Washington
Redskins

Redskins Team Report

Updated: May 25, 2012 04:28 EST

Robert Griffin III impressed Mike Shanahan so much with his performance at Baylor and as a person during their interviews that the Redskins gave the Rams their first-round draft picks in 2013 and 2014 and their second-rounder this year in order to move up from the sixth to second spot and select the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.

Griffin has also wowed draft analysts, the media, fans, and most recently, Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show." But the 22-year-old rookie had one more group to win over: his veteran teammates. That officially began happening on May 21 with Washington's first organized team activity session, one which Griffin approached with more caution than he had during the May 4-6 rookie minicamp which had been his first time on the field in a Redskins uniform.

"With rookie minicamp, it's more of you're trying to show coach, 'You drafted me. I'm as (good as) advertised,'" Griffin explained. "But when you're with the vets, it's more of, 'I can help this team win, show them why coach has so much confidence in (me),' so it's a little bit more pressure."

Not that the veterans saw Griffin showing any nerves. Longtime No. 1 receiver Santana Moss said that Griffin "doesn't look like a rookie. I've seen him run a lot, but I see him throw the ball and it's like pinpoint -- right there, on the spot."

Two-time Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley loved Griffin's presence and smarts in the huddle.

"It's so evident that he's a tremendous athlete," Cooley said. "No one will ever question that. (But) his ability to be great for us, and to be great early, will be to understand what we're doing offensively and (be) able to build a trust with the guys. He stays after (conditioning sessions) for an hour and throws to guys. To watch the way he calls the plays in the huddle; learning the playbook in a month is very impressive."

Captain London Fletcher said that the March 9 trade with St. Louis to get Griffin helped convince him to re-sign with Washington.

"That was huge for me," said Fletcher, a Pro-Bowl inside linebacker the past three seasons. "I'm in my 15th season. To go into another year not having a (quality) quarterback was not very appealing to me. When they were able to make the trade; it made the situation a lot better as far as coming back here."

Fletcher, who rocketed from undrafted rookie out of Division III John Carroll to starting middle linebacker of the Super Bowl champion Rams a year later, is just as pleased with Griffin the person.

"He's very humble, very respectful, not coming in feeling like he's entitled to anything," Fletcher said.

And the feeling is mutual.

"To be out there with those guys, some of these vets, that was pretty special, so I appreciate everything that they're doing to help me," Griffin said.

--On the same day that quarterback Robert Griffin was impressing the veterans, the diminutive 59-year-old Mike Shanahan scared the players by going down hard and staying down a while after being blindsided by cornerback Brandyn Thompson, who was covering receiver Pierre Garcon near the end of the OTA. Shanahan got up fast enough to avoid being carted off and while he canceled his post-practice media session, a team spokesman said he was fine the next day.

"It was pretty scary actually to see two guys running full speed smack dab into your coach," said Griffin.

"It was pretty bad looking," said captain London Fletcher, adding that he had never seen a head coach getting hit like that during his 14 previous NFL seasons. "He wasn't able to brace himself for the collision either. He had his back to the play, so (it was) definitely a very scary, scary feeling for a while out there. (But) he's pretty tough, he wanted to stay out there (and) he ended up staying out there."

--On May 22, Special Master Stephen Burbank rejected the appeal by the Redskins and Cowboys over their respective $36 million and $10 million salary-cap penalties levied by the NFL for alleged violations of league rules in 2010.

"We pursued our salary-cap claim pursuant to the CBA and we respect and will abide by the arbitrator's decision to dismiss," the Redskins and Cowboys said in a joint statement issued after Burbank's pro-NFL ruling. "We will continue to focus on our football teams and the 2012 season."

It will be interesting to see if the NFLPA's lawsuit filed on May 23 on similar grounds will prompt Washington and Dallas to reconsider their decisions to let the matter drop especially since half the cap hits will be incurred in 2013.

