Upshaw: From Oakland to Washington, with attitude

By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) Regan Upshaw had no problem summarizing his acrimonious departure from the Oakland Raiders.

``It was a situation where they were happy to get rid of me, and I was happy to be gone,'' he said. ``I'm sure they were happy to get my attitude out of there.''

Upshaw's happiness now rests with the Washington Redskins, where the straight-shooting, tough-looking defensive end will split time in an odd-couple tandem with 40-year-old sack-master Bruce Smith.

Think of Smith as the wily veteran who gives politically correct answers and conserves his energy until it's needed, while Upshaw is the blunt, nonstop cutup who celebrated his 28th birthday Tuesday.

``He's about as high-energy of a guy as I've ever been around,'' defensive line coach Robert Nunn said. ``We can't do walkthroughs because he's going full speed. He's a lot of fun, always cutting up, joking, but he's always knowing where he's supposed to be.

``He's a good-spirited troublemaker. He is ornery, but he's not a problem to deal with at all.''

There was a problem, though, with the Raiders, who released Upshaw in February to save money under the salary cap. Upshaw felt Oakland rushed him back onto the field last season after a serious knee injury.

Upshaw was activated in November, worked his way back into the rotation and started in the Super Bowl, making two tackles. But he was nowhere near the same player who had 13 sacks over the previous two seasons.

``You feel like a dog out there,'' Upshaw said. ``That's when your attitude turns from sugar to something else, when you've got your livelihood on the line and you don't feel good out there. You're getting beat by guys you know can beat. Your body's not in good shape, then you get upset.''

Upshaw's knee took such a pounding over those final games that he needed another operation in the offseason, but that didn't stop the Redskins from signing him to a five-year, $7.5 million contract, including a $2 million signing bonus. Upshaw was seen as the eventual replacement for Smith, who is expected to retire at the end of the season as the NFL's all-time sack leader.

For now, Upshaw and Smith will spell each other, a necessary plan given the states of their bodies. Smith also had knee surgery in the offseason, so both have been taking days off during training camp. Upshaw missed three consecutive practices last week to have his knee drained, and neither he nor Smith made the trip to Carolina on Saturday for the 20-0 loss to the Panthers.

Upshaw's aggressive nature also downshifts when it comes showing deference to Smith. Smith has said he would like to be on the field for about 60 percent of the plays this season, and it's hard to argue with an all-time great.

``Bruce is the one of the best players to play the game. I'm just happy to be here,'' Upshaw said. ``I really don't care whether I'm starting and playing the whole game or playing backup and I'm playing half the game. As long as I can get out there and play and make plays.''

Even though he left a team that has just gone to the Super Bowl, Upshaw is upbeat about returning to the big game. He said the Redskins remind him of the Raiders when he arrived in Oakland three years ago.

``We're on the cusp here,'' Upshaw said. ``If we're not in the playoffs, it would be a shame.''

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)