Former Packer, Bill Linebacker Barnett Signs with Redskins

Nick Barnett has a Super Bowl ring from being a part of Green Bay's world title team from 2010. Now he'll try to help the Redskins secure their first rings in 22 years.

Barnett, 32, signed a deal to help shore up depth issues at linebacker. Barnett started all 16 games for Buffalo last year but got little interest from teams in the off-season while he rehabbed from an undisclosed injury.

So, look for Barnett in practice tomorrow in Richmond.  Details on his deal can be found HERE from NFL.com.

PARKING UPDATE: Revised Plan Affects Fan Appreciation Day Saturday....

The City of Richmond has revised parking options for the rest of training camp, including for Fan Appreciation Day, this Saturday.

City Stadium shuttle parking for $7 is no longer an option for this Saturday's event, which is expected to draw some 25,000 fans to the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center. 

A complete list of available parking areas is listed on this post from City of Richmond.

Day 5 Begins: Hall's Ankle Injury Still Unknown

A beautiful Tuesday morning, an uneventful walkthrough.  A perfect recipe for the Washington Redskins.

Still waiting to hear word on the final condition of CB DeAngelo Hall's ankle. Hall rolled it in practice Monday afternoon and we know he will be held out of practice for "a few days".  It doesn't seem to be a major issue, but as we all know, ankle injuries can be nagging and long-lasting if not properly taken care of.

The crowds are lighter on a Tuesday now that the hoopla of opening day is behind us. Expect them to pick up again at week's end, with an estimated 25,000 expected for Saturday's "Fan Appreciation Day" that begins at 12noon.

The Redskins will begin PM practice at the usual time of 3:20.

RGIII---Taking It Slow.....

Quarterback Robert Griffin III addressed the media for the second time in Richmond Monday morning. You can watch the press conference in its entirety at this link.

He talks more about his comeback from knee surgery just seven months ago and how he is preparing for the regular season while here in #RVA, where he was pictured buying donuts at Krispy Kreme Sunday morning by a worker there....who happens to be a Cowboys fan.

No Deal With Mays.....yet......

Former Denver Broncos linebacker Joe Mays visited with the Redskins in Richmond, but left without making a deal.

Released after being first demoted, then injured, in 2012, Denver saved $4 million by the move.  The Redskins only have $1.4 million in salary cap space.  Mays may be looking for a better deal.....

More details now at THIS LINK from CSN Washington.....

Back To Practice on Monday: Weather Forecast

The Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center was closed to the public on this the first Sunday of training camp. No official practices were on the calendar.

The Redskins are back at it tomorrow when it promises to be less humid, with excellent temperatures for late July in #RVA.

Here's the forecast, courtesy of John Bernier at WRIC 8 News:

UPDATE: Baker OK, Mays Coming In.....

Good news from the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center for Skins fans, and their defensive line.

After being carted off the field in practice late this afternoon, nose tackle Chris Baker was diagnosed with just cramping, and was treated with an IV.  Redskins official says, "he'll be OK".

NOTES: Linebacker Joe Mays, let go by the Denver Broncos, will visit the Redskins this evening.  Head Coach Mike Shanahan gave no indication at his daily press conference whether or not the Redskins will sign him while he's in Richmond.....

The Redskins announced combined attendance for Saturday was 15,169, with over 11,000 at the afternoon practice, nearly equaling the 19,100 who came in the first two days combined.  Sunday is an off day for the Redskins, no activities at the Training Center.

Two other NFL teams suffered big injuries Saturday:

--Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is out for the 2013 season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee in non-contact drills.

--Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta suffered a dislocated hip and the team announced he will be out at least through their September 5th season opener against the Denver Broncos.

ALERT: Nose Tackle Baker Carted Off Field.....

No word yet on his possible injury, but this is, at first look, very bad news for a Redskins defense already without DE Adam Carriker (quad surgery) and DE Jarvis Jenkins (four-game PED suspension).