--Four of the 90 players on Washington's roster didn't take part in team drills during the May 21 OTA that was open to the media. Defensive end Stephen Bowen (knee scope), receiver Leonard Hankerson (hip surgery) and running back Tim Hightower (knee surgery) participated in some individual drills as they continue to work their way through the rehabilitation process.

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall was a no-show. It's unclear if Hall's absence was excused since Shanahan didn't speak to the media, but Fletcher said that the three-time Pro Bowl pick had been a regular participant in the offseason conditioning work that began on April 13 so it's unlikely that Hall's absence from the first OTA was any sign of unhappiness.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The simple answer to that is I was a huge Michael Jackson fan growing up." -- QB Robert Griffin III on why he wore a glove on his left hand during the first OTA.

MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: TE Fred Davis (tendered at $5.446 million; signed tender March 16).

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--WR David Anderson had six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown in four games after being signed off waivers in Week 10. Don't look for the undersized receiver to return.

--CB Phillip Buchanon was a solid nickel corner in his Washington debut in 2010, but a four-game drug suspension and a shoulder injury limited him to one game in 2011. He'll be 32 in September and is very unlikely to be back.

--ILB Keyaron Fox played mostly on special teams in his Redskins debut while missing two games with a staph infection. Likely won't be back.

--ILB Rocky McIntosh was a starter from December 2006-November 2011, but he saw little time the rest of the way before breaking curfew before the finale for which he was made inactive. The six-year veteran won't be back.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)

--CB Byron Westbrook (not tendered as RFA) has advanced from two years in the practice squad to an adequate backup and a good special teams player. He might be re-signed at the third-year minimum.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

--K Graham Gano is coming off a block-strewn year, but the Redskins have confidence that he's their long-term kicker although they added Neil Rackers.

DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED

--LB Keenan Robinson (4/119): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--G Adam Gettis (5/141): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--RB Alfred Morris (6/173): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--T Tom Compton (6/193): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--CB Richard Crawford (7/213): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--S Jordan Bernstine (7/217): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--DE Adam Carriker: Potential UFA; $20M/4 yrs, $3M SB/$7.6M guaranteed.

--TE Fred Davis: FFA; $5.446M/1 yr.

--LB London Fletcher: UFA; $27.25M/6 yrs, $3.5M SB/$6.75M guaranteed.

--DE Kedric Golston: UFA; terms unknown.

--QB Rex Grossman: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--RB Tim Hightower: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--OG Kory Lichtensteiger: RFA; tendered at $1.26M with fourth-round pick as compensation); $1.26M/1 yr.

--C Will Montgomery: Potential UFA; $12M/4 yrs, $2.75M RB.

--DE Darrion Scott: Potential UFA; terms unknown.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--WR Pierre Garcon: UFA Colts; $42.5M/5 yrs, $21.5M guaranteed.

--LB Jonathan Goff: UFA Giants; terms unknown.

--CB Cedric Griffin: FA Vikings; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--S Tanard Jackson: FA Buccaneers; $700,000/1 yr.

--LB Bryan Kehl: UFA Rams; terms unknown.

--OT James Lee: UFA Buccaneers; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--S Brandon Meriweather: UFA Bears; $6M/2 yrs.

--WR Joshua Morgan: UFA 49ers; 5 yrs can void to 2; $5.5M SB/$7.3M guaranteed.

--PK Neil Rackers: UFA Texans; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--CB Leigh Torrence: UFA Saints; terms unknown.

--S Madieu Williams: UFA 49ers; terms unknown.

--LB Chris Wilson: FA; terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST

--S Oshiomogho Atogwe (released).

--QB John Beck (released).

--WR Jabar Gaffney (released).

--S LaRon Landry: UFA Jets; $4M/1 yr.

--OT Sean Locklear: UFA Giants; $825,000/1 yr.

--FB Mike Sellers (released).

--WR Donte Stallworth: UFA Patriots; $925,000/1 yr, $25,000 SB.