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Photo courtesy Washington Redskins
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Photo courtesy Washington Redskins
Josh Morgan
As a youngster in Washington, D.C., Josh Morgan remembers watching Redskins fans walk past his house on Sundays to go to games at RFK Stadium, the team's former home. "The Redskins were my favorite team growing up," he says. "I was born into it." Signing with the team last year was a dream come true for the wide receiver, who was a standout when he played for Virginia Tech. "It's been a blessing," he says, adding that he didn't believe his agent when he first called last year to say the Redskins were interested in having him on the team. "I was thinking he was cocky and talking trash, and I hung up on him. He called back and said, ‘I am serious.' " Morgan, who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2008, has learned a lot about life while playing for the NFL. "I've figured out who is in my life for me," he says, adding that when he came to the Redskins, he had his "circle together."
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He's also learned the true meaning of the word "fan." "My fans support me," he says. "They reach out to me through social media. I've learned how much [winning] really means to them." During his first couple of years in the league, Morgan thought that fans just cared about bragging rights, but now that he has been in the Redskins community, he sees things differently. "This means as much to the fans as it means to you," he says. "It humbles you. I have been in houses where the basements are decked out in Redskins. I see Redskin flags all over cars. Talking to the fans changes your perspective of the game." He's looking forward to the start of training camp. "I love the competition," he says. "That's the most exciting part of training camp. You know you are getting every man's best shot every day. Everybody is trying to be a star. Everybody wants to make the Pro Bowl this year. Everybody wants to make the Super Bowl. I love it." Morgan is hoping to see some of his teammates from Tech and his coaches from Fork Union Military Academy when he comes to town. "I want to catch up with them and their families," he says. When he's finished with football, Morgan hopes to become a writer — he's written poetry since middle school. "I want to write a couple of books and get into acting," he says. "I can't [play football] when I am 40 or 50.
Trent Williams | London Fletcher | DeAngelo Hall | Ryan Kerrigan
Trent Williams
His first training camp as a pro was a "culture shock" for Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams. "It was completely different than college," he says. "The way you have to approach the game as a pro is totally different." Williams, who played for the University of Oklahoma, was Coach Mike Shanahan's first draft selection for the Redskins in 2010. And now he's making a name for himself in the league. For the last two years, he has served as an offensive captain of the Redskins, and last year, he was named to the Pro Bowl. "I feel good about last year," says the offensive left tackle. "It was a stepping stone, a confidence builder for a young team. We were able to come back and be able to win and get a playoff berth." He likes the competitive atmosphere during training camp. "It's as high as it gets the whole year," he says. "That's my favorite part." And what's his least favorite part of training camp? "The heat and waking up early in the morning," he says. "We have long, drawn-out days. It's really draining. Josh Morgan | London Fletcher | DeAngelo Hall | Ryan Kerrigan
London Fletcher
Linebacker and four-time Pro Bowler London Fletcher has never missed a game. During his 15 seasons as a pro, he has played in 240 consecutive games, currently the longest such streak in the NFL. "A lot of it is genetics — being blessed with good genes and really taking care of my body and listening to my body," he says. "I do a lot of massage therapy, physical therapy, hot tubs and cold tubs to keep me healthy and keep my body functioning." He's always been driven to succeed, he says. "I am highly competitive, and I don't want to let my teammates down. I'm constantly working to improve." Fletcher came to the Redskins in 2007 and just this past December was voted NFC Defensive Player of the Month. He had ankle and elbow surgery in the offseason, but that's all cleared up, he says. "I'm feeling good now." One of the things he enjoys most about training camp is the rookie show, where first-year players put on a performance for Redskins veterans. He says he's seen some very funny skits over the years. "It's always a good time watching the guys," he says. "Last year, [quarterback] Kirk Cousins did a great imitation of Coach Shanahan." Winning the division title last year was "very gratifying" for Fletcher, and he's looking forward to building the team for another playoff run in the upcoming season during training camp. "There's a lot of hard work that goes into it," he says. Fletcher, who has also played for the St. Louis Rams and Buffalo Bills, likes the tradition and storied history of the Redskins franchise. "There have been a lot of great players and a lot of great coaches," he says, adding that he also likes the fans and how passionate they are. "It's a unique situation. You have two states and the District of Columbia rooting for one team."
