On Wednesday, July 24, 2013, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III and linebacker London Fletcher took the podium after conditioning drills at training camp.
Nose tackle Barry Cofield, left tackle Trent Williams and quarterback Kirk Cousins also addressed the media.
Quick Hits With Quarterback Robert Griffin III:
On the plan for his activity during training camp and the preseason:
"The current plan is, you know, patience is the key. So, I did all I could in the offseason – working out, rehabbing. I passed all of my tests, with Dr. [James] Andrews, with doctors from the Redskins and with the coaching staff, so they just want to make sure that we aren't doing anything too soon that we don't have to do. So let some of these other guys get ready for the preseason. And if it comes around that I'm ready go – maybe in the third preseason game – but as far as my understanding goes, preseason is really not even in the air; it's not a worry at all, I feel like I can play. I think Coach [Mike Shanahan] feels I can play without any preseason. So there's no need really for that. But, patience is the key, and like I said I've done everything I can. I'm just going to work myself back in to it. And it just feels good to be back out there with the guys."
On his reception in Richmond:
"It's been great. We've been here for a day and a half now. The fans are really excited that we're here. I think we're excited. It's going to be a lot easier transition going to meetings and coming to practice and just spending time with our teammates getting to know them a little better. Everybody has been really receptive and we look forward to having everybody out here."
On if he does not expect to play in the preseason:
"Unless it's a necessity, then I don't think I'll play in the preseason unless Coach says so."
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--Check out the full Robert Griffin III press conference transcript.
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Quick Hits With Linebacker London Fletcher:
On if he is "a better player, a smarter player or both":
"I think from a physical standpoint, obviously with the 15 years of wear and tear, there's a decline that goes with that. But mentally, I think I'm as sharp and in tune with my game as I've ever been. So where the physical part has gone down, I've gained from a mental standpoint in understanding whether it's a line and a step here to the right or to the left, just different things that help me still continue to play at a high level. I think it's a combination of a lot of different things that has kept me playing at a high level."
On if he is completely healthy entering this season:
"Yeah, I feel great. This time of the year, most guys get excited. The grass starts to smell a little bit different because you know football season is just right around the corner. So for me, I'm excited to be here. I'm ready to get going. I feel good."
On what it takes to go from making the playoffs one year to being a perennial contender:
"I think it's a combination of things. Obviously, having good football players, the right coaching staff, players buying into the system, health, guys being healthy and really just having a mentality of 'every day I'm going to come in and work, not worry about what happened the last game, not worry about what happened yesterday,' and things like that. Consistently having your same core group of guys on your team year in and year out. That's probably the difference."
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--Check out the full London Fletcher press conference transcript.
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Quick Hits With Quarterback Kirk Cousins:
On playing in game situations as opposed to 11-on-11 practice:
"Well there's a lot to be gained from practice but there's nothing like game experience and I don't care if it's a preseason game, a regular season game, or a playoff game. When you're out there in front of people and it's televised, there's a different feeling and preseason games care a lot of value for developing players."
On whether or not the team has the mentality needed to handle high expectations:
"I think one of the strengths of this team is the continuity. There was not a lot of turnover from last year to this year. We were able to keep, I think outside of Lorenzo Alexander, much of the core of our team is back and so as a result that gives us a great chance to have success and now that we've tasted that playoff birth and a division championship it only makes us hungry for more."
On how important preseason repetitions are:
"My understanding is that they're going to ease Robert in and it's going to be a day to day week to week kind of thing where they need to assess it and obviously not push it but I'll play when called upon and certainly expect to be mixed in with the ones (first team) and the twos (second team) and probably more with the twos as time goes on."
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--Check out the full Kirk Cousins media session transcript.
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Quick Hits With Left Tackle Trent Williams:
On the biggest difference in Richmond vs. Ashburn:
"It's no different. Obviously you can't go home every night, but it's kind of cool to get away every now and then. It's a pretty good city and a great facility. So it's not bad."
On if the team has swagger after winning the NFC East last year:
"No. Last year was last year. Last year can't win us any games this year. I mean, it's great to have confidence, but last year doesn't help us win any games this year.
"Guys had a couple months off and we've been itching to get back and compete with each other. It's going to be a great atmosphere.
"It's optimism. Obviously we've got a couple key guys coming off injuries, so who knows how that could turn out. But last year was a great stepping stone."
On if Robert Griffin III needs to play in the preseason in order to be prepared:
"I don't think so. I mean, he knows the offense, there ain't nothing new. I think he should be alright.
"I mean, if he keeps taking the mental reps and preparing like he has been, I don't think he should miss a beat.
"[Robert Griffin III's recovery] is amazing. But at the same time, I'm not surprised. He's one of the hardest workers I've ever been around, so his success on the field doesn't surprise me. Him coming back so fast, it's not going to surprise me either."
"Honestly in minicamp, he looked alright to me."
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--Check out the full Trent Williams media session transcript.
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Quick Hits With Nose Tackle Barry Cofield:
On the realistic expectations that the defense has:
"We want to be a top-five, top-ten defense. We're not in the business of making excuses. It's like we've got some new toys with the guys that we've brought back from injury. A guy like [Brian] Orakpo, a [Brandon] Meriweather, guys like that, that we expected to really help us last year who are just hungry and starving to get out on the field and help us this year so it's extremely exciting and we expect to improve in every aspect."
On if he peeks over at Robert during practice:
"Every day. Every day I want to see how he's doing. He's that important. It's a quarterback driven league and he's one of the best in the league. The work he put in, the amount of hours he put in rehab wise, it's not surprising to see the progress that he's made and I'll be shocked if he wasn't out there Week 1."
On what he thinks about the facility so far:
"Very beautiful, very beautiful. They welcomed us with open arms down here. All of the people that we've dealt so far have been amazing and I think guys are excited about being down here for a few weeks."
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--Check out the full Barry Cofield media session transcript.
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