He was carted off the field around 5PM ET at Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center.  We'll keep you posted.....

RGIII on Day 3: "Getting Hype!"

Robert Griffin III just posted on Twitter:

"We will be getting hype this afternoon!  See you guys out there, RICH, WHAT? RICHMOND!"

Practice starts at 3:20pm.......

Jenkins Suspended.....

Redskins defensive end Jarvis Jenkins has been suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season by the NFL for violating their PED policy.

Jenkins learned of his suspension (he had already appealed and the appeal was denied before the NFL made the announcement today) earlier today and spoke with the media as he left the practice field.

"I apologize first of all to my fans, my family, the Redskins, my defense," Jenkins said. He told the assembled the banned substance was found in an over-the-counter recovery supplement he bought at GNC.

The Redskins hold meetings with players twice a week about the league's PED policy, and he said they do "a great job" at letting players know what to, and what not to take.

"They tell you if the NSF label is not on it, you're taking it at your own risk," Jenkins noted. NSF is the regulating agency that assures many products, not just nutritional supplements, contain no ingredients that may be hazardous to the public health.  More information on the NSF is available at the web site HERE.

Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan hopes the rest of the roster learns from Jenkins' missteps.

"Hopefully the players will learn from this, if the label from NSF isn't on it, don't take it," Shanahan told reporters after practice.

The suspension is a blow to a Redskins defense that already misses starting defensive end Adam Carriker, out for most, if not all, of the 2013 season after having a second surgery on his quad earlier this week. Jenkins was immediately expected by coaches, fans, and watchers to step up in Carriker's absence.  That won't happen now until the beginning of October.

Jenkins will continue to practice at training camp; the suspension covers the Monday Night Football opener September 9th against Philadelphia, another home game against Detroit (9/22), and road games at Green Bay (9/15) and Oakland (9/29). With the Redskins bye week next, Jenkins' first chance to play will be on Sunday Night Football at Dallas on October 13th.

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NOTES:

--Nearly 8,900 fans attended day 2 of training camp at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center, down from 10,100 for Thursday's opening day. A second day drop off was expected, but it wasn't large. Some 19,000 fans, plus hundreds of media, have attended practice so far in just two days, with thousands more expected Saturday.  Sunday is an off day for the team.

--Saturday's schedule continues the trend of the first two days, with a walk-through at 10am and full practice at 3:20pm. Gates again open at 9am for fans. Shanahan normally addresses the media after PM practice, and an assigned player does it after morning walk-through.

Afternoon Practice Underway.....

Under a sunny sky surrounded by throngs of fans at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center, the Redskins are on the field off Leigh Street and have begun their second full practice.

RGIII and the knee brace are back. Most players are in full pads, but, again, due to the collective bargaining agreement, there will be no player-on-player blocking contact today or tomorrow.

Expect to see a series of drills, running of plays, and a press conference from head coach Mike Shanahan afterwards.

The schedule is the same for Saturday, with a 10AM walk-through and 3:20PM practice.  The team is off on Sunday.

Day 2: Second Verse, Same as the First....

Today's schedule at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center is the same as opening day.

Gates open for fans at 9am with the team expected onto the field at around 10am for morning walkthrough. One player will be made available for a press conference afterwards.

Full practice will begin around 3:20. Yesterday's practice last upwards of two hours. A reminder that you'll only be allowed to take pictures for around the first 30 minutes of practice. If an official tells you to shut down your device, best do so, or you could be escorted from the facility.  That even includes us members of the media covering the camp.

The new tradition started yesterday, the "Kids Cross", should continue after both sessions. This is when players go to the kids playing area at the ampitheatre end of the field (closest to Movieland), choose a child, and have them walk with them as they return to the Training Center.

And yes, players may stop for some autographs, but do not have your heart set on getting a particular one. There's no way RGIII or anyone else can please 6,000 people. You may have seen a video of an upset fan in her car after leaving without an autograph. The video went viral overnight. Happy to say it is not indicative of the Redskins fans we saw yesterday.

