Many NFL players feel a sense of loyalty to the team that drafted them.
Count defensive lineman Kedric Golston among them – even if his ties to the Redskins could come to an end this offseason.
Golston is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.
He has said he wants to return to the Redskins, though.
"I love the Redskins," he said. "They drafted me here. I've been here five year and I want to continue to be here. That's all I can really say...That's my focus, trying to get back here."
Golston joined the Redskins as a sixth-round draft pick (196th overall). He has not been the flashiest of players, but he is a hard worker and brings high energy every play, something that drew the Redskins' coaches to him.
In his first four years in Washington, Golston started 31-of-60 games playing mostly defensive tackle. He logged 164 tackles, 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble in that span.
Last season, Golston shifted to defensive end in the Redskins' new 3-4 and he started the first 13 games before elbow and groin injuries sidelined him. He finished with 57 tackles on the season.
Golston said he enjoyed playing in a 3-4 defense for the first time in his career.
"I think I was having a good year before I was injured," he said. "I was making plays and I was having a good time playing in it. It was new to me, but I enjoyed it."
He also enjoyed playing for head coach Mike Shanahan, stressing that the discipline he instilled in the team would pay dividends in the future despite a 6-10 record last season.
"Coach Shanahan is going to make sure that the first guy on the roster to the 53rd guy on the roster are doing things the right way and everyone is going to be held accountable," Golston said. "You want to come to work knowing that there's one goal, one mission. I think we took great steps forward this year getting that accomplished."
Washington's defense finished 31st overall in the NFL and Golston knows that change may be on the horizon.
He knows that loyalty can only go so far.
"That's the reality of being in this business," Golston said. "You might have a job one year, you might not have one the next, but you can't let that affect you. You just take care of your business and you let the chips fall where they may."
