NFL 2009: Under-pressure Campbell, Redskins could repeat as football’s best last-place team

Redskins: No fun to be NFL’s best last-place team

ASHBURN, Va. — Search elsewhere if you’re seeking a happy-go-lucky team. No matter where you look in the Washington locker room, there seems to be an ax to grind or a leash that’s awfully short.

Maybe this is what happens when a team could be poised to defend its title — as the best last-place team in football.

“Hopefully we’ll be the best team this year — take out the ‘last place,’” defensive end Phillip Daniels said.

To do that, the Redskins must cash a lot of chips that are sitting on shoulders, from belittled quarterback Jason Campbell on down, because the NFC East is a hard place to live. Washington should be better than last year’s 8-8 because of roster upgrades and the natural improvement from Year 1 to Year 2 under a new head coach. But the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys all sit in the way.

“At least you know whoever wins this division has got a chance to win the whole thing,” said defensive end Renaldo Wynn, who came over from the Giants in the offseason.

And if there’s no improvement in the standings, owner Dan Snyder sits in his upstairs corner office, always ready to make more changes and spend more money, no matter whose feelings get hurt. Campbell, for all his polite words, is still smarting big time from Snyder’s attempt to land Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez in the offseason.

Campbell’s contract runs out at the end of the year, and it’s safe to say his time with the Redskins will expire as well if his touchdown tally doesn’t improve from the 13 of 2008. Early in training camp, perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels said Campbell will “at least get seven or eight games to go out there and get it done.” Samuels later said the words didn’t come out the way he meant and that he wasn’t stating team policy, but no one disputes the overall picture of a quarterback under pressure.

“It’s one of those things, you just go out there and do your job and quiet all the naysayers,” fullback Mike Sellers said. “I think that’s Jason’s plan.”

There’s more, of course. Clinton Portis is closing in on John Riggins as the franchise’s all-time leading rusher, but Portis has soured the chase by complaining about Riggins’ critical comments as a radio commentator, and by diminishing Riggo’s achievements.

Albert Haynesworth, given a $100 million contract with an NFL-record $41 million in guaranteed money, is out to show he’s worth the money: “You’re not going to remember Albert Haynesworth as a bust,” he said on his first day in the building.

Samuels and right tackle Randy Thomas, who each had multiple surgeries in the offseason, are determined to prove that the experienced offensive line is getting better with age, not falling apart because of it. Cornerback Carlos Rogers, hardly thrilled about losing his starting job late last season, has it back and is playing for big money in a contract year. But he’ll succeed only if he actually makes a few interceptions and stays healthy.

Kick returner Rock Cartwright is miffed because he’s no longer considered a running back. Veteran receiver Antwaan Randle El has been overtaken at No. 2 receiver by a youngster, Malcolm Kelly. Middle linebacker London Fletcher, the glue of the defense, went on an uncharacteristic mini-tirade after getting snubbed for the Pro Bowl last year. His absence during much of the offseason workouts — depending on who you ask — may or may not have been a sign of unhappiness with his contract.

Oh, the angst! Good thing or bad thing?

“I think it’s a good thing,” Randle El said. “For me, I have a chip on my shoulder every year, so I think it’s good to have because it humbles you and keeps you grounded — ‘Hey, I’ve still got something to prove to everybody.’”

Then there’s Jim Zorn, the optimistic and sometimes quirky coach who was facing job security questions before his first season was over as the Redskins tumbled from a 6-2 start. Enticing megacoaches Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren, Jon Gruden and Mike Shanahan are all on the sidelines and might get Snyder’s attention for 2010, and Zorn can quiet the rumor mill only with a good season. It helps that the Z-man and his players have a better feel for each other going into his second year.

“It is different,” Zorn said. “And I would say the differences are: I know our players much better, our players know the system a lot better, we all know the direction we’re going in.”

So good things can happen. The defense, ranked No. 4 a year ago but deficient in sacks and takeaways, should finally cause some havoc with Haynesworth and first-round draft pick Brian Orakpo. The emergence of Kelly perhaps gives Campbell the big receiver the offense has been missing. The offensive line is the biggest question mark, but for what it’s worth, Campbell didn’t get sacked during preseason.

All that’s been missing so far is a “Hip! Hip! Hooray!” from Zorn.

But is that good enough in the NFC East? The Redskins, it’s worth pointing out, are one of only six NFL teams without a division title since the latest realignment in 2002.

“The thing I’m anxious about is answering everyone else’s questions,” Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley said. “It’s been an onslaught of questions the last year and a half, and I think we’re ready to step up.”