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HOT TOPIC
Redskins receiver David Patten didn't receive a million-dollar payday after finishing his college career. In fact, Patten spent a year in Arena Football before making the Giants in 1997.
So Patten isn't worried about the likelihood of losing his starting job opposite Pro Bowl wideout Santana Moss to either of two newcomers, Antwaan Randle El or Brandon Lloyd.
"That said to me, 'Maybe D.P. is getting older, maybe he doesn't have it anymore, maybe D.P.'s not the answer,'" said Patten, who crashed from 18.2 yards per catch with New England in 2004 to 9.9 per catch in 2005 before an ailing left knee ended his season after just nine games. "I have to prove every day that D.P. still has it. All the so-called experts are counting me out, but the cameras don't lie. Our coaches know what D.P. is capable of doing."
Patten didn't feel he had a chance to show that last season after his knee, first tweaked in Week 2, was never right again.
"You always want to make a good first impression," Patten said. "That didn't happen. Without a doubt, the fans didn't see the real D.P. last year. I appreciated that Coach (Joe) Gibbs called me right after they signed (Randle El and Lloyd). He told me that this was a way to make our team better, more explosive and that it didn't affect the way they felt about me. I asked if he would play the best guy and he said yes. If someone else is better than me, I'll gladly back up."
Admirable and realistic. Even if the coaches won't come out and say so, Redskins owner Dan Snyder didn't shower millions on Randle El, 26, and Lloyd, 24, for them to be spare parts.
"David is looking good," receivers coach Stan Hixon said of Patten, who turns 32 in August. "He hasn't lost a step. We're going to find a way to get David some passes. David will be fine."
At least Patten's right knee, which he said was never truly 100 percent after the surgery which ended his 2003 season in October, is fine. However, there aren't that many backup receivers on the wrong side of 30, especially, if unlike James Thrash, they don't play special teams. Patten's salary cap number, a relatively affordable $1.848 million for 2006, explodes to $3.013 million next year.
And as terrific as new assistant head coach Al Saunders' offense was in Kansas City, four Chiefs caught as many as 35 balls just once in four years. With Moss, Randle El and Lloyd ahead of him at receiver and tight end Chris Cooley also a top target, it's difficult to see Patten getting many balls.
"Any receiver wants the ball," Patten said. "He wants to be the man. But putting your personal goals secondary to the team makes you a championship caliber team. If D.P. gets a lot of balls, I'll embrace it. If D.P. is clearing out underneath or cheering on the sidelines, I'll embrace that, too. When I signed that contract, I agreed to do what they tell me to do."
PLAYER NOTES
-- Quarterback Mark Brunell (broken finger), rookie linebacker Rocky McIntosh (knee scope on June 15), defensive tackle Joe Salave'a (family illness), reserve defensive end Nic Clemons (knee scope in early June) and backup offensive lineman Tyson Walter (high ankle sprain) didn't participate in Friday's minicamp session.
-- WR David Patten was joined on the field by several other players who finished last season on injured reserve. Guard Randy Thomas (fractured fibia in December), defensive end Renaldo Wynn (broken forearm in January), linebacker Chris Clemons (knee surgery in December) and tight end Robert Johnson (sprained ankle in December) were all in uniform on June 16.
-- Center Casey Rabach, who missed several weeks after suffering a deep gash in his leg after falling off an all-terrain vehicle, and right tackle Jon Jansen, recovering from a second surgery on his right thumb, only took individual work.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Sixth-round pick Reed Doughty signed a three-year contract on June 13.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None
TRANSITION PLAYER: None
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--TE Brian Kozlowski (not tendered June 1).
--DE Melvin Williams (not tendered as RFA).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED
--S Reed Doughty (6th): Terms unknown.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--LB Khary Campbell: UFA; 3 yrs; 2006 cap: $690,000, other terms unknown.
--RB Rock Cartwright: Potential UFA; 4 yrs; 2006 cap: $660,000, other terms unknown.
--LB Chris Clemons: RFA; terms unknown, had been tendered at $721,600.
--OG Derrick Dockery: RFA; terms unknown, had been tendered at $1.573M.
--DL Demetric Evans: UFA; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB Warrick Holdman: UFA; terms unknown.
--CB Ade Jimoh: RFA; terms unknown, had been tendered at $721,600.
--DT Cedric Killings: UFA; 3 yrs; 2006 cap: $465,000, other terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--S Adam Archuleta: UFA Rams; $31.8M/6 yrs, $5M SB.
--DE Andre Carter: UFA 49ers; $30M/6 yrs, $5M SB.
--QB Todd Collins: UFA Chiefs; $2.5M/2 yrs, $450,000 SB; 2006 cap: $1.035M.
--TE Christian Fauria: UFA Patriots; $2M/2 yrs, $190,000 SB; 2005 cap: $905,000.
--WR Brandon Lloyd: Trade 49ers.
--OL Mike Pucillo: UFA Browns; $465,000/1 yr.
--WR Antwaan Randle El: UFA Steelers; $31M/7 yrs, $5M SB.
--C Tyson Walter: UFA Texans; $465,000/1 yr.
--CB Kenny Wright: UFA Jaguars; terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--LB LaVar Arrington (released).
--S Matt Bowen (released).
--OG Ray Brown (retired).
--S Ryan Clark: UFA Steelers; $7M/4 yrs, $1.7M SB.
--CB Walt Harris (released).
--DT Brandon Noble (released; failed physical/knee).
--QB Patrick Ramsey: Traded Jets.
--C Cory Raymer (released; failed physical).
--TE Robert Royal: UFA Bills; $10M/5 yrs, $2.5M SB.
--S Omar Stoutmire: UFA Saints; terms unknown.
--P Tom Tupa (released; failed physical/back).
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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