Sept. 16 was a typical afternoon at Redskins Park for Potomac native Marcus Mason, for better or worse.
During the first hour of the team's practice session, he took handoffs with fellow running backs Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts, albeit fewer. Earlier, he was a bystander during special teams drills, though that is where he saw his best opportunity to make an immediate impact in the NFL.
Then Sunday happened.
Mason was not only activated for Washington's week two matchup with the St. Louis Rams; on the Redskins' third offensive possession, he entered a regular season game for the first time. Then came the icing on the cake. Three carries.
They went but a modest 5 yards, yet make no mistake: This was the preeminent moment in Mason's roller-coaster football career.
"I'm happy to take it one step at a time," said Mason, 25. "Over the summer, I was asked what was my goal for the season, and I said ‘To make the 53.' Last week, it was to stay on the team. … I'm just going to go out and play football, and whatever happens, happens."
Like any good running back, Mason is staying patient. It was all too easy for him at Georgetown Prep; he finished as the state's all-time leading rusher (5,620 yards) and scorer (86 touchdowns). From 1999-2002, he was Gazette Player of the Year twice, a first-teamer once and honorable mention as a freshman.
He was simply a man among boys from the moment he stepped on campus.
"I remember his freshman year, our first scrimmage against Springbrook," said Little Hoyas head coach Dan Paro. "He was obviously a little bit smaller back then, but we ran a quick screen to him and off he went. The rest is history."
But that history has tested Mason's resolve. He saw less-than-desirable playing time in two years at the University of Illinois, and off-the-field issues "on my part made me start to realize maybe this isn't where I'm supposed to be." Despite setting multiple school records and earning All-American honors after transferring to Division I-AA Youngstown State (Ohio), his name went uncalled in the 2007 NFL Draft.
So how is he wearing the Burgundy and Gold two-and-a-half years later? The answer is almost too obvious.
"Listen, Marcus has shown us that he can run the ball," said Redskins running backs coach Stump Mitchell. "He's shown in high school he can run the ball, he's shown in college he can run the ball. Hell, he has excellent change of direction, so all he has to do is give a play a chance. We feel very comfortable putting him in the game. If a problem arises, we won't have hesitation to put him in, and we expect big things from him."
Since impressing former head coach Joe Gibbs enough to earn a free-agent contract, he has thrived. In his rookie season, he scored the game-winning touchdown in a preseason victory over the Titans, eventually surviving final cuts before being moved to the practice squad.
Back with the Redskins in 2008, he led the league in preseason rushing yards before being released Aug. 30. He was signed by the Ravens a day later and would later join the New York Jets' active roster before being waived April 27.
Here's the catch: Portis and Betts have combined for over 8,500 yards on the ground since becoming a 1-2 punch five years ago. Just as significantly, according to Redskins news Web site www.thehogs.net, Portis counts almost $6.2 million against this year's salary cap, while Betts eats up $2.3 million.
Barring injuries, they will share most of the carries this season.
So if Mason wants to earn consistent playing time, he'll have to impress in other areas. His position coach is a relatable mentor; Mitchell was a ninth-round draft choice by the St. Louis Cardinals and starred for years on special teams before getting his chance in the backfield. Finally earning a starting role in his fifth season, he ran for over 1,000 yards and led the team in scoring.
"He still needs to improve on making tackles on special teams; that's how you make it in this league," Mitchell said. "We [kept him] this year because I think he had an opportunity to go to Baltimore and then New York, and he has a better understanding of the game. But just being on the team is not good enough. You have to make something happen."
Not that Mason doesn't already know that.
"If you're not making a tackle on special teams, you're not getting better," Mason said. "But each year, it's something different. I wanted to get better in pass blocking. Special teams, personal protector for kickoffs and punts, returns, I'll go out there and do whatever coach [Danny] Smith asks me to do."
So how does Mason fit into the Redskins plans, present and future? Actually, amid all the waiting and uncertainty of the past few years are several encouraging signs.
First, the fact that the Redskins kept him — and are now using him — is telling. Last fall, the Redskins kept only four active backs (Portis, Betts, Rock Cartwright and fullback Mike Sellers). This year, the coaching staff decided to add Mason despite a lack of depth at positions such as quarterback, where Washington is keeping only starter Jason Campbell and backup Todd Collins.
As Mason put it: "They see something in me to keep me around."
Second, Mason is currently the youngest running back on the team. By season's end, only he and Portis will be under 30, and the latter already has eight years of NFL wear and tear on his legs.
Finally, should emergency force him into prolonged action, there is precedent for undrafted running backs seizing opportunities. Pittsburgh's Willie Parker and Green Bay's Ryan Grant capitalized on opportunities when veteran backs were sidelined, and both remain starters.
Don't bother bringing that up to Marcus Mason, even though he has now, officially, made it.
"I'm not thinking about the future," he said. "Right now, I just want to do enough to make them say ‘We need to keep him on this team.'"
