In this case, I took a particular interest in the fact that a man in the NFL is representing my hometown of Mayo, Maryland.

A current member of the New York Giants practice squad, offensive tackle Jacob Bender, grew up in Mayo with the hopes and the means to make it into the NFL. As a young man, Bender played for the Edgewater Blue Devils, the local youth league team that I grew up playing for as well.

In high school, Bender chose to go to DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, as opposed our local public school, South River High School, which is in Edgewater. That move paid off for Bender, considering the only modern football player of note to attend South River was John Kaleo, who had an illustrious career as a quarterback at the University of Maryland and the Arena Football League. DeMatha currently has more alumni in the NFL than any other high school in the country, with Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook being the most notable.

After graduating from DeMatha, Bender chose to attend Nichols State in Louisiana, where he started 31 of 43 games and earned All-America and All-Southland Conference honors as a senior.

Bender at Nicholls State

In April of 2007, Bender’s NFL dreams had come true after being drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round. That season, Bender was inactive for 14 games but appeared in six special teams plays in the two games he was activated. After the 2008 preseason, he was waived by the Jets but was snatched up by the New England Patriots the next day and was put on their practice squad.

Bender as a Jet

In November of that year, the San Francisco 49ers signed Bender away from the Patriots and onto their active roster. Bender stayed in San Francisco until the conclusion of this past training camp, which led him to signing with the Giants in mid-September.

Bender as a member of the 49ers

Although Bender is on an NFL team that is on my bottom-five list that I’d like to see a Mayo representative employed by, it still gives me great satisfaction to see our hometown actively being represented in what is, in my opinion, the greatest sports showcase of all.

Since the Redskins were playing the Giants this week, I talked to Bender this weekend about several topics, including his connections to several Redskins players, how he made it from Mayo to the NFL and what lies ahead for his NFL future, among other topics.

Below is a transcript of the interview.

Time Disclaimer: The questions were asked over the weekend and were answered on Monday night, hence the reference to the game in future tense.

THN: Describe your path from growing up in Mayo to being drafted by the New York Jets in 2007 to sticking around with the Giants now.

JB: It has been a long and challenging, yet extremely fun, journey from little Mayo all the way to the “Big City.” I am very thankful to God and blessed to have an opportunity as I do to play in the NFL. I have bounced around a few teams, but I am determined and [am] working my tail off every chance I get to earn a spot back on an active roster in the NFL.

THN: When you were playing for our local pop warner football team, the Edgewater Blue Devils as a young man, did you ever think it would lead to a career in the NFL?

JB: I played for the Blue Devils back when I was 120 lbs. [It] was the first time I stepped out under a blue uniform. Back then it was more about having fun and doing well in school so that I would be allowed to play ball then it was me making it to the NFL. However, it has always been a dream of mine to play in the League since I could remember.

THN: Who and what do you give credit to for your ability to make it to the NFL?

JB: I give credit to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for pulling me and giving me strength to make it to the position I am in now. It has not at all been an easy ride and I didn’t just miraculously make it to the NFL, though. I worked extremely hard and made some big sacrifices, (although not so much a sacrifice when you consider the reward).

THN: Even though your brother went to South River High School like I did, you chose to go to DeMatha. What was behind that decision and how were you able to do it every day?

JB: DeMatha was a decision that my entire family helped with. The traveling arrangements and all those long commutes in that metropolitan traffic were tough but we managed to get it done.

THN: How does it feel to be the only Mayo native in the NFL? Do you feel a different type of pride being in the NFL given you’re from an area that no one else in the league is from?

JB: It feels great to be in the NFL. The fact that I am from Mayo just adds some sweetness to the whole deal. I feel a great deal of pride to be representing Mayo in the NFL. There are only about 1,700 players in the whole league, so wherever you are from, there are not too many others of your neighbors in the league with you.

THN: Does having former teammates Kareem Moore (Nicholls State) and Byron Westbrook (DeMatha High School) on the Redskins give the Redskins-Giants games a little more meaning to you?

