Receiver Santana Moss made an impassioned plea Monday for Rex Grossman to remain the Washington Redskins’ starting quarterback. Moss didn’t get his way — coach Mike Shanahan decided that John Beck will start Sunday against Carolina — but that doesn’t mean he backed off his belief.
“Ya’ll asked me a question, I stated my opinion,” Moss said Wednesday. “I feel like everybody have an opinion, whether they get heard or not.”
Moss ultimately deferred to Shanahan’s judgment.
“Whatever decision he makes, it’s going to be the right decision for the team,” Moss said.
Beck, meanwhile, did not interpret Moss’ words as an attack on his ability.
“I do like the loyalty,” Beck said. “If I was the starting quarterback, I would want my teammates to feel that very same way about me.
“That’s what makes those guys good players is because of that loyalty. And if you want to be a championship football team, you have to have players that are loyal to the people on the field.
“So by no means will I ever get offended by anything like that. You just want to go out as a quarterback that steps into an opportunity, you just want to earn their respect by playing well. That’s my No. 1 goal.”
Surgery for Cooley
Tight end Chris Cooley had surgery on his broken left index finger Wednesday. He is scheduled to meet with orthopedist Dr. James Andrews after Sunday’s game about his ailing left knee. After that meeting and after the team reviews the details of Cooley’s hand surgery, a timetable for his return will be established, Shanahan said.
Meanwhile, second-year tight end Logan Paulsen is eager to showcase his progress in game situations.
“Having a whole year in the offense is incredible,” he said. “I don’t even recognize myself on film from last year. I think I’m a new player, a better player. Hopefully I’ll be able to carry that over to the field.”
Extra points
• Free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (knee) and left tackle Trent Williams (right ankle) did not practice. Williams is expected to miss Sunday’s game against Carolina.
• Cornerback Byron Westbrook (hamstring) was limited. Receiver Anthony Armstrong (hamstring), running back Tim Hightower (left shoulder) fully participated in practice.
• Hightower was introduced with the starting lineup Sunday despite not being scheduled to play. That was Shanahan’s decision. He wanted to reward Hightower’s performance through four games., and “I didn’t want to let them know who was going to start.”
• Rich Campbell can be reached at rcampbell@washingtontimes.com.
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