Gibbs returns to field to cheers

Former Michigan tight end Bennie Joppru reinjured his groin for Texans.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
When Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs arrived at his first training camp in 12 years Saturday, his players were waiting for him -- and so were a few thousand fans.
They applauded the return of the Hall of Fame coach that led the Redskins to three Super Bowl titles.
"I didn't expect this many fans," said quarterback Mark Brunell, who never saw such hoopla in nine years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. "I knew there was going to be a lot of people here, but it's unbelievable."
Gibbs concentrated mostly on the offense but also paid close attention to special teams drills -- a significant change from the departed Steve Spurrier, who always stayed close to the quarterbacks.
Asked to compare his emotions to his first Redskins training camp in 1981, the 63-year-old Gibbs joked: "I'm too old to remember '81."
"I think it's a lot of the same things, a lot of the same emotions," he added. "Nervous, apprehensive."
Gibbs was involved in every offensive snap and even played free safety. He faked a blitz once or twice as he and his mostly gray-haired coaching staff lined up to give the offense different looks on pass plays.
"If they can't read us, then they're really in trouble," Gibbs said. "I don't think we're moving at the same speed."
The session was the most physical Redskins practice since the early days of Norv Turner in the mid-1990s, with live tackling on some inside running plays.
"We're never really taking breaks," tackle Chris Samuels said. "We're always working. Last year and previous years, we would go hard and take some periods off where we're talking through some stuff. But we're on the field, we work hard, we get off the field."
Gibbs kept the quarterback competition as level as possible. Brunell took the first set of reps, but he and Patrick Ramsey took an equal number of snaps. Gibbs said he won't decide on a quarterback until the final exhibition game.
Gibbs gave the first session a mediocre grade. There were too many botched snaps and poorly run pass routes to make him happy.
"A good attitude -- very rough," Gibbs said.
Texans
Houston Texans tight end Bennie Joppru has injured his groin for the second consecutive summer, forcing the team to place him on the physically unable to perform list along with two others.
Joppru, a second-round pick out of Michigan last year, underwent season-ending surgery last August to repair his first injury. He practiced at full speed this spring but re-injured the groin again preparing for training camp.
Joining Joppru on the list were two expected names, safety Ramon Walker and quarterback B.J. Symons. Both are recovering from knee surgery.
Buccaneers
Offensive tackle Kenyatta Walker did not report for the start of camp because of a stomach virus but is expected to join the team Monday.
Defensive end Simeon Rice sat out practice Saturday because of an illness, and safety Dwight Smith was excused from the first three days of camp for personal reasons.
Receiver Joe Jurevicius is recovering from a knee injury and has a lower back strain is on the active non football-related injury list but may try to practice Monday.
Broncos
Tatum Bell ended his three-day holdout and was promptly met with boos by his teammates when he ran out to lead stretches.
The rookie running back knew it was mostly in jest, but he also understands there was some truth behind it. He's got some catching up to do.
"It killed me every day just seeing the news and reading newspapers," Bell said. "While my teammates were grinding it out, I'm still home in the bed."
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