JB: Kareem and Byron are good friends of mine. I graduated and played high school football with Byron and still workout with him and other players from around the area with Mac James from Athletic Dominance out of Bowie Sport Fit Club. I shared a conference championship with “K-Mo” in 2005 when we won the Southland Conference Championship, so this game does have a little bit of a personal hint to it. Giants-Redskins is a huge game in itself already, not to mention the playoffs.

THN: Even though practice squad players don’t travel with the team on road trips, will you still make it down to Maryland and watch the Monday night game with your family considering the majority of them grew up Redskins fans?

JB: I won’t be making the trip to Washington this week. My family will root for my team even though they have been Redskins fans since I was a young boy. It’s a no-brainer if you asked anyone in my family who they would root for when my team is playing.

THN: The Giants started out strong at 5-0 this season and were considered by many the front runners for the NFC East title and were even labeled the best team in the NFC. But since then, the team has slid to a 7-6 record. What has been behind the team’s recent and surprising struggles?

JB: We did get off to a great start at 5-0, then lost a number of games, but sometimes things like this happen in the NFL. No, we are not ok with losing all those games, nor are we gonna accept the way of a losing team. We are a tough bunch of guys and will fight our way throughout the season and hopefully into the post season.

THN: Coach Coughlin made a surprising move by demoting defensive end Osi Umenyiora two weeks ago. How has that changed Osi’s mentality about the game and did that move send a message throughout the team?

JB: I’m not sure how Osi was affected by the decisions that were made by the coaches. You would have to talk to Osi to get that answer.

THN: What are your prospects for returning to the Giants next season? Have they expressed an interest in bringing you back?

JB: My plans are to finish out the year as strong as I can and improve my abilities as much as possible going into the offseason. As far as me returning or not, my agent will handle that, although I would be greatly appreciative to have a chance to earn a spot on the Giants Roster. I would like to stay a Giant and only time will tell.

THN: You had two sacks on Sunday but Brian Orakpo still caught up to you. Since you were ahead of him all year but now that you both have 11, is there any type of competition brewing between you two now that the numbers are so close?

AC: We compete to get to the quarterback but as far as who gets the most sacks, we never talk about it. I always mess with him and ask him to go on the left side when we are [in] nickel and dime situations. He shakes his head and says no. We both laugh about it but at the end of the day we just rush and make plays.

THN: Since the coaches have seen how successful he can be playing as an end compared to standing up as a linebacker, do you see him playing on the line with his hands down for the majority of the rest of the season?

AC: That will be the coaches’ call. Brian is so versatile he can do anything the coaches ask.

THN: Fred Davis declined to go to the USC game during the bye week and instead stayed in Ashburn and worked on his craft. How much does stuff like that get noticed by the veterans?

AC: Sometimes, as vets, we notice it and sometimes we don’t. We are grown men and when it goes to the bye week, it’s every man for himself.

THN: How would you assess the team’s overall performance Sunday?

AC: We won and it was a great victory. We played hard and the important thing was that we finished.

THN: Since starting out 5-0, the New York Giants have slid pretty badly over the past month and a half. While the records don’t indicate it, the Redskins have played better than the Giants over the past month and a half so this matchup will be much more even than the Week 1 contest, which is strange because of the number of injuries the Skins have dealt with since then. What have you learned about yourselves and the Giants since Week 1 and why do you think the matchup this time around will be so different?

AC: I have learned that we have overcome a lot of adversity through injury, tough losses, play callers etc. No matter what has happened, we have come to each game determined to win and play at a high level despite the team record or score.

THN: Were you able to watch the Eagles-Giants Sunday Night Football game on the plane ride back from Oakland? If so, what did you gather from it? There seemed to be no defense and all offense.

AC: Unfortunately I didn’t catch the game.

THN: Why hasn’t LaRon been moved to strong safety yet? It’s clear he’s not suited for free safety based off of all of the big touchdowns made against the secondary this season.