Josh Morgan | Trent Williams | DeAngelo Hall | Ryan Kerrigan
DeAngelo Hall
Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall knows all about the heat and humidity that can spike up in Richmond during the summer. A Virginia Tech football standout, Hall used to compete in track meets in the city while attending Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake. "I'm not looking forward to the heat and the grind," he says. "But you can't turn it off. We will have to deal with it." Hall, 29, is excited about being in Richmond for training camp. "It's close to my hometown. Growing up, I didn't get to see Redskin players," he says, noting that fans from the Virginia Beach area and North Carolina will have a shorter trip to see the team. "They are in my neck of the woods. I think we will get a huge turnout, even more than Ashburn." He's planning a road trip of his own to his mom's house with some of his fellow teammates for her home cooking. "She's already volunteered to cook on our day off," he says. "I love her lasagna, but it depends on what the guys want. We've been tossing ideas back and forth." Since joining the Redskins in 2008, Hall has had the opportunity to play regularly against fellow Hokie Michael Vick, quarterback for NFC East rivals the Philadelphia Eagles. He and Vick were teammates when the two played for the Atlanta Falcons. "I thought [the Redskins] would make a run at him when he got out of jail," Hall says. "But we got RGIII, our own version of Vick." And while Hall and Vick are friends off the field, on the field it's every man for himself. "When we get on the field, it's all-out war," says Hall, who cracked a couple of Vick's ribs in 2010 with a massive hit. Last year, Hall says he played "good football," but this season he wants to establish himself as a premiere cornerback in the NFL. He was released by the Redskins in March after five seasons thanks to team salary-cap issues, but turned around and signed a one-year deal with the team on April 1, dropping his compensation for the 2013-2014 season from $8 million to $2.25 million. "I'm not crying about the money," he says. "This is my sixth year here, and I've finally been part of something where we have the chance to win and compete. I'm willing to take a pay cut to be part of it." On the field, Hall is sometimes branded as cocky for his in-your-face swagger, but he says that's not his true personality. "The image of me on the field is that I am the bad guy. I talk trash. I'm 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds. I'm not the biggest guy, so I have to scare them a little," he says with a laugh. "Off the field I am totally different. I am soft- spoken, quiet. I like to read. I have six kids. I'm a dad and a husband. I'm not a football player when I leave the field."
Josh Morgan | Trent Williams | London Fletcher | Ryan Kerrigan
Ryan Kerrigan
Pro Bowl linebacker Ryan Kerrigan did his share of schlepping during his rookie year at 2011's training camp with the Redskins. "You have to go through your own share of rookie hazing," he says. "You carry the veterans' equipment in after practice and keep the meeting rooms stocked with food. You're buying food for the veterans, and you do the rookie show, where you stand up in front of everyone and perform." But none of that deterred him from becoming one of the league's best linebackers. Playing in the Pro Bowl last year was motivating, he says. "You are out there with the best players in the league. People you grew up watching. It was a blessing. Plus, the whole Hawaii experience was awesome." Kerrigan came to Richmond in September 2011 with cornerback DeAngelo Hall to launch the Redskins Play 60 Challenge in Virginia, an NFL effort to encourage children to exercise for at least an hour a day. The two teamed with Gov. Bob McDonnell during a fitness event at Albert Hill Middle School. "With the growing obesity rate in America, it's cool how the NFL is championing this cause, to be fit," Kerrigan says. "Exercising has always been fun for me. I saw it as something I wanted to do and not had to do. Having that mindset made it easier." A self-described "average Joe," Kerrigan considers himself a versatile player. "I give 100 percent effort every play," he says. "I take pride in making sure that my first play of the game looks as good as the last play of the game as far as effort goes." He's looking forward to being in Richmond this summer. "I've been to a Flying Squirrels game, so I have checked that off my list," he says, when asked about how he might spend his time in Richmond when he's not practicing. As far as training camp goes, he sees it as an "exciting start of the new year," especially coming off of a successful 2012 season. "You want to take that momentum into training camp." Josh Morgan | Trent Williams | London Fletcher | DeAngelo Hall
