6:36 PM ETReady or not, here the Washington Redskins come.Coaches and almost 90 players spent the last 17 days cramming anentire offseason's worth of player acquisitions, practicerepetitions and film study sessions before the product goes ondisplay Friday night in Nnamdi Asomugha Jersey Authentic the Redskins' preseason opener againstthe Pittsburgh Steelers at FedEx Field.The four-month NFL lockout has forced all Michael Vick Jersey Authentic 32 teams to playcatch-up since the league reopened for LeSean McCoy Jersey Authentic business July 26, and Fridaythe Redskins will measure their progressagainst an opponent for the first time."It's weird that we're playing," defensive coordinator JimHaslett said. "It doesn't seem like Jeremy Maclin Authentic Jersey there should be a game in suchshort a time. From that standpoint, I'm looking forward to seeinghow those guys interact with each other."The compressed calendar makes this game much more intriguingthan the usual preseason opener.Several veterans acquired in the past two weeks are expected tomake their Redskins debuts, along with 12 draftpicks. Washington's starting quarterback competition will begin toplay out, and returning players can show what they learned fromcoach Mike Shanahan's 6-10 debut season.Quarterback Rex Grossman is the headliner. John Beck'savailability is doubtful because of a strained groin that limitedhim in practice all week, so Grossman should get the first crack atproving himself worthy of the starting job.He started the final three games last season and finished with apasser rating of 81.2 - the best season-ending mark of hiseight-year career. It's a minuscule sample size but large enough toinstill self-confidence."I feel like I have a good understanding of the offense and whatKyle [Shanahan, the offensive coordinator] is asking me to do,"Grossman said. "I fully understand the verbiage and all that. It'sjust getting my body and my mind to go through the progressions asI need."Grossman has said he expects to play at least into the secondquarter. Because the Redskins will need to see Beck playwhen he is healthy in the coming weeks, Grossman must takeadvantage of an extended opportunity against Pittsburgh's veterandefense."I have high expectations ... but I do understand that some ofthese guys are a little bit more rusty than you would expect, andthat comes when they don't have the reps," Kyle Shanahan said."Everyone's reps are at least cut in half, missing those 14 OTAdays. It will be a new experience for all of us."Several other offensive elements warrant monitoring, as well.The Redskins are debuting a reworkedoffensive line with former guard Will Montgomery starting at centerand free agent Chris Chester starting at right guard.The competition at receiver is particularly intense. Washingtondrafted three receivers, traded for veteran Jabar Gaffney andsigned free agent Donte' Stallworth. Three new faces at runningback are veteran Tim Hightower and draft picks Roy Helu and EvanRoyster."Last year, we kind of knew who our guys were ... and the depthwasn't there," Kyle Shanahan Authentic DeSean Jackson Jersey said. "I think we've got better depththis year. There's going to be some competition in there from thefirst quarter all the way to the fourth."On defense, nose tackle Barry Cofield is one of four projectedstarters acquired via free agency in the offseason. Right defensiveend Stephen Bowen and cornerback Josh Nnamdi Asomugha Authentic Jersey Wilson are expected to play.Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe's Redskins debut might have to waitbecause of a hamstring injury.First-round pick Ryan Authentic LeSean McCoy Jersey Kerrigan will play for the first time atleft outside Jeremy Maclin Jersey Authentic linebacker after playing defensive end in college.Considering all the new parts, the defense needs these preseasongames to jell.For Cofield, it's a matter of mastering his newresponsibilities. He came from the New York Giants' 4-3 defense;now he's playing a new position in a 3-4."You understand that your technique and certain things may notbe there, but your effort and your mentality and youraggressiveness have to be there, regardless," he said. "It may notbe perfect, but as long as guys are flying around and playing hard,I think we'll be happy."