AC: This move will be determined by Coach Blache. I realky don’t know why he hasn’t been moved back.

THN: Devin Thomas was asked about the bad plays, bad calls and fluke plays that happened against the Saints. He’s only been on the team for two years but he said that it seems like the Redskins are cursed. Sometimes it certainly feels that way because three weeks in a row, you outplayed your opponent and put your all into it but still ended up losing. Do you believe in curses at all?

AC: I don’t believe in curses. I am a man of faith and in my mind it’s all God’s timing. Light will shine at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately we are climbing through a dark hole trying to work our way out into the open air.

THN: Have you ever been involved in a game with so many improbable plays and situations? The closest I can think of, for you, is the playoff game against the Giants in 2002. I can’t remember ever seeing a defensive back intercept a pass and then have it stripped by a receiver and have it taken for a touchdown.

AC: The playoff game in 2002 was crazy. The Giants had us beat but we kept on coming and we won. With that play you mentioned [it] will probably be on ‘NFL Follies’ in the future.

THN: Shaun Suisham was released Tuesday after his missed 23-yard field goal attempt on Sunday. He was one of the nicest people I’ve met since going to Redskins game. Amongst teammates, there’s a big bond. We all know that moves like these are a part of the business but from a personal standpoint, how tough is it to have a teammate that’s been around a while let go at this time of the year?

AC: It is always tough to see a player let go. That’s one of things I hate about the business.

THN: The Raiders are dealing with the same situation as the Lions, having Marquis Cooper pass away with Corey Smith this offseason. When there was a pigeon flying next to the Raiders players on kickoff coverage against the Eagles a few weeks ago, players said they believed that it was Marquis’ spirit following them. How do you think the passing of Marquis has impacted that team this year?

AC: It might have been Marquis showing up for the game. I really don’t know if his passing has united the players together. I wouldn’t put it past them. Hopefully Marquis’ loss meant something to the Oakland organization.

THN: Having grown up in California, what can you tell us about Raiders fans? Are they the West Coast’s version of Eagles fans?

AC: The Raider Nation is the term. I have met plenty of Raider fans and they have always wanted me to cross over to the dark side. The Raider fans don’t even compare to the Eagles fans. The Raider fans are more crazier and they dress up for game day as if it’s Halloween.

THN: If you could go back and alter one thing that would change the outcome of the game, what would it be and why?

AC: Hmmm. It’s so hard to say. When you play games that are so close, it always comes down to a play or two. I really can’t answer. We do wonder what would have happened if the two interceptions we had missed would have had a huge impact on the game. It’s one of those situations that leaves you guessing.

THN: Does a loss so late in the game after having the lead for so long have a different feeling for you than if you give up a big lead early on and never get it back?

AC: It’s all relative to me. At the end of the day a win is a win and a loss is a loss.

THN: What did you think of the stadium?

AC: As much as I hate the Cowboys, I give Jerry Jones credit when credit is due. 100,000 fans with a 60 yard screen. Great suites, nice field turf and a retractable roof. I foresee a Super Bowl in that stadium.

THN: Has the fact that Jerry Gray is reportedly a candidate for the University of Memphis job distracted the players at all?

AC:Actually this is the first time I heard about it. Ask me the same question next week. I really don’t think it’s a distraction. Jerry Gray is a great coach and I am not surprised if he was offered a head coaching position.

THN: The offensive line has come under fire all year and even Coach Zorn didn’t feel comfortable enough with pass protection to throw a third down pass with 15 seconds left in the first half. When you’re up against them in practice, what kind of advice do you give to the younger linemen to help them improve?

AC: As vets we give them advice on pass protecting techniques. They soak up the knowledge given to their offensive line coach as well. Now we all know he comes from the old school.

THN: How does your outlook for the Eagles game change after a loss to Dallas compared to heading into Philly if you had won in Dallas the week before?

