown corner. Unfortunately, he’s also the guy who some believe quit on his teammates when times got tough during the team’s second-half slide. He’s heading into the final year of his rookie contract, so we know he’ll be motivated. But it’s tough to say with any conviction that Carlos is definitively in the team’s long-term plans. And while we love Smoot, there are some who think he might not even survive cuts this season.

We think he’ll be around for the 2009 season. After that … who knows?

5. Quarterback - You know the story by now.

Jay Cutler. Mark Sanchez. Jason Campbell.

This past offseason management tried to bring in other glitzier names to run the show. Begrudgingly, they’re stuck with Campbell. It goes without saying that this is a “make or break” year for Campbell (and also for Jim Zorn, whose coaching career is ultimately tied to his quarterback). If Campbell goes out and plays well, he gets paid and everything else is forgotten. If not, Campbell and Zorn will likely be elsewhere this time next year.

It’s also worth noting that a large chunk of the fanbase will be paying ample attention to the backup quarterback situation. In one corner we have Todd Collins, a tasty drink … er … veteran signal caller who is never flashy, but is typically effective. In the other, we have Colt Brennan, the pride and joy of Hawaii and underdogs worldwide. If Campbell falters, it’ll be very interesting to see which player the team turns to.

Of course, if Campbell falters, this season could very well get ugly in a hurry.

That’s all for now. Feel free to leave a comment or share your opinion with the class.

(courtesy photo)

As previously noted, the Washington Redskins made history last week when they selected Kentucky defensive end Jeremy Jarmon in the 2009 Supplemental Draft. Never before in team history had they participated in the “bonus draft,” so to mark this festive occasion we bring to you Jarmon’s first interview as a member of the Redskins.

On if the amount teams that attended his workout last week raised his stock:

“I don’t know how much it helped my stock but I know there were several teams that were interested in me and that I could come in and contribute to their program. The Redskins happen to be one of those teams and Coach Palermo ran my workout and was talking to me during the workout and said he was very impressed by the way I was moving and how well I was performing some of the drills. I’m sure that my performance and not the presence of 18 teams attracted the Redskins to me.”

On what the past couple of months have been like:

“There have been a lot of ups and downs. When I found out in May, I was real disappointed at the time when the ruling came out and that was definitely a low point if not one of the lowest points of my life so far but I started to get over it. My teammates, coaches and friends picked me back up. I’ve been moving to Nashville for the past four or five weeks and working out down in Franklin, Tenn., at D1 [Sports Training & Therapy] it kept my mind off of it and got me back in the football environment. Some of the Titans guys and high school guys were working out there so I didn’t have as much time to think about everything that had happened. It just gave me time to focus on football and that’s something that I love to do. These past few weeks have been hectic talking to teams but its all been worth it and under the circumstances, it’s the best situation for me and I’m really excited about moving to D.C.”

On how much he considered the NFL Draft this past April:

“Not very strongly. I planned on coming back to UK. I talked with Micah Johnson, our middle linebacker who was testing the waters and All-American cornerback Trevard Lindley, who was also testing the waters. They were in no hurry to leave, we were having fun there and we were all coming back and I really didn’t consider it too much.”

On his strengths:

“I feel like I play with good leverage. I also feel like I am very quick. Areas I need to improve on are my strength. Coach Hastings is going to do a wonderful job helping me get stronger, get more flexible and things like that over that next years of my career. The Redskins is going to be a great place for me to be. They have a lot of great coaches, a lot of great players and we’re going to get better.”

On coming to Washington and playing with veterans:

“I know Phillip [Daniels], he’s a veteran guy who’s done an outstanding job in Washington during the past few years. I’m excited about the possibility of lining up next to big Albert [Haynesworth] the guy the Redskins picked up during the offseason and there are a lot of other guys who have been playing for five, six, seven years. And you have Phillip who’s a 13- or 14-year veteran and I’m sure he’s seen just about everything in the NFL that could be done to someone. I’m hoping to just get in and land under the wing of some of those guys and learn and follow in their footsteps.”

