National Football League

Sideshow acts are gone at Redskins camp

Published Aug. 11, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Redskins Park doesn’t have the attractions it once did.

The “test your fitness” carnival game that Albert Haynesworth failed to pass on several occasions has been shuttered. Gone also is the flashy — if often out of service — running back Clinton Portis and all of his alter egos, including “Kid Bro Sweets” and “Coach Janky Spanky.” Donovan McNabb, once the headliner of the ‘Skins’ offense, was moved in large part because he couldn’t follow the script.

What’s left sure doesn’t seem to fit the style of owner Dan Snyder, who once ran the Six Flags theme park chain and has a knack for splashy signings. That’s just fine with second-year Redskins coach Mike Shanahan.

“I want good football players and I want people who work hard,” Shanahan told FOXSports.com. “I want people who give you a chance to win a Super Bowl. What it takes is a lot of unselfish people who are talented to do that.”

The Redskins filled their many holes on both sides of the ball with workhorses rather than glitz. Free agents Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen were brought into to shore up the defensive line. Outside of the re-signing of receiver Santana Moss, the biggest free-agent move on the other side of the ball may be center Chris Chester. The Redskins also acquired Arizona Cardinals running back Tim Hightower in exchange for defensive end Vonnie Holliday.

“Regardless of personnel, there’s no question that we’re under the radar,” tight end Chris Cooley said. “We don’t really need to say anything about it. If anyone is talking about who is going to win the NFC East, it’s not us.”

One member of the ongoing quarterback duel disagrees. Rex Grossman, who was re-signed to a one-year contract after the lockout, said in a television interview that the Redskins, who were 6-10 a season ago, are “ready to take over the NFC East.”

Shanahan said he gives Grossman credit for his swagger — even if there’s a good chance this bravado is coming from a quarterback who could be holding a clipboard come Week 1.

“I like our quarterbacks being confident,” Shanahan said. “Like I said in the past, we should let our play do the talking. It’s not about our potential.”

The starting quarterback job appears to be John Beck’s to lose. Beck, 29, hasn’t played in a regular season game since 2007 with the Miami Dolphins. But both Mike and Kyle, his son and offensive coordinator, aren’t holding that against the former BYU standout.

“What’s good for a guy like John is all those years studying defenses and going through game plans,” Mike Shanahan said. “Now he’s ready to play. Now he’s ready to go.”

Added Kyle Shanahan: “When he’s been in there, he’s done a real good job and he knows exactly what do to with the ball. He can think really fast. You don’t need perfect protection with him in there because he can get rid of it quick. If things get bad, he knows how to find the outlet.”

Beck has been unable to participate in 11-on-11 drills since he tweaked his groin during practice on Saturday. The injury could keep him out of Friday’s preseason-opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, not that it will dim his chances of assuming the No. 1 job much.

“I was feeling really good about everything (before the injury),” Beck said. “I still feel real good about everything. If I get the opportunity to be out there, I’ll be fine.”

For Grossman, this is the first time he’s competed for the No. 1 spot since he was with the Chicago Bears in 2008. (Grossman lost out to Kyle Orton that season) Third-stringer Kellen Clemens has also seen plenty of snaps this week.

“The competition part will take care of itself as the preseason goes on,” Grossman said.

Who either quarterback will primarily be handing the ball off to also isn’t settled. Hightower has had some fumbling issues in camp as he fends off Roy Helu, who the Redskins moved up to draft in the fourth round in April, for the starting job. After Moss, the team’s No. 2 receiving position is a battle between Jabar Gaffney and Anthony Armstrong.

The Redskins’ 3-4 defense — as defenses often do in camp even without a lockout that wiped out OTAs — has outshined the offense at camp. Of course, many of the players remain in place from last year’s team that finished 31st in the league in yardage allowed per game (389.2) under defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.

“You have to be able to react,” linebacker Brian Orakpo said. “On offense, you have to be more precise. You have to have timing. I feel real comfortable this year. Guys are picking it up very fast and able to go out there and fly around and get to their assignments.”

The Redskins used their No. 1 pick on Purdue linebacker Ryan Kerrigan. The additions of Cofield and Bowen give the ‘Skins an adequate line, although they’re not likely to intimidate the opposition as none of the front three (Adam Carriker included) will draw any added attention. The defensive backfield, anchored by DeAngelo Hall at cornerback and LaRon Landry at strong safety, may have been in the lower half in the league in interceptions a season ago (14), but remains better than average overall.

Orakpo said the Redskins aim to surrender no more than 17 points per game, nearly a touchdown fewer than last season. For a team with a new starting quarterback, an unproven running game and not a lot of deep threats, that magic number could be a necessity if Washington wants to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

“I see progress from the guys we have around,” said Moss, one of only a few players left from that last playoff team. “You see where we’re trying to go as we become a team that has to be reckoned with. It’s hard to come in here and try to change things when you don’t have your guys. (Shanahan) went out and got the guys he can count on.”

It wouldn’t be a Redskins camp, however, if there wasn’t at least one distraction — even if it was manufactured. A screen grab of Grossman’s possibly bloated torso made the rounds on blogs and was even a topic of conversation on sports radio in this Redskins-crazed area.

But as of Thursday, Snyder hadn’t brought in a “guess your weight” game.