training camp moments

I've spent a week out at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va., covering training camp.

The big plus of the week: the AP finally put a byline on my stories.

The big minus: the 32-mile one-way commute to get here by 8:30 a.m. every morning. (Although that does help get the day done faster, as well). And an extra big minus Saturday, when I sat in traffic for nearly three hours to cover a training camp scrimmage.

Covering training camp has given me flashbacks to fall practice time in my days as a Southern Miss beat writer. Sure, there's more writers out here and more fans watching, but the job's still the same: stand around and watch football players practice (not even as exciting as it sounds), make sure everyone that's supposed to be on the field is on the field, watch for someone to get injured, and then dash around at the end trying to talk to everyone you need to talk to for whatever story you're going to write. The routine is broken, of course, if some news happens. This was how the first day of camp went, when I wasn't writing but just helping out and collecting quotes for the rest of the week.

The first few days were taken up with Jason Taylor updates. Then the rest of the time I've tried to find something interesting to write about (and make sure it's something I can get quotes about). I've only got a couple more days of making the long drive back and forth. Then I'll have to find something else to do next.