Every Player on the Roster has an Appointment
By "Gary Gray"

Pre-Season 2137 (Washington, DC) - August 12th, 2137 at 8:15 AM - that's what the slip of paper says. It's an interview with GM Ben Breeden and Head Coach Tommy Shepherd. Whose interview? Chuck Fuller.

At 8:45? James White.

9:15? Dana Daniels.

The Redskins have handed every player on their roster a sheet of paper. Instead of the usual two-a-days in the blistering Nova heat, each member of the Redskins' rapidly thinning squad has an appointment. The coaches already know what the guys can do on the field, and it's now time to assess the mentality of the team. Who has the mental toughness to make this squad, and who will wither under the blinding Sundby lights at the famous Tom Edwards Stadium?

'We looked around the league at the players that teams are shedding. It's astounding, the amount of talent that's going to be in the waiver pool this year,' explained Breeden after the team ended the day's practice and allowed players to go back to the hotel following an intense full-pads intra-squad scrimmage. 'So we're going to get to know these guys, find out what's in their heart. I want to know that every one of my men has the drive and the determination to be winners - to be champions. This is going to be a long-haul. I'm talking twenty straight years of playoffs, and it's going to take a 53-deep roster to reach that goal. Some of these guys won't make the cut. They'll be replaced with players who were mistakenly cast aside by other teams in the league. There's too much talent out in that pool to hang on to some of the guys we have now. I don't want to part ways with them - none of this is easy - they're all quality players who belong on someone's roster. But we have to be the best team we can be. And so some decisions will be made.'

The first victim was named at lunchtime on the 14th. Chuck's interview didn't go too well, and he's no longer with the team. Sheppard made the announcement, 'Mr. Fuller was frustrated that we had been shopping him on the trade block this offseason. He wasn't 100% with the team, copped a little attitude. So he's gone. Someone else can have him, and we've already contacted the agent of his potential replacement. So long, Chuck.'

It's time to get down to business in Washington, no more Mr. Nice GM. If you're not a champion, you're not on this roster.