On impressions of the Redskins’ evaluation process:

“I really enjoyed talking with a lot of the office guys on the phone. Vinny was great. I had a chance to meet with him down in Lexington and also Coach Palermo and a couple of the other guys that were there. Just the impressions I got from them - they were honest. We sat around and had interesting conversations talking about issues that were football related and non-football related. I really just think they wanted to sit down and get to know me as a person and figure out exactly who I was, and during those conversations I got to get to know about those guys as well. I am just really looking forward to coming to Washington. It was definitely the team that I wanted to end up coming to. I actually sent Vinny a text message this morning. I got his number and I told him I want to be a Redskin – make it happen. It’s the place that I wanted to be and I am just glad that dream has come true for me. He responded in the ultimate way to my text message by drafting me today.”

On being behind in the learning process heading into training camp:

“It’s definitely going to be a test. I feel like I’m a pretty smart guy. The number one thing is trying to get adjusted to the area and as soon as I can get a playbook I need to jump into it and get to learning the plays and formations and sitting down in the film room and putting the plays to the video to see what they look like and see how guys play. I want to try to go into camp with an idea of what I’m supposed to do on each and every play. So I’m going to busy from the time period that I get to Washington next week learning and preparing myself as much as I can and I think I am going to do an adequate job of learning the base defenses and moving from there.”

On why he was suspended by the NCAA:

“I went out and purchased a dietary supplement over the counter in Lexington with the hopes of losing some weight. I had just come off the season, I had some tendonitis in my shoulder after the season and the doctor had diagnosed me with a mild case of tendonitis in my left shoulder. It pretty much made me inactive so I wasn’t to lift weights, I wasn’t to run and condition. I was out of football for about 6-8 weeks. That was from the time period of the bowl game – the date was around January 12th when we returned to school – and around January 19 to about mid-March that I was inactive. During that time period, I did not want gain any unwanted weight in the time period which I was inactive so I began to watch my weight and watch what I was eating and began to take an over-the-counter dietary supplement. About four days before the NCAA came in with a random drug test I went to our head trainer Jim Madaleno and I asked him what was going to happen here over the next few days and he said I was going to get a cortisone shot in my shoulder so at that time I asked, ‘I’m taking supplements – taking some fish pills. Do I need to get off of anything so it doesn’t interfere with the cortisone shot?” His response to me was, ‘Whatever you’re taking get off of it for now, let’s get this cortisone shot so you can get going for spring ball.’ About four days after that conversation the NCAA came in and announced that they were going to do a random drug test and I found out about my status on March 21 after I returned from spring break because I had been out of the country. If I hadn’t been out of the country I would have found out about a week earlier.”

On what the dietary supplement was:

“I don’t know if I am going to release that. The team knows about it. Other teams know about it. I’ve been upfront with them. I don’t know if it’s something at this time that I should release.”

On if it was an issue in supplemental draft process:

“It wasn’t an issue because I told teams exactly what the supplement was and what the substance in the supplement was that I tested positive for. They did their research on it. Everything matched up from the paperwork they had gotten from doctors and the statements I had made. It wasn’t a problem. Teams did their research.”

(photo by Andy Lyons)

[Quick note for those who've noticed the lack of updates - we're in Germany this week. Bear with us and we'll be back in time to dive right into training camp coverage. Thanks.]

For the first time in team history, the Washington Redskins participated in the NFL’s lesser known draft - selecting defensive end Jeremy Jarmon in the third round of the 2009 Supplemental Draft. Shortly after, Vinny Cerrato, the team’s vice president/football operations spoke with reporters to explain the move.

