Redskin Park

HERNDON, Va. -- Joe Morris, a former New York Giants running back who arrived at Redskin Park for a workout yesterday, said, "I think I have a lot of good football left in me."Redskins general manager Charley Casserly said Morris had a good workout but that the Redskins don't plan to sign a running back at the moment.Morris said it was "different" to be at Redskin Park, "in the den of the enemy, so to speak." But he said he'd be happy to play for Washington.It's routine for the Redskins to work out players each Tuesday.

— Early in the afternoon practice, the large lineman, formerly caught in a tug of war between disgruntled and disinterested, squatted down and lined up as a nose tackle, stuck his hand in the grass at Redskins Park for the first time in seven months. The magnitude of the moment — 41/2 months in the making — wasn't lost on defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, who shouted out, "Oh, yeah, we got the big guy back!" On the 10th day of training camp, Albert Haynesworth finally joined his teammates at practice.

Defensive lineman Charles Mann will be the next Washington Redskins veteran to be a victim of the salary cap.According to a team source, the Redskins plan to waive Mann, who is due to make $1.6 million this year, to give them more room under the salary cap as they attempt to sign a pair of free agents -- center John Gesek of the Dallas Cowboys and defensive lineman Reuben Davis of the Phoenix Cardinals.Mann, an 11-year veteran who was limited to action in 12 games because of knee problems, will be the fourth veteran to depart as the Redskins reduce their payroll because of the cap.The first three were linebacker Carl Banks and wide receiver Tim McGee, who were waived, and center Jeff Bostic, who retired.

CARLISLE, Pa. - Steve Spurrier reported for his first day of training camp as head coach of the Washington Redskins yesterday and quickly announced he would rather be somewhere else. Like back in Northern Virginia, coaching by day at Redskin Park and sleeping in his own bed at night. He also said he would like for his players to enjoy the benefits of practicing in familiar surroundings and enjoying home cooking at night. "I don't understand the importance of getting away, to tell you the truth," said Spurrier, who came from a college atmosphere at which all preseason workouts were on campus.

There's a virtual revolving door at Redskin Park these days.After waiving linebacker Carl Banks yesterday in the wake of coming to terms with Ken Harvey on Saturday, the Washington Redskins moved close to signing two more free agents -- tight end Ethan Horton of the Los Angeles Raiders and center John Gesek of the Dallas Cowboys.Team sources said the Redskins think they can sign Horton and Gesek, who both visited last week, to bolster their offense.They also scheduled visits from four free agents the next two days.

A funny thing happened to Brent Williams on his way to becoming a Washington Redskin this week -- he became a Seattle Seahawk instead.An obscure defensive lineman from the New England Patriots, Williams is an example of how unpredictable the NFL's free-agent signing wars have become.On Wednesday, Williams arrived at Redskin Park, apparently ready to take the team's one-year, $410,000 offer. His agent, Robert Fayne, even called two other clubs interested in him, including the Seahawks, and told them he had decided to go to Washington.

The Washington Redskins hired Norv Turner to be their new head coach yesterday and will make the official announcement at a noon news conference today at Redskin Park.According to a team source, Turner, the offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, accepted the job at a meeting with team owner Jack Kent Cooke and general manager Charley Casserly.Cooke was all smiles when he left the complex shortly before 5 p.m., but the team delayed the announcement until today to get maximum TV coverage.

The Washington Redskins, attempting to find a new strong safety now that Danny Copeland has retired, will bring in Jarvis Williams of the Miami Dolphins and Keith Taylor of the New Orleans Saints for visits today."

...0TC The Washington Redskins are trying to trade the sixth pick in the April 26 college draft for a proven player, general manager Charley Casserly said yesterday."

The Washington Redskins were left without a summer home yesterday, when Dickinson College officials ended their 32-year association with the team.Because the Redskins hadn't decided whether they wanted to return to Carlisle, Pa., for training camp this summer, college officials rented out the dorms the team normally uses in July and August, and told the Redskins they no longer could accommodate them.A team official said the Redskins still haven't decided where they will hold training camp.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Statistics lump the Jacksonville Jaguars in the same group as the past four Washington Redskins opponents. All have had decent defenses, and all have had offensive problems. The Jaguars (2-5) have not scored more than 14 points in their past four games, all losses. They enter today's 4:15 p.m game at ALLTEL Stadium against the Redskins (5-2) with the league's 24th-ranked rushing offense, 14th overall. The Jaguars have striking similarities to the Ravens, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and New York Giants, teams the No. 2-ranked Redskins defense had success against.