AC: It doesn’t change. Even though we had lost the game, it’s vital we have short term memory and put the place behind us. What’s done is done. Our next opponent is the Eagles

THN: Devin Thomas has been on a tear as of late, showing tremendous second and third efforts on plays and even has performed well on special teams. What has changed in him? Was it just him finally having the opportunity to play as opposed to a change in him?

AC: It’s all about opportunity, and Devin has made the most of each game he has played in. He is in a constant rhythm and coming into a world of his own.

THN: It was written on the Washington Post’s Redskins Insider blog that Coach Blache said Albert Haynesworth isn’t the reason for your improved performance but you’ve said several times that he makes the people around him better, especially you. Why does what Blache says contradict with what you have said? http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/jason-reid/a-helping-and-from-haynesworth.html#more

AC: I couldn’t even tell you. I do know that the sacks I have is God’s gift. How I am playing is God’s gift. I have always worked hard and prepared my mind and body for the season. My faith and focus has grown from 2001 as a rookie to 2009 as a vet. Haynsworth has been a great addition but the other men on the field have done their part as well. I have worked with [Cornelius] Griffin, [Brian] Orakpo, [Kedric] Golston, when Haynsworth needed a blow. I thank all my teammates first and foremost.

THN: What, in your opinion, is it going to take to turn this ship around?

AC: Faith and believing that we can get this turned around.

THN: Is the team getting frustrated losing to division opponents (especially on national TV)?

AC: I think the team hates losing period no matter who we play. The division opponents hurt the worse because it puts you in a bind when you are trying to make a playoff run.

THN: How did you spend your bye week?

AC: I spent a lot of quality time with the family. Took my son on the merry go round and took many naps, during the day. I am well rested now.

THN: “Urgency, heart, ‘want-to,’ whatever. I don’t know. We’re lacking a lot of stuff right now. The fans are losing interest. The more games we play, the fewer fans come. It’s getting bad.” That was a quote from Albert Haynesworth by the Associated Press after the Eagles game. Is Albert correct and does he have a point? How does the team find its “want-to”?

AC: It’s about making a choice. We can choose to play hard and win or chose to be inconsistent. It’s the matter of having the want to.

THN: It seems as the defensive line improves and applies more pressure to the quarterback, the secondary gives up more big plays. Do you believe that assessment and if so, what will it take for the defense to come to a happy medium and be able to provide blanket coverage in the secondary to go along with pressuring the quarterback consistently?

AC: I feel as a defense we are getting better. There are many things we need to work on. Tackling, controlling our gaps, etc. One thing we do well is play hard, fast and together. As a defensive line we continue to communicate and focus on stopping the run and rushing the passer.

THN: Is the defense blitzing enough?

AC: Greg Blache makes the call and we go out and play. We haven’t blitzed as much I think due to the success of our four man rush.

THN: Clinton Portis only had 43 yards and was the team’s leading rusher against Philly. What is the reason for his lack of production (for his standards, at least)? Is it because of a decline on his end or the troubles with the offensive line?

AC: I really don’t know. It’s really hard to say.

THN: What do you do to handle the stress of a single loss or even a losing season? What do you do to get your mind right and do you think your teammates are taking to correct measures to appropriately handle the team’s current situation?

AC: My faith, my family and the great men and coaches that I work with gets me through the day. In life, if it’s good or bad, you always have to have a positive perspective.

THN: Haynesworth apparently left to go to the locker room with about 25 seconds left in the game but he was also the one guy to make his voice heard and try to motivate guys and get them to step their game up after the game. Is that true? If so, why did he leave so early and what did he say?

AC: I didn’t realize he left early and I don’t know why. To be brief, he spoke about having passion and continuing to be the best in this game.

THN: How frustrating is it to put the offense in so many great situations and have very few
results come from them? Have any of the defensive players talked with any of the offensive players about that in private?