On what he liked about Jeremy Jarmon:

“The number one thing is, when he applied to the supplemental and we got his name, (Director of Player Personnel) Scott [Campbell] first looked at him, then he called (Area Scout) Bill Baker. Bill, who was scouting that area, checked him out, you know, character and all that. That came back good. Then Scott watched him on film and liked him on film, Bill Baker liked him on film. Then Scott and I sat down and watched all his tape, and liked him on film. Then we went down to the workout, Scott, myself, and then (Defensive Line Coach) John Palermo was there too, and talked to all the coaches down there, talked to the trainer.

“The kid is an articulate kid, has already graduated in Political Science, he is only 21 years old, and, you know, he made a mistake taking the dietary substance. He went around the corner from the facility there, and got a dietetic. But, Scott and I and Palermo, we took him to dinner, spent like three hours with him that night liked his personality and thought he would fit in with our guys, thought he was a lot like our guys, personality-wise. Once we did that, we talked to (Owner) Dan [Snyder] and Jim Zorn after the workout and said we really liked this guy, and then the kid flew out that Saturday and had dinner with Dan and Jim Zorn in Aspen. Then they liked him a lot too, and then we all talked about it and said that we should do this. We knew that we would have to give a third round pick to get him, because we knew that we wouldn’t get him if we put in a four because there were too many other teams.”

On how he will fit in at defensive end:

“He will be a left defensive end. He was 6-3, 280 [lbs.], ran 4.79 [40-yard dash], 31 vertical, had a 10-inch hand, 33 7/8 arm, and he was a 28 Wonderlic. He only did 19 benches; he needs to get stronger in the upper body. He has a great lower body and needs to get stronger in the upper body.”

On when and where the workout took place:

“It was July 8, in Lexington Kent., at the University of Kentucky.”

On how much he will help right away:

“I wouldn’t say he is a project. I think he will be able to help on special teams right away because he can run so well. And he is coming into a situation where he’s got a chance to learn from two great veterans in Phillip and Renaldo. So there is no pressure on him, where he has to do it. What he has to do is come in and learn from Phillip and Renaldo is what he needs to do.”

On Brian Orakpo’s Progress, and what this changes:

“Orakpo is the exact same as what he was. This does not change anything with Brian.”

On how the contract will work:

“He is the nineteenth pick of the third round. So that is what his slot will be and we get more rookie pool money tomorrow.”

On Jarmon’s suspension, and whether he spoke about it with the team:

“We talked to him about it, we talked to the trainers about it, and we talked to the coaches about it. The trainer knew the most about it, because he was the one involved in the whole thing. We talked to their NCAA guidance person at Kentucky, and he just went around the corner and bought it at one of those nutritional stores. And he went through spring ball. He went through all of spring ball with Kentucky. And then he was suspended, I think it was in June.”

On Jeremy addressing what happened in a press conference after being suspended:

“I think it showed what type of kid he was. And that’s the type of guy we want in our locker room. You know, the type of person he is, we thought he fit perfectly with our guys. He would fit well in a room with them.”

On whether he was double-teamed a lot in college, and if that contributed to a lesser sack total in 2008 than 2007:

“I asked the coaches that, and they said, hey, we don’t have a lot of stars here so when the other teams find out who they are, they try to take them out of the game. But actually, I watched 2007 film and then 2008, and I thought he was a much better player in 2008 than in 2007, so I think he has a good upside to him.”

On any lingering issues with his shoulder:

“No, he missed two weeks at the end of the year. He had some tendonitis in his shoulder, but he went and got a physical with Jim Andrews and all that. We went through all the records with the trainer, Scott Campbell, and myself. He started lifting again right after. He missed two weeks; it was just the wear and tear of the season, and then he took two weeks off, and then he was cleared to go back lifting.”

On bulking him up:

“The thing about it was, he played between 280 and 285, and then he has been in Nashville training with, I can’t remember the group of people he was training with, but once he got suspended, he couldn’t work out and stuff at Kentucky. He did it on his own, went and got these people and trained with them, and he was in good shape at the workout. I was impressed with the type of condition he was in, and I think the strength coaches and their coaches were quite impressed that he was at 280, and worked out the way he did. I think his weight, whether he plays at 280, 285, wherever he will be in a year, our strength coaches will put on good weight. As he gets stronger, he will get more lean mass and those type things. So he may be 285.”

