As training camp winds down, the pressure of making an NFL team and having your dreams come true only gets greater.
Tuesday at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center, pressure turned two players into combatants after the whistle, while one saw his first shot at NFL stardom shelved due to injury.
Then, out of the blue, RGIII made an appearance at the post-practice press conference. Griffin was only available to the press on July 24th and the last three Mondays, including yesterday. No one saw him coming back this afternoon.
First, the fight. UVA grad, cornerback Chase Minnifield and wide receiver Aldrick Robinson tangled during practice Tuesday afternoon. Minnifield is fighting for a roster spot and Robinson is in the same boat, up against a seemingly endless number of veterans such as Devery Henderson, Donte Stallworth, and stalwarts Santana Moss and Pierre Garcon.
Then the bad news. Rookie safety Phillip Thomas suffered a torn Lisfranc ligament in his foot and will be out for the 2013 season.
"It'll be about a four-or-five month recovery time. We'll put him on IR," Shanahan said.
Before the head coach made his usual post-practice comments, the second-year QB superstar stopped by to clarify some issues, trying to dispel reports in media saying he was at odds with his coaching staff, specifically over his recovery timeline.
"I just want everybody to know that if there's any questions about a rift between me and coach, or if there's a conflict, there is no conflict. Coaches coach, I'm a player. Coach has a plan and I'm abiding by that plan."
If you're heading to the Skins' 12:40pm practice Wednesday, you should see Griffin participate in 11-on-11 full-team drills.
Who knows what else you may see as the preseason pressure reaches the boiling point.
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