AC: The offense is doing all they can. Like I have said before this is a team effort. It’s vital we have each other’s back no matter the circumstances. There has been no finger pointing, bashing, slandering, etc. We have communicated as a whole as far as what must be done. Negativity with team will only bring the team morale down. We have been optimistic and will continue to be on a high note.

THN: The defense seems to have several inspirational leaders such as London, Phillip, Griff and yourself and you guys get VERY fired up for the games. Is there anybody on the offense that plays that role because there seems to be no fire or leadership on that side of the ball. That appears to play a role in the lack of production on the field.

AC: Even though they are injured, Randy Thomas and Chris Samuels have been leaders on the offense. Randle El has been an inspiration to the younger players. The leadership is there, and we know the offense is doing their best to move the ball successfully.

THN: What performance or play stood out to you the most against Kansas City and why?

AC: That’s a tough question. I saw a lot of great plays on three sides of the ball. Fred Smoot made a crazy hit on special teams. Laron Landry had a nice open-field tackle on a receiver and Clinton making that 78-yard run. A lot of people stood out.

THN: It’s safe to say that this is the lowest point of the season. Is the team’s mentality “it can only go up from here”?

AC: We can never say that it will get any worse. If we do then we will never put up a fight. Our faith and desire to play this game is strong. We will turn it around.

THN: The defense has been able to do its job against inferior opponents. Why hasn’t the offense been able to do the same on their end? Why, with all the talent this team has, is the offense struggling the way it has been?

AC: I really don’t know. I wish I had an answer. Watching them and knowing they are trying their best is all we can ask.

THN: You’ve gotten to know the Eagles very well since you’ve played them twice a season for the last three seasons. What is one common theme or pattern you’ve noticed with them?

AC: One thing about the Eagles is they never quit. The defense is very aggressive. They have the old Gregg Williams mentality. They love to blitz at any given down. The offense can put points on with a quickness.

THN: Earlier you said you didn’t know why the fans are booing. Now do you have a better understanding?

AC: I have heard mix reviews. I just hope that we can all come together.

THN: Does the booing really affect the players? Why or why not?

AC: We have to focus on our opponents and win. The rest will take care of itself.

THN: The Eagles certainly have a better offensive line than the Kansas City Chiefs. As was stated before, you know them pretty well by now. What will it take for you and the defense to get to McNabb like you did against Cassel?

AC: Like any game it’s important to study your opponent. Know their strengths and weakness and exploit them. Communication with teammates is vital when it comes to setting up pass rush moves.

As if things weren’t bad enough, there are now competitors in the NFC East for the counseling services that our Redskins have been offering to the downtrodden of the league. Fortunately, most can’t meet the level of services offered by the Redskins.

Take the Dallas Cowboys, for example. One week ago, while providing ego reinforcement therapy to the Kansas City Chiefs, they actually ended up causing more psychic damage, when they scored a dramatic late game touchdown. They had completely forgotten why they were there. Fortunately for KC, there was a competent service available within 7 days, and long term emotional damage was avoided.

More serious competition comes from Philly, where they have demonstrated a propensity for rescuing distressed teams. Yesterday, they did double duty… they not only assisted the Oakland Raiders to experience the illusion of light at the end of their long, dark tunnel, they even offered some solace to the fans of the Washington Redskins, by removing a bit of the motivation for fans of the Green and White to harrass us…. err… them. “Yeah, baby! The Eagles suck too!” could be heard outside of houses throughout the Washington Metro area. Every Redskins fan who has to work with an Eagles fan was thrilled at the prospect of being able to walk into work through the front door this week. How cool!

But, hey, Philly! You have an opportunity coming up this week to improve upon your technique.   Monday evening… you can not only improve the emotional status in Washington of the fans of the Redskins, you can even provide an opportunity to really boost the team’s offense… giving up 28 points would be just awesome.
Maybe you could just think about it, you know? Consider the possibilities. You could make Jim Zorn appear to be clairvoyant… weren’t you listening to today’s presser when he recalled how you guys were 2 and 4 at this point last year, yet still managed to go to the playoffs? Plus, you know, Sherm Lewis could use some strokes, too. Imagine the possibilities!

