Upshaw satisfied by just playing

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Regan Upshaw had no idea what he was getting into when he signed with the Washington Redskins in March.

He had no idea that being a defensive end here meant playing out of position at times and at others standing in the way of the Bruce Smith Show, Smith's highly politicized pursuit of the NFL career sack record.

Actually, Upshaw had no idea Smith would even be around.

"When they signed me, they said Bruce wasn't going to be here," Upshaw said yesterday with a laugh. "They were talking about Bruce retiring, or at that time I guess that's what I got the feeling of."

Thing is, Upshaw doesn't care. He's not mad at anyone or frustrated or disappointed. On one hand he admits that this season has been "one of the hardest years of [his] career." But he also believes it has taught him a lot about life, about how liberating it can be to set aside selfish desires.

"It's allowed me to grow," Upshaw said. "It has allowed me not to worry about the little things. And it's just humbled me in a way that says, 'Enjoy the fact that you're a football player. If they're going to play you here, be happy with it. If they're going to play you there, still be happy with it.'"

When he signed on the second day of free agency, Upshaw was introduced as the new right end. Shortly afterward, Smith met with coach Steve Spurrier and owner Dan Snyder to negotiate a chance to win back his old position. He then seized the spot during training camp, when Upshaw was limited because of arthroscopic knee surgery in June.

Smith ended up starting at right end the first seven games, a period when Upshaw was asked to play a lot of left end in pass-rushing situations. Upshaw had no history at left end, and it didn't surprise coaches that he had difficulty adjusting.

"It's just unnatural," defensive coordinator George Edwards said. "Most right ends are right ends; most left ends are left ends."