The City Stadium parking with shuttle costs $2 more but is worth it on your feet, and as we reported yesterday, traffic from there on the shuttle was light.  Most $5 parking spaces around the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center will put you around 1/2 mile away, or further.

This reporter parked some 3 1/2 blocks (and a blocked sidewalk) away (no, all media do not get parking at the facility), and it was about a 12 minute walk to access the facility.

A final piece of advice: pack light.  Walking a long way and having heavy coolers without wheels, large folding chairs, etc, can make for a strenuous experience going and coming from.

OVERALL: We give Richmond, Bon Secours, and the Redskins an A- for yesterday's first day. Fan turnout was as expected, the weather was great for late July in RVA, and camp ran very smoothly. Most importantly, city infrastructure handled the crowd control on site and walking to and from parking lots very, very well.

See you at the Center!

First Injury of Training Camp Is Robinson's.....

Thursday evening, the Redskins announced that second-year linebacker Keenan Robinson, who played in eleven games last season, suffered a torn pectoral muscle at practice and will miss the 2013 season.

Robinson, who tore his other pectoral muscle in 2012, had eleven tackles in the eleven game appearances.

Robinson joined in the praise of the new Richmond location for 'Skins training camp before his injury, tweeting on Sunday, "Staying at the Omni for Camp is clutch #PastaBar".

Redskins Rally Friday in West End...

The Westin Richmond, 6631 West Broad, will host an official "Redskins Rally" Friday evening from 6:30 to 8pm.

Voice of the Redskins Larry Michael will emcee and the Redskins Cheerleaders are scheduled to appear.

Shanahan Meets The Press

The first training camp practice in the books at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center, head coach Mike Shanahan addressed the media for the first time in #RVA late this afternoon.  The highlights:

1) RGIII and he are on great terms.  They've spent a lot of time talking about the events of last season, his injury, and how to better and more safely utilize him going forward.

2) When a reporter asked why Griffin didn't have his knee brace on in walk-through this morning, Shanahan joked, "I hope you know you just got him fined...."

3) Shanahan praised Richmond as a host, the Center facility and the Omni Richmond Hotel.  He talked about how the Omni had great meeting space, conference rooms, and even "comfortable beds", which makes you wonder what others he's slept at in past training camps held at colleges and elsewhere.

4) On Alfred Morris: "I'll be surprised if he isn't one of the best backs in the league this year."

5) Shanahan confirmed that defensive standout Adam Carriker had successful quad surgery today, his second since being injured in Week 2 in 2012, and that the timetable for recovery is "4 to 5 months".  So, it's doubtful that we'll see Carriker on the field in 2013.

Friday's practice schedule is the same as Thursday, with Walk-Through at 10AM and full practice at 3:20PM.  The Redskins estimate 4,000 persons attended Walk-Through, and 6,100 attended practice, for a first-day training camp all-time record for Washington of 10,100.

Training Camp, Day 1----It Begins....

The Redskins are on the field!

After a walk-through earlier this morning, the Redskins began their first official practice of 2013 Training Camp mid-afternoon in front of thousands donned in burgundy and gold at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond.

Combined attendance for today's opening day activities is expected to run anywhere from 7,500 to 10,000 fans.

After the morning walk-through, running back Alfred Morris met the media for the first time in Richmond. Coming off a stellar rookie season, his bar is set high for 2013.

"You can always top production," Morris said. "It comes down to willingness and, I guess, how bad you want it in a sense. I always hold myself at a higher standard and I love a challenge."

Morris is one of two second-year players expected to do great things offensively for the 'Skins in 2013, and I think you've heard of the other guy.

The assembled erupted this morning when Robert Griffin III made his first public appearance on the Richmond turf, albeit without his knee brace. But that only lasted a minute as a member of the training staff ran toward RGIII and handed it to him.

