It's cold and blustery in Northern Virginia, and there's Chris Samuels arriving at Redskins Park. He could be thousands of miles away, having fun in the Hawaii sun at the Pro Bowl.
Instead, Samuels is busy rehabbing a triceps injury that cut short his 2008 season. He is also rehabbing a knee injury that bothered him at times last year.
Samuels earned his sixth Pro Bowl berth for his performance last season. He joined teammates Chris Cooley, Clinton Portis and Mike Sellers in getting selected to the annual all-star game.
Samuels knows what he's missing.
"I've been blessed to go over there a few times already, so I know what it's like," Samuels said. "I pretty much know every inch of the island now. It's always a pleasure to get invited back.
"I do wish I was over there with the guys--Cooley, Clinton and especially Mike Sellers because it's his first time going. He definitely deserved that."
Samuels said he could have made the trip to Hawaii, just to "hang out" with teammates and other NFL stars for the week. He would not have been able to play in the game, though.
"It's a letdown, but at the same time it's a good thing to stay here and rehab so I can get ready for next season," Samuels said.
Chris Samuels
Samuels started 12 of the Redskins' first 13 games last season and helped lead a ground attack that finished eighth in the NFL with 130.9 rushing yards per game.
In Week 14 at Baltimore, Samuels suffered the torn triceps, an injury that required surgery.
"Rehab is going fine," he said. "It's repaired. I've started some light weightlifting—just with some bands and probably the lightest dumbbells we have."
Samuels expects that he will be limited in Redskins' off-season workouts as he continues to rehab.
"I'm definitely on pace," he said. "I'll probably catch the last couple of OTAs."
-- REDSKINS ADD TO OFF-SEASON ROSTER
The Redskins have signed eight players, including five who ended last season on the team's roster or practice squad.
Punter Zac Atterberry, long snapper Jeremy Cain, fullback Jonathan Evans, defensive back Michael Grant, wide receiver Marques Hagans, offensive linemen Rueben Riley and Isaiah Ross and linebacker Tyson Smith were added to the roster.
Cain has the most NFL experience of the group. He has played in 17 career games with the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears and also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Evans, 6-1 and 247 pounds, was in training camp with the Buffalo Bills last year. He also had a preseason stint with the Titans in 2007.
Atterberry had a stint on the Bears' practice squad last season.
Smith ended the 2008 season on the Redskins' 53-man roster. The team had signed him five days before the season finale in San Francisco, but he did not play in the game.
Grants, Hagans, Riley and Ross were on the Redskins' practice squad at the end of last season.
