It has been nearly five months since Patrick Ramsey last participated in a full-contact workout, so the third-year quarterback was understandably anxious yesterday about being evaluated by the Washington Redskins’ training staff.
“I’m going to trust the doctors, and I’m going to trust our trainers,” Ramsey said on the eve of the Redskins’ second offseason minicamp. “But I’m ready to be ready, if you know what I mean. I’m ready to be healthy enough to go out there and participate fully.”
The trainers concurred, giving Ramsey the green light to join veteran Mark Brunell and take snaps against the defense all weekend. He officially has been told he will have limited participation in 9-on-7 and full-squad drills, but Ramsey (who underwent surgery on his right foot in December) has no plans to hold himself back.
“Basically,” he said, “it’s up to me as long as I feel fine.”
Ramsey won’t be the only Redskins player returning from injury after being held back at last month’s first minicamp. Several key veterans — including cornerback Shawn Springs, linebacker Marcus Washington and wide receiver Laveranues Coles — have been given clean bills of health.
Throw in Washington’s new class of rookies from last weekend’s draft, recently acquired linebacker Mike Barrow and a couple other veterans who missed the first minicamp, and coach Joe Gibbs will finally get a chance to see his entire team in action.
“I think it will be an important time for us and for the players,” Gibbs said. “Hopefully, we can get a lot done.”
Gibbs and his staff certainly will be paying particular attention to the Redskins’ new crop of rookies: draft picks safety Sean Taylor, tight end Chris Cooley and offensive linemen Mark Wilson and Jim Molinaro, plus 10 undrafted free agents. While those fresh faces will be well behind their veteran teammates in learning Gibbs’ system, the coach has no qualms about throwing them into the fire.
“We’re not slowing down,” Gibbs said. “They’re going to have to make up a lot of ground. It is going to be demanding. They’re going to walk in here, and they’re going to be way behind. And we’re going to see how fast they can catch up. I think that’s going to tell you a lot.”
Taylor, the No.5 draft pick overall, will be scrutinized extensively. The former University of Miami free safety is expected to be plugged right into the Redskins’ defense, starting alongside strong safety Matt Bowen.
Cooley, a third-round selection from Utah State, will face more competition at H-back, with veterans Mike Sellers and Brian Kozlowski also vying for playing time.
The weekend won’t be spent entirely on the practice fields at Redskin Park. Washington’s coaches are interested in seeing how mentally adept the players are during their daily pre-workout meetings.
“Most of the guys we signed, we think, are very bright,” Gibbs said. “It’s going to be a challenge for them, but we’re going to go hard mentally.”
Ramsey has had plenty of time to prepare himself mentally the last five months, coming to terms with the Redskins’ decision to trade for Brunell and create an open competition at quarterback.
He also feels he has a firm grasp on Gibbs’ offense, one that differs considerably from Steve Spurrier’s Fun ’n’ Gun. But having been restricted to individual work at the last minicamp, Ramsey has not yet had a chance to quarterback the Gibbs offense in a game-type setting.
“That’s the thing. I haven’t run any of these plays yet at full-speed with a defense running around or a coverage to read,” he said. “So it’s all going to be brand-new for me. I’m hoping I go out there so I’m not left behind.”
Notes — With 85 players scheduled to participate at this minicamp, the Redskins have run out of available uniform numbers. Gibbs yesterday suggested he may call some franchise legends whose numbers have been unofficially retired over the years and seek permission to reinstate them.
“It’s become a problem,” Gibbs said. “I think what I’m going to do is consult some of those guys whose numbers haven’t been used, see what their opinion is. … Obviously, you don’t want to do something that hurts somebody’s feelings. At the same time, it’s become a tough thing to deal with.”
The biggest problem appears to be in the 80s, where every number but Art Monk’s 81 has been given out. That left wide receiver James Thrash without an assigned number as of yesterday. …
The Redskins’ offseason program continues beyond this weekend. All veteran players will attend three days of meetings and walkthroughs and one day of actual practices a week beginning Monday. The league also allows 12 days of on-field workouts before the final minicamp in early June. …
Center Larry Moore, who was released by the Redskins last week, was given a three-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals that with incentives is worth about $3.3million. Moore got a $200,000 signing bonus.
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