  Bengals can move on without Palmer
    6:32 PM ETCINCINNATI (AP)By trading their franchise quarterback, the Cincinnati Bengalscan finally move on.The Bengals ended nine months of uncertainty Tuesday when theydealt Carson Palmer to Oakland for a pair of draft picks. Palmertold the Bengals in January that he wouldn't play for them againand he wanted a trade, something that owner Mike Brown hadadamantly refused.Shortly before the trading deadline, Brown did an about-face andtraded Palmer for first-round and second-round picks, a better dealthan they'd expected for the 31-year-old quarterback. Coach MarvinLewis indicated he would have preferred trading Palmer earlier, butBrown wasn't ready until the Raiders' offer came along.''My boss is a very patient man,'' Lewis said. ''Don't want toplay poker with him, do you?''The Bengals can move ahead without having to account for Palmerin the budget. They had to set aside money to account for hissalary should DeSean Jackson Jersey he change his mind and show up to play. Palmer had abase salary of $11.5 million this season, with three more yearsleft on his deal.Instead of saving budget space, the Bengals can try to extenddeals with other current players.''Now we open up some other doors,'' Lewis said. ''There hasbeen a lot written about, oh, you guys have this much (salary) capspace, but we had to have that Authentic Nnamdi Asomugha Jersey space stay in there because ifCarson were to walk in here, we had to be able to handlethat.''The deal had little impact on his wholesale nfl jerseys former teammates, who knew hewasn't coming back when he told the team in January that he wouldretire rather than play Authentic Michael Vick Jersey another season in Cincinnati. The Bengalshave only two winning records in the last 20 years.The message board by the LeSean McCoy Authentic Jersey entrance to the Bengals' locker roomTuesday had an anonymous scrawled message: ''Let My PeopleGoooooo!'' Otherwise, there wasn't much reaction.''I don't think even one player in this locker room's eventhought about that,'' left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. ''Wehaven't worried Michael Vick Authentic Jersey about it. We've gone forward with the guys we haveand tried to play as good as we can and that's all we can do.''Palmer's former teammates were glad that he finally received hiswish. Palmer was the first overall pick in 2003 and led Cincinnatito those two winning seasons, only to have his career interruptedby knee and elbow injuries.''Kudos to Carson,'' offensive lineman Bobbie Williams said.''Just good luck to everybody. I don't know about the details, butwhatever it is, I'm pretty sure we got what we wanted, he got whathe wanted and we'll go from there.''I'm happy with where we're at. I hope he's happy with wherehe's at. Good luck to him. I mean, who knows?''Williams smiled at the possibility of facing Palmer's Raiders inthe Authentic Jeremy Maclin Jersey playoffs.''You never know,'' he said.Backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, a former Raider, saidPalmer fits Oakland's offensive style.''It's going to be a good situation,'' Gradkowski said. ''Theorganization is going in the right direction out there, and it'sgood for Carson to get back and playing some football. Theydefinitely have some talent, and those receivers can run. We're nottoo focused on that around here.''Lewis said that rookie quarterback Andy Dalton's solid play inthe first six games made Brown more comfortable with tradingPalmer. Dalton said on Tuesday that he never felt like hisperformance would figure in what happened with Palmer.''I knew coming in here that he wasn't going to be here and thatthe job was going to be open,'' Dalton said. ''It's nothing thatI've worried about.''Palmer's former teammates said they hold no grudges.''I think guys respect him,'' Whitworth said. ''You realize thathe didn't want to be here and he didn't believe in this place, andyou go forward. You still respect him as a friend and the years weput in together, but you realize that he just made a choice he feltwas best for him and his family.''Lewis appreciated the way Palmer pressed his case for a tradebehind the scenes, avoiding media interviews and publicposturing.''I think Carson has handled this like the man he DeSean Jackson Authentic Jersey is,'' Lewissaid, ''and that's been great.''

Dudley's starting quarterback was slammed to theturf and required help getting off the field after injuring hisnon-throwing shoulder.The game took another bleak turn for the Panthers when backup QB Adrian Sladetossed a pick-six on his first pass, allowing Western Guilford toclose within a single score in the fourth quarter.But the senior rebounded minutes later, connecting with BrandonReynolds on a long touchdown pass that proved the winning points inDudley's 20-13 Metro 4-A Conference victory against the Hornets onFriday night at Western.It marked the second straight week Slade threw for agame-winning score. The victory was Dudley's fourth consecutive,evened Ray Lewis Jersey Authentic its record at .500 and secured an automatic playoff berth,ensuring the Panthers finish no worse than thirdin the conference.But Dudley (4-4, 4-0), once reeling after losing its first fourgames, all versus non-conference foes, is looking for even more.The Panthers host undefeated Page onFriday in a game that could decide the Metro 4-A Conference title,depending on what Southeast Guilford does."It makes me feel proud of my team. At first we weren't workingas a team, but now we finally got it down pat," Reynolds said,before turning his attention to the Pirates. "If everybody comesout and works hard and do their job like we've been doing, weshould win ."Anthony Lamb caught a touchdown, an interception and blocked afield goal to lead Dudley.Demetrius McCorkle rushed for 89 yards and a score on 14 carriesand Keenon Sharpe toted the ball 13 times for 56 Authentic Ed Reed Jersey yards.Western (3-6, 3-2) had its chances, Authentic Ray Lewis Jersey but scored zero points onthree first-half trips into the Dudley red zone. An 11-play drivethat melted 6 