A mix of emotions filled the Washington Redskins locker room as players stood by their FedExField lockers for the final time after Sunday's 44-17, season-ending loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
For some, the offseason will be a time to critically analyze the 2014 season and take the necessary steps to get better physically and mentally. For others, mostly the veterans, it will be a time to reflect and, for a few, ponder possible retirement.
"I'm going to train regardless," wide receiver Santana Moss said. "I'm fifty-something years old and I'm still training. I don't know what the future [holds]. I live for today. Today is in the books and I go home and move on for next year."
Safety Ryan Clark, a 13-year veteran, is facing a similar question now that the season has finished. He said the weight of that reality never really hit him on the field.
"I didn't think I was nervous before the game," Clark said. "I didn't think I was emotional but I was trying really hard. The harder I tried the worse I got. You get to halftime, you just go out and play. If it's the last one, I've prayed about it on the field. I thank the lord for 13 years. I got an opportunity to tell the guys whether you play 13 games or 13 years, if you got the opportunity, it will never be enough."
It seemed like that message was resonant late in the season.
Due to many injuries on the defensive side of the ball during the final weeks of the season, many practice squad members were given the opportunity to compete on the active roster and start.
It's changed many of those players' mindsets into the offseason and gave the Redskins more options as they assess their roster.
"Guys have a lot of experience now," outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said. "We had a ton of injuries so a lot of guys, both young and veteran, got some more reps than they would have if we had stayed healthy. We should have a lot of depth coming back next year. We've just got to continue to work."
Cornerback David Amerson had a positive mentality when asked about looking towards the future and his offseason plans.
"There's definitely a lot of places I need to get better and that we can get better as a team," said Amerson, who is heading into his third season. "I think the main thing is identify those things going into the offseason, really focus on them, whether that's watching film, getting in the weight room, getting bigger, faster, stronger and coming back physically and mentally prepared for my third year."
As head coach Jay Gruden addressed media from the podium, he looked at the offseason as a chance to change habits and mentalities.
"We've got a lot to do and a lot to change and it starts in the weight room," Gruden said. "It goes all the way up to how we practice – practice habits. We've really got to take a long look at what we're doing just enough to challenge these guys."
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