This afternoon the teams were going through drills that did include pads, but no player on player contact. We expect to hear from head coach Mike Shanahan for the first time publicly here in Richmond following practice.

How Is Richmond? A DC'er Responds.....

In this interview that aired on Washington DC's all-news radio station, WTOP-FM, Redskins beat writer George Wallace gives his first impressions of Richmond and the Redskins.

Very interesting listening to get the thoughts of someone coming to visit us in #RVA Region.....

Listen HERE.

RGIII: No Preseason Play, Unless.....

For the first time, Robert Griffin III, entering his second season as the starting quarterback, and face of, the Washington Redskins, addressed the media at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond late this afternoon.

The biggest news from Griffin is that, in his opinion, he will not be playing in any of the team's four preseason games leading up to the September 9th opener versus Philadelphia on Monday Night Football.

"I won't play in the preseason unless absolutely necessary...unless Coach (Mike Shanahan) says otherwise," RGIII said. "The veterans will tell you they don't like preseason anyway, and I'm with them," emphasizing he doesn't feel that being held out of preseason game action will affect his preparation for when the games count.

Griffin and veteran linebacker London Fletcher were both presented to the assembled media Wednesday afternoon as last-second finishing touches continued to be placed on the $10 million facility on Leigh Street behind the Science Museum of Virginia.

The team participated in mandatory conditioning drills, which each player must pass in order to begin training camp tomorrow.  The team's official Thursday schedule calls for a walk-through at 10AM, followed by a full practice at 3:20PM, though don't expect to see either pads or contact on day one.

For fans planning to come to opening day, here are a few must-knows:

1) Leigh Street will be CLOSED from the railroad tracks at Movieland to DMV Drive every day from 7am to 6pm for the duration of camp.

2) Gates will open at 9AM Thursday morning.  That will be the standard time each day that the Redskins hold their two-a-day practice schedule mentioned above that begins tomorrow.

3) There is NO seating at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center.  Bring a fold-up chair or blanket.

4) Expect a wait.  The first day is expected to be the most attended behind "Fan Appreciation Day" scheduled for Saturday August 3rd. Officials are expecting anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 people to converge on the site Thursday.

5) If walking from your parking spot is not an option due to health issues, we STRONGLY advise you to park at City Stadium for $7 and take the shuttle from there to the facility.

Bookmark this page as we will be updating it daily with news from the Redskins, from how the camp affects the daily workings of the city of Richmond, and much more, as sports history is made in Central Virginia for the next 3 1/2 weeks....

How To Handle RGIII?

You'll find as many opinions on this, the biggest subject going into Redskins Training Camp, as there will be fans coming to see them in Richmond.

A good sign, in our opinion, is Robert Griffin III's personal attitude towards the success of his recovery from damage to two knee ligaments thus far.

Marc Sessler of NFL.com provides the details at this link.....

The Redskins Arrive In Richmond

With almost no fanfare, the Washington Redskins began to arrive at their team hotel, the Omni Richmond downtown, on Tuesday afternoon.

Players will spend Wednesday at the new Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center taking physicals and getting acclimated to their new preseason home, a $10 million facility dreamed of and built on a 17-acre lot behind the Science Museum of Virginia in less than one year.

No team activities are scheduled for Wednesday.  Thursday is a different story.

Thousands of fans are expected to converge on the Leigh Street facility for opening day of Redskins Training Camp.  The team is scheduled to do their first walk-through at 10am, and hold their first practice of 2013 around 3:20pm.

If you need any information on parking, what you can and cannot bring to the Center, and what to expect at a typical practice, click on the "Straight From The 'Skins" banner above to go to the team's official training camp web page.

The Herald-Progress' live blog coverage of the first NFL training camp ever to be held in Central Virginia begins Thursday.  BOOKMARK this page to get updates as well as follow us on Twitter for real-time reports from the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center.

And, of course, we'll review "The Week That Was....", a roundup of training camp news and views, each Thursday in the Herald-Progress from August 1st through 22nd.