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For now, camp focus is on shorts, scales and signatures
GRANT PAULSEN: Off-field distractions keep Redskins amused at camp
Date published: 8/2/2009
ASHBURN-- Chris Cooley was wearing booty shorts. Malcolm Kelly was signing his name on dog bowls. Chris Wilson called the locker-room scale "a liar." Fred Smoot sported a smile wider than the Potomac River and made bold predictions.Training camp has arrived. The Washington Redskins initiated their second camp under Jim Zorn on Thursday morning at Redskins Park. Thousands of fans showed up to watch the team take part in calisthenics and light drills. The good news: Nobody got injured. The better news: Jason Campbell was sharper than your favorite knife. The bad news: There wasn't another team on the field trying to prevent him from completing a pass. Cooley's short shorts have become a training-camp staple. The Pro Bowl tight end wears them annually, and even his head coach is staring to take notice. "Zorn wore my shorts to our meeting last night," Cooley admitted. "These exact ones actually," the reliable pass-catcher said while motioning to the burgundy shorts he was wearing. "He told me that Kelly signed autographs for more than 40 minutes after the first practice. The second-year wide receiver's development will be critical to the success of the Redskins offense this season. Knee injuries kept the former Oklahoma standout off the field for most of last season. Kelly played in only four games and caught just three passes. The Redskins need a second receiver to take pressure off Santana Moss and to allow Antwan Randle El to spend additional time in his more natural slot position. Kelly and fellow 2008 second-rounder Devin Thomas are favorites to become that second option. But weeks before his first preseason game, Kelly was signing dog bowls for fans at his team's practice facility. "I didn't even know they made Redskins dog bowls," he said with a laugh. "And why do you want my autograph on a dog bowl? Does their dog like me a lot or something?" Smoot's one of the Redskins who's responsible for expediting Kelly's maturity as a football player. Smoot has been covering him--and talking trash to him--in practices all off-season.
Date published: 8/2/2009
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