“It’s tough, it’s a job, really,” said Redskins rookie running back Robert Kelley. “It ain’t just going out there and playing football any more. It’s definitely like taking steps to get to 100 percent.”
Gone are the days of alternating between practices and college classes only to have extended periods away from football.
For the Redskins’ seven rookies on the active roster, turning the calendar to the month of December in recent years meant one of either two things: getting ready for a single bowl game or a jumpstart on rest and relaxation before another season.