How sad is that?

The real laugher, however, is the Giants… they clearly haven’t gotten the hang of this therapy thing… I mean, you are supposed to be providing the service to winless teams… or to those who should be winless. When you are playing against a team like New Orleans, you are actually supposed to show up. That’s just embarassing. Let me spell it out for you, Eli… Lose to the teams you are supposed to defeat… That’s how this therapy thing is supposed to work. (I’m not sure how its supposed to work against teams you should lose to… we just don’t have that data yet).

But, I guess you can’t have everything.

HTTR

Here are the article’s that the Leftovers did not make them into:

THN Weekly with Andre Carter – Week 5

THN Weekly with Andre Carter – Week 6

Leftovers – Week 5:

THN: What was said at halftime that changed the mode and momentum of the team heading into the second half and who said it? Or was it more than one person saying it?

AC: Nothing was said. We all knew what had to be done. It’s not how you start but how you finish. We played hard and won the game.

THN: What was the mood of the team heading into halftime with the boos coming down from the fans and what was the mood heading into the locker room after coming back and heading in with the win when the game was over? How differently did the team feel?

AC: We didn’t focus on the boos. We can’t control the reactions of the crowd. Of course a person from the outside looking in would say “score more points”, etc. However, when we came in at halftime, our focus was to make adjustments on offense, defense and special teams. When we heard the cheers, it was a good feeling because we won.

THN: What did you do to change your approach for a successful second half? Did you even change anything at all?

AC: A few plays but I think the main thing was looking at the man next to you and having faith we were going to win.

THN: It seemed that watching the game, at least in the first half, that Josh Johnson was performing a lot better than expected but once the game was all said and done, he only passed for 106 yards, which is great for a defense and the secondary. What was the key for the defense holding him to such a small amount of yards?

AC: Watching film we knew he was going to scramble. The important part of our gameplan was to contain him in the pocket and not allow him to gain yardage. During passing situations we put pressure on him so he couldn’t complete many passes. Everyone was in sync on Sunday.

THN: The defense didn’t allow a 100-yard rusher on Sunday. Is that always something for the team to build off of heading into the next game or does the defense look for something else to stay positive about? In the grand scheme of things, how important is it for a defense to hold a rusher to under 100-yards?

AC: It was a blessing to stop the run under 100 yards. For any defense, that’s the main goal week end and week out. As for next week, in order to stop the run within those parameters, the defense needs to be on the same page. Know the call, who your opponent is man-on-man and 11 men swarming to the ball.

THN: Despite the occasional boos, the fans were loud on defense throughout the whole game, especially in crucial situations. How much of a factor did that have on the defense’s success and do you think if this was a road game, that the crowd factor would have made a difference in the outcome?

AC: If it was a road game, I think we would play hard regardless. Playing home is great because it confuses the calls of our opponents on offense.

THN: Do you feel the boos were necessary for the fans to get a point across to the team and did that inspire the team to play harder to get them to stop? Do you think that the team felt vindicated when the cheering from the fans increased as well as the performance from the team in the second half?

AC: ‘Til this day I don’t know why the fans booed. The fans are being fans. The only thing we can control is to be victorious. When we won, the sound of cheers was amazing.

THN: Jeremy Jarmon and Brian Orakpo got in on some plays yesterday and did well. Orakpo even lined up at end on at least one play that I saw. After one quarter of the season, how do the young guys on the line look? Will fans see Orakpo lining up in a three-point stance at end more often as the season progresses?

AC: The young guys on the line look great. They have a lot to learn but we are fortunate to have Jarmon and Orakpo contributing. I think the futre of Orakpo being in a three-point stance more often will be determined by Coach Blache.

THN: How do you feel Shaun Suisham did in place of Hunter Smith after Smith got hurt? Apparently Suisham hadn’t punted since high school.