On whether any other teams drafted a player, or any other teams were involved with the draft:

“No, he was the only one drafted. But I know a lot of teams, talking with some of the other media people, and I know from talking with his agent, and I got a text from one team that was picking very, very high in the fourth, they thought they were going to get him.”

On whether someone will be released to make room:

“When he signs. We’ve still got to release three guys. When we sign our three draft picks that haven’t signed, we will be releasing three guys. You’ll see that when we sign somebody, somebody’s got to go.”

On the importance of getting younger with Brian Orakpo, and now with Jeremy Jarmon:

“I thought that it was a situation where you get a chance to get a big defensive lineman, and he gets the chance to come in, learn from two veteran guys. He is 21 years old, and he has got the size. To me, in next year’s draft, if he had gone through the combine and everything else, the guy probably goes in the second round, cause D-linemen always go high in the draft. So I think we got the chance to get a quality player at a quality price. I don’t think we could have got him in the third, come next April. And this way, he is a year ahead. For our third-round pick next year, we are getting a year of his work already into it. When we would have made the pick, he has already had a whole season and part of an off season already.”

On if this is the first time he has taken part in the Supplemental Draft with the Redskins?

“Yeah, first time, so we didn’t know the whole process. I never did it is San Francisco, so it’s a first. And we were just sitting there, and one o’clock was the first round, and it was 10 minutes and you email in, we’re not interested. Second round – same thing, and then third round – ‘we’ll take him with our third.’ Then we were waiting for the email back saying whether we got him or not.”

(photo by Pat Sullivan)

Even by baseball standards this one was ridiculously long.

On May 5th the Houston Astros (11-15) and the Washington Nationals (7-17) squared off at Nationals Park in a battle of mediocre baseball teams. The Nats won the game 11-10 in 11 innings. Last night. In Houston. No, seriously.

More than two months after starting pitcher Scott Olsen threw the first pitch to Houston outfielder Michael Bourn on a festive Tuesday in Washington D.C., the Nationals picked up a victory more than 1,400 miles away. This is where witty bloggers insert a joke about the lengths these doormat Nats go to in order to pick up a much-needed win.

Put it this way – Olsen, the 25-year-old lefty who started the game and went five innings, went on the disabled list May 19. He then spent more than a month on the shelf getting healthy and returned to the lineup June 29.

Washington relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan earned the win after pitching in the top of the 11th inning for the Nationals – allowing three hits and striking out one batter while throwing 16 pitches. When the game finally ended and Hanrahan had earned his first win of the season he was actually enjoying the night off … in Pennsylvania. You see, Hanrahan was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, along with outfielder Lastings Milledge, for Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett, July 1.

Speaking of Morgan, he scored the winning run for Washington last night after a throwing error by shortstop Miguel Tejada on a routine throw to first base. Morgan was technically a pinch runner for outfielder Elijah Dukes, who went two for four with a homer and two RBIs in the win, but had been demoted to the minor leagues by the time the game officially ended.

All of this because of an epic rain delay. But you know what? We’ll take it. Mostly because, anyone who has seen these Nats play their uninspired brand of baseball of late knows that this team hasn’t been on the winning side of an interesting baseball game in quite some time. Some might say it’s been two months.

Does anyone have a Corona?

(photo by Brian Murphy)

Sorry for the lack of updates, folks. But lets be honest - the Nationals are still comically bad. The Wizards are on the hook for nearly $6 million because they’re over the luxury tax limit,and still have a long way to go before being considered a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals, this area’s one consistent winner, are enjoying their summer vacation and the Redskins are a month away from the start of training camp. Simply put, there’s nothing new to report.