ASHBURN, Va. -- LaVar Arrington had answered hundreds of questions yesterday before he gave some major insight into why playing for the Washington Redskins would have intriguing personal meaning for him. "I met my first girlfriend in Washington when I was walking around on a fifth-grade class trip," said Arrington in a lighter moment at Redskin Park. "I gave her a broken chain with a safety pin. It was one of those special times in life you never forget." Arrington broke into a wide grin as he recalled that first girlfriend and actually seemed to enjoy himself for a few brief seconds in a hectic but satisfying day that began in New York, where Washington made him the No. 2 overall selection in the NFL draft.

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins didn't really worry about Hurricane Floyd. They know a real storm front could be brewing closer to Redskin Park.If they fail to produce a solid effort today at the Meadowlands against the New York Giants (1 p.m.), the Redskins would fall to 0-2 for just the sixth time in the past three decades. And only one team, the 1984 club, rebounded to make the playoffs.So if new owner Daniel Snyder maintains the same demanding attitude as in the preseason, the players and coaching staff acknowledge that there may be no haven from some club-altering moves.

It was a rare moment two seasons ago at Redskin Park when mercurial wide receiver Michael Westbrook suddenly wanted to talk about playing football."I want to go down as one of the greatest receivers of all time," said Westbrook, a few days after catching seven passes for 126 yards in a 19-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. "I know I have a long ways to go, but I want to dedicate myself to that goal."That was one of the last times the mostly silent Westbrook would reveal some of his innermost feelings before he went down last Sunday with a career-threatening herniated disk between the third and fourth vertebrae in his neck.

ASHBURN, Va. -- On paper, the 1998 NFL draft will go down as a failed experience for the Washington Redskins.They not only failed to complete the Sean Gilbert deal with Carolina for the Panthers' 14th selection in the first round, but also couldn't trade up to get an offensive tackle, which was their top priority.So Redskins general manager Charley Casserly said all he could do was "take the best football players he could find."Heading that list was 6-foot-4, 246-pound Oklahoma tight end Stephen Alexander, who is considered by some to have the same all-around ability as former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek.

The Washington Redskins were left without a summer home yesterday, when Dickinson College officials ended their 32-year association with the team.Because the Redskins hadn't decided whether they wanted to return to Carlisle, Pa., for training camp this summer, college officials rented out the dorms the team normally uses in July and August, and told the Redskins they no longer could accommodate them.A team official said the Redskins still haven't decided where they will hold training camp.

CARLISLE, Pa. - Steve Spurrier reported for his first day of training camp as head coach of the Washington Redskins yesterday and quickly announced he would rather be somewhere else. Like back in Northern Virginia, coaching by day at Redskin Park and sleeping in his own bed at night. He also said he would like for his players to enjoy the benefits of practicing in familiar surroundings and enjoying home cooking at night. "I don't understand the importance of getting away, to tell you the truth," said Spurrier, who came from a college atmosphere at which all preseason workouts were on campus.

ASHBURN, Va. -- Mark Rypien bumped into Joe Gibbs when the Washington Redskins quarterback brought his family to Redskin Park a few weeks ago. Gibbs spent much of the time playing with Rypien's small children."

A funny thing happened to Brent Williams on his way to becoming a Washington Redskin this week -- he became a Seattle Seahawk instead.An obscure defensive lineman from the New England Patriots, Williams is an example of how unpredictable the NFL's free-agent signing wars have become.On Wednesday, Williams arrived at Redskin Park, apparently ready to take the team's one-year, $410,000 offer. His agent, Robert Fayne, even called two other clubs interested in him, including the Seahawks, and told them he had decided to go to Washington.

The Washington Redskins, attempting to find a new strong safety now that Danny Copeland has retired, will bring in Jarvis Williams of the Miami Dolphins and Keith Taylor of the New Orleans Saints for visits today."