AC: I was impressed with Suisham. Hey, somebody has to do it. I don’t know anyone on the team who can punt. Oh yeah, Cooley can but we will see what happens in the future.

THN: Who impressed you the most Sunday and why?

AC: I felt that Reed (Doughty) did a great job. He has had his ups and downs on and off the field and for him to contribute the way he did was remarkable.

THN: What does it say about the team (players, coaches, etc.) that considering all of the negative publicity as of late, that the guys can stay together and focused and work successfully as a team?

AC: In life everyone is a critic. Family, friends, associates, etc. The important thing is how you handle adversity. We have 16 games to do something amazing. Time in this business is short, so let’s take advantage of it before it runs out.

THN: The next two opponents (Carolina and Kansas City) have a combined record of 0-7. The following week it’s Philadelphia at home. Do you think these next two games are a great opportunity for the team to get back on track and get rolling before the real big games start?

AC: Every week is an opportunity to win but it doesn’t mean teams are going to hand a win over to us. We have to earn each play and each game.

Leftovers – Week 6:

THN: Run me through the sacks and forced fumble. How were you able to make those plays?

AC: The sack came off of having good timing of the QB’s cadence and knocking my opponents hands down before he could hold me. I turned the corner and stripped the ball as I tackled Carolina’s QB.

THN: What will it take for you to repeat your personal performance against the Panthers this Sunday at FedEx Field?

AC: I leave it in the hands of God in regards to playing against Kansas City. I will watch plenty of film and study my opponent. Feet for an offensive lineman are important as well as hands. When analyzing games you get an idea of how he plays. He might be aggressive, strong hands, is he passive, etc. Rushing the passer is similar to a game of chess. You have to set up your opponent then when the time comes attack him when he leasts expects it.

THN: How tough is it to stay focused on your goals when there is so much talk about the team and so many rumors, such as the head coaching job being available at the end of the year for guys such as Jon Gruden or Mike Shanahan? I know you guys try to block it out and focus but you all have to know and hear what’s going on on the outside.

AC: It’s not hard to stay focus on our objective. All rumors do is develop negativity towards the team. It’s important we prepare for our opponent and continue to stay driven.

THN: Albert Haynesworth continues to get hurt and take a little bit of time to get off the field. How serious are his injuries when he does that? Has anyone talked to him about his conditioning at all? It appears he’s proving Rams center Jason Brown’s assessment of him is correct and that he gets winded and seems to takes plays off.

AC: From what I know he has a few ailments that he has been treating and staying on top of during the season. He has been putting pressure in the middle and has helped us stop the run. As far as his conditioning is concerned, he runs hard to the ball and is physical. I feel that the center is wrong with that statement. I have had more tackles because of Albert.

THN: Jason Campbell was interviewed on the radio Monday and was asked about the Portis/Sellers situation and whether “Portis’ act was wearing thin with the rest of the team” and without saying yes or calling him out or throwing him under the bus, Jason essentially said that there are things with the team that shouldn’t have been let out in the media. If you listen to the interview, he basically says yes without saying it. Has Portis’ reputation with the team changed or morphed over the years?

AC: All I can say is that Portis is Portis. He is funny, passionate and says what’s on his mind. You have to know him to understand him. I feel like his behavior isn’t affecting the team moral. He says what’s on his mind whether or not the others agree or disagree His time with the Redskins, I think, isn’t running thin.

THN: This Sunday, it’s another underperforming team, this time the Kansas City Chiefs at home. The Skins are currently undefeated at home. What will it take to keep that homefield advantage going?

AC: A lot of pride and Redskin fans. Having fun at our home turf.

THN: The Chiefs played the Cowboys pretty tough on Sunday. What makes them dangerous?

AC: I haven’t watched film on them yet but from what I heard, their passing game is a threat. If (Matt) Cassel is in the pocket long enough he can create big plays for the offense.