Every day of training camp, The Redskins Blog will feature a devoted Redskins fan and tell their story.
For young Donnell Johns, being a Redskins fan runs in the family.
"I've been a Redskins fan since I've known what football was," he said.
Raised to root for the Redskins by grandfather Eric Petty, who brought the pair to the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond, Va., Donnell waited eagerly at the gates for the opening day of training camp.
For the Washington, D.C. natives, today's training camp trip is a first, though Petty has been following the team for decades.
"Growing up, I remember the Super Bowl when Doug Williams won," Petty said.
Williams, now in his first season as the team's Senior Vice President of Personnel, led the Redskins to a 1987-season Super Bowl victory as the first African-American quarterback to play in the championship game.
"I [also] remember when they first got to the Super Bowl with Billy Kilmer," Petty added, "and I was really little then, so that's one of my favorite memories."
As for current Redskins stand-outs, Johns named tight end Jordan Reed as one of his favorite players. Reed, who missed the end of last season because of a shoulder injury, was recently added to the team's physically unable to perform list after suffrering a minor toe injury. When healthy, the tight end plans to build on his existing success in Washington.
While Johns selected a preferred player, Petty shared his fondness for the whole team.
"All of them… [Ryan] Kerrigan, Kirk [Cousins], [I like] all of them."
