Football
Associated Press 17y

Redskins' QB Campbell has fun with questions about diction, commercial trick

ASHBURN, Va. -- No one is being watched more closely than
Jason Campbell at this year's Washington Redskins training camp.

The verdict after nine days? He's OK at playing quarterback,
very good at playing coy.

Campbell knew his every move would be scrutinized as never
before in his first camp as starter in a football-mad city, but
he's handled the frenzy with aplomb, dishing out a bit of
back-at-ya humor on two off-the-field stories.

First, assistant coach Al Saunders revealed that he had Campbell
enunciate "every play, every formation" during the offseason to
help the quarterback improve his articulation. It seems that last
year, when Campbell took over the starting job in midseason, some
players had trouble understanding his Mississippi accent.

"We've got a shift that's called 'Falcon," receiver Antwaan
Randle El said. "He used to say 'Balco.' 'Falcon' and 'Balco'? I
don't know. But he's country. We teased him about it last year, but
he's gotten better at it."

However, when asked about the diction lessons, Campbell would
not give ground.

"Antwaan has little ears," Campbell said. "He's got to get
some bigger ears so he can hear."

Asked how he hopes to improve communication in the huddle this
year, Campbell said: "I told them -- just get used to my
language."

Campbell was even more evasive when asked about the commercial
he filmed for nfl.com's fantasy football game. In the ad, Campbell
throws a football and then quickly throws another. The two balls
collide in midair about 25 yards downfield, then miraculously land
in the hands of two receivers.

It's a one-in-a-zillion moment. Trick photography had to be
involved. No way it actually happened, right?

"It's an unsolved mystery," Campbell said with a smile. "I
can't tell you one way or the other."

No matter how many times Campbell was asked, he wouldn't reveal
how the stunt was staged -- or even whether it was a stunt.

"Just go home and try it in your backyard," he told reporters.
"If you hit it, I'll give you 10 dollars."

Campbell's congeniality is also of little help in solving the
biggest mystery of camp: How will he play in his first year as a
starter?

Campbell was missing receivers regularly during the first few
practices -- as if the pressure was getting to him -- but he
rebounded with some good throws in the following sessions and has
since spliced good moments with bad. No real trend has emerged, and
anyone looking for one in Saturday's scrimmage against the
Baltimore Ravens went home disappointed when coach Joe Gibbs
decided to sit Campbell and most of the offensive starters during
the 11-on-11 plays.

Campbell did take most of the 7-on-7 snaps, but most of his
passes were short because the Ravens had Washington's receivers
blanketed downfield.

Asked for an evaluation, Gibbs didn't have much of one to give.

"For Jason, it's about getting the right reads," the coach
said. "He was checking down a bunch."

The first good chance to gauge Campbell's work comes Saturday
when the Redskins visit Tennessee in their preseason opener.

"We're happy with the progress," Campbell said. "But we're
not satisfied."

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