Washington Redskins team owner Daniel Snyder with head coach Jay Gruden. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)
RICHMOND, Va. - The Redskins' 2016 season ended January 1st. To say "quite a bit has taken place since then" is like saying "buffalo wings might be served at a Super Bowl party".
This offseason, Washington lost both coordinators, gave head coach Jay Gruden a historic contract extension - becoming the first head coach to be extended under team owner Dan Snyder, fired general manager Scot McCloughan, and may or may not have engaged in trade talks about Kirk Cousins before failing to sign the record-setting quarterback to a long-term contract extension.
Wednesday, Gruden officially ended the offseason by meeting with reporters at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond. The press conference took place following the team's on-field conditioning session (closed to media and the public). The 'Skins start practice Thursday.
“I have every reason to be excited and fired up," Gruden said when asked about the 2017 season - specifically the offense. "There’s no reason why we can’t be equally as productive or more productive. I’m expecting us to get better. That’s what we have to do. We have to be better, especially in the red zone. Adding Josh Doctson’s size and Terrelle Pryor’s size will help that. Having Jordan Reed healthy will help that also."
An hour later, it was announced Reed will start camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list as he deals with a toe issue.
Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Redskins are coming off their first back-to-back winning seasons since 1996 and '97. After winning the NFC East division in 2015, Washington missed the playoffs in 2016 after going 8-7-and-1.
"The character of this football team is the strongest it’s ever been, I believe," Gruden added. "They get along great in the locker room, they work extremely hard on the practice field and hopefully that continues throughout the long process of training camp and preseason.”
News 3, Hampton Roads' home of the Redskins, will be in Richmond every day of training camp.
