Washington Redskins executive vice president

Four clubs will begin their on-field preparations for NFL Kickoff 2010 this week, starting with the Cleveland Browns on Friday, July 23 when their rookies report.

Three teams will follow this weekend, starting with the new Dallas Cowboys jerseys on Saturday, July 24, and then the New England Patriots jerseys and San Diego Chargers  jerseys rookies on Sunday, July 25.

For the second consecutive year, 17 of the 32 NFL teams will be "staying home" for training camp, which represents more than half the league (53 percent). In 2001, only 5 of 31 teams stayed close to home.

When he accepted the position of  new Washington Redskins jerseys executive vice president/head coach in January, Mike Shanahan liked the idea of "going away" for training camp to build his team in his image.

But after viewing the considerable meeting space and pristine practice fields at Redskins Park and hearing stories about the huge fan support the team received at the club's Ashburn, Va. facility during recent camps, he changed his mind.

"I have heard about the passionate fans and the huge, enthusiastic crowds that come out to support our team during training camp," says Shanahan. "I'm looking forward to sharing in this experience for the first time. Training camp is the time our players build their identity as a team, and we are pleased to begin laying the foundation for the 2010 season in front of Redskins Nation."

When you thought, as a Redskins fan, that things couldn't get any worse, there was the answer. Joe Gibbs. He'd already done it. Already been to the top. More than once! How could we fail now. Every year from 2004 to 2007 looked ten times more promising than the last.

Shawn Springs, Sean Taylor, and Marcus Washington were some of the first to make a splash. Then came Carlos Rogers, Bruce Smith, Laveranues Coles and Deion Sanders. Followed by Cornelious Griffin and Santana Moss. Also, somewhere in the mix the Redskins signed Brandon Lloyd, Antwaan Randle El, Adam Archuleta and Andre Carter . All to overpriced contracts. My personal favorite and, in my opinion, the most blogged about pick up was the trade of the beloved Champ Bailey for the all-star running back, Clinton Portis. A truly bitter sweet moment in Redskins history. We picked up new names such as Devin Thomas and LaRon Landry.

It was all a very crazy roller coaster ride that I stuck with. Then Sean Taylor got shot. Yes, the world had briefly ceased to rotate. My favorite defensive player since Champ Bailey (As a Miami Hurricane, I cannot like Deion Sanders) had been shot in his own home. Then almost immediately, as it had for any Redskins fan, my mind went to how screwed the Skins were, AGAIN!

Jim Zorn couldn't fix things. Albert Haynesworth couldn't fix things, even if he cared to. And Derrick Dockery sure as hell couldn't fix things. But in true Dan Snyder fashion the team pushed on. Paying more to pick up bigger and better names to fill seats and win games, neither of which he is doing well up to date. So, the Skins dropped the great Jon Jansen and key role player James Thrash, added Brian Orakpo and DeAngelo Hall (still one of my favorites, mostly because his special teams skill on Madden '08 were REEdiculous). Now they've drafted Trent "Silverback" Williams (I personally think Russell Okung from Oklahoma State would have been a far more fitting draft pick), picked up Larry Johnson, Willie Parker and DONOVAN MCNABB!!, and hired Mike Shanahan. Awesome. Except they also released Fred Smoot, Antwaan Randle El and Jason Campbell.

So, here we are again. The same place as every summer before a highly anticipated Dan Snyder's Redskin's season. Hopes are a lot less high this time around even with the new additions, but high nonetheless.

For me, it is just as high every year. I believe in playoff wins again. Heck, I believe in a record better than 4-12 again. The upcoming schedule looks easy enough, so I believe a 10-6 outcome is very reasonable. With the team interacting in special sessions like McNabb's "Hell Week" out in Arizona. With everyone showing up to voluntary training camp… eventually *cough* Haynesworth *cough*. With a division that looks weaker than years past. Even with rumors of a T.O., McNabb reunion. (They just happen to be playing together on Joes vs. Pros tonight)