minutes off the clock stalled when the Hornets turnedthe ball over on downs at the Dudley 20.Tray Miller, who returned his second interception of the game 78yards for a score early in the wholesale jerseys from china fourth quarter, had previously setup Western with a golden opportunity when he returned pick to the Panthers 26 midway through thesecond quarter. The Hornets made it to the 5 before Lamb blocked afield goal attempt."It was tough. We had so many opportunities to score," Westernoffensive lineman Brock Stadnik said.Thompson finished 12 of 34 for 127 yards a TD and twointerceptions."We knew coming in we had a real tough non-conference schedule,"Dudley coach Steven Davis said. "Now I didn't think we were goingto go 0-4 out of it, but we knew we were playing some qualityteams. We were hoping that would prepare us for our conference andon into the playoffs. And so Charles Woodson Jersey Authentic far it's working out."Contact Jason Wolf at 373-7034 or jason.wolf@news-record.comD - Demetrius McCorkle 39 run (run failed)D - Anthony Lamb 18 pass from Richard Hayes (Keenon Sharpekick)WG - Tray Miller 78 interception return (Matt Siegmund kick)D - Brandon Reynolds 46 pass from Adrian Slade (Sharpe kick)WG Ray Rice Authentic Jersey - Dorion Anderson 14 pass from Josh Thompson (kickedfailed)

Miami Dolphins' all-time leader in receiving yardage, No.2 in receptions and No. 3 in receiving touchdowns, Mark Duper knowsabout playing the position. So when some of Leonard Hankerson'suncles learned that their employer was a close friend of Duper's,they asked if the three-time Pro Bowler would tutor the youngwideout, a rising junior at Miami."When I first started working with him, the talent, mentalityand the ability to play football was Authentic Joe Flacco Jersey there," Duper said recently."But an athlete needs guidance. He needed to learn how to Charles Woodson Authentic Jersey practiceproperly. He needed to learn how to position his hands. He learnedhow to develop himself as a ballplayer."Hankerson, the Redskins' third-round draft pick inApril, was underwhelming during his first two years with theHurricanes. But after working hard with Duper and youth coach JackDoucett - his uncles' employer - Hankerson departed among Miami'stop five receivers Ed Reed Authentic Jersey in career yardage, receptions andtouchdowns.Entering Friday's preseason opener against visiting Pittsburgh,Hankerson yearns to prove he belongs among names such as AndreJohnson, Reggie Wayne, Michael Irvin and now-teammate SantanaMoss.Eight receivers were drafted ahead of Hankerson. The Redskins selected two more afterhim, Niles Paul and Aldrick Robinson. Then came the addition of twoveterans, Jabar Gaffney and Donte Stallworth. And just to be safe,the team also signed undrafted wideout Issac Anderson."That's part of the NFL," said Hankerson, who has dazzled attimes during training camp. "Everyone wants to win and everyone'sgoing to do what it takes. As soon as you sign, they go out and tryto find someone better."Hankerson's determination to improve was a driving factor afterhe totaled Authentic Charles Woodson Jersey 17 catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns - anddeveloped a reputation for untimely drops - entering his juniorseason. Duper and Doucett put him through concentration drills andworkouts that were posted to YouTube. Whenever Duper couldn't makeit, Hankerson insisted on continuing the program with Doucett. Abreakout junior year convinced Hankerson to bypass the draft andredouble his effort."We had a goal of catching 10,000 balls over the summer beforehis senior year, and he did it," said Doucett, a lifelong Redskins fan who Ray Rice Jersey Authentic hosted Hankerson'sdraft party and adorned him in the Redskins' cap and Joe Theismannjersey that appeared in photos."We worked even harder, sometimes twice a week," Doucett said."The Miami coaches invited me in to work out with him as much as wewanted. We set goals of 60 catches, 1,100 yards and ninetouchdowns, and he surpassed them."To be precise, Hankerson capped his college career with 72receptions, 1,156 yards and a single-season record 13 TDs. Hefinally was maximizing the athleticism and Joe Flacco Authentic Jersey potential displayed atFort Lauderdale's St. Thomas Aquinas High, where another notedwideout - Cris Carter - was his position coach."When I first got to college, I Ed Reed Jersey Authentic thought it was going to be a loteasier than it was," said Hankerson, explaining his slow start. "Itwas tough going Ray Lewis Authentic Jersey up and competing against everyone. I wasn't reallystaying after practice for extra work. I Authentic Ray Rice Jersey had the ability, but I hadto catch a lot of extra balls."Hankerson typically stays on the field with others afterpractice to work with Redskins receivers coach KeenanMcCardell. He used to hang around after the Redskins' voluntary trainingsessions during the lockout. Duper said Hankerson's work ethic isthe receiver's most-impressive trait, adding that there's nothingwrong with his rather large mitts."He has the opportunity to lock onto a football if his hands arepositioned properly," Duper said. "He was taught all those thingsin our two years and did a great job. Leonard doesn't have badhands; his hands are great."Nonetheless, several balls that Hankerson should've caught havehit the ground in practice. The perception that he's unreliable, inaddition to his lack of blazing speed, helped him fall to the ninthreceiver drafted. But McCardell said Hankerson's physicalattributes - 6-foot-2 and 205 Joe Flacco Jersey Authentic pounds with long arms - will help himoverpower cornerbacks and overcome perceived weaknesses."He's a big target and has a big catch radius," McCardell said."Sometimes balls maybe are not on target, but with his big catchradius he's on target."As far as Duper is concerned, there's no question where hisformer pupil is headed: "I think Leonard Hankerson was a steal inthe third round," Duper said. "I think he's going to be a star inthe NFL and do great things in the NFL."If not, the reason won't be lack of effort.