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Sept. 25, 2005

AUBURN, Ala. - With the NFL's Washington Redskins on a bye week, three former Auburn football players took the opportunity to make the trek back to the Plains.

Rookies Jason Campbell and Carlos Rogers and sixth-year veteran Marcus Washington headed back to Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday as the Tigers took on Western Kentucky in the 82nd Homecoming Game. The trio spent the afternoon visiting with former teammates, coaches and Tiger fans while watching Auburn defeat the Hilltoppers, 37-14.

"It really feels good to be back," Campbell said. "We've gotten a real warm welcome. It feels good to come back, see a game and get back into the atmosphere."

Both Rogers and Campbell laughed when asked what it felt like to be on the other side of the game. It's the first time in five years that Campbell and Rogers weren't spending time thinking about how to defeat the opposition while at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Instead they had the opportunity to see what happens behind the scenes. They were able to watch Tiger fly before the game, saw what goes on the Friday before the game and had the chance to watch Tiger Walk from a different perspective.

"It's a little different," Rogers said. "But I love the position that I'm at. I worked hard at Auburn to get where I am now. It's a little different watching everyone else play when you're not (on the field)."

Campbell and Rogers both said the biggest adjustment to playing in the NFL has been treating it like a regular job. They participate in meetings instead of classes and focus solely on football.

"It's been going well," Campbell said. "The biggest adjustment is trying to go 8-to-5 every day. It's like a real job. It's not like where you go to school and then you go to practice. You're they're all day."

For Rogers, and much like Campbell, there's been no real surprises for him in making the transition to the NFL. His goal is to help the Redskins win games while adjusting to the style and speed of play on the field.

He knows that if he doesn't try and improve each week, he won't be in the game long.

"It's been great. It's been more mental things," Rogers said. "We're in the meeting room all day. It's something that Jason and I are adjusting to real well. We're just looking forward to getting better.

"You may be a great athlete, but if you don't get in that film room and study, you're just going to be a guy on the street. I think that's more of a challenge for anybody coming into the league."

Being drafted to the same team was a definite bonus for Campbell and Rogers. They have been able to learn while having a familiar face around.

"It feels good," Campbell said. "There's competition. He's on defense, so you try to throw the ball against him. I'm still completing passes on him.

"It's nice to have someone you know. Then we've got Marcus and (former Auburn tight end) Robert Johnson. You try to help each other out."

For Washington, the trip back to Jordan-Hare is one he tries to make every season during his team's bye week. During the offseason, Washington, an Auburn native, comes back often and says he "pretty much lives here."

"It's always good to come back to Auburn and watch a game," he said. "The fans always welcome you home. To be amongst friends and family is really special."

From 2000-03, his bye week visit came as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, where he had three seasons of 65 or more tackles. In 2001, his second year in the NFL, Washington finished with eight sacks and forced two fumbles.

Prior to the 2004 season, he signed on with the Redskins. Last season, he finished with a career-high 107 tackles and 4 ½ sacks.

Washington now has the opportunity to play mentor to Campbell and Rogers. He remembers what it's like to be a rookie in the NFL. First, there's the attention. Then the relative freedom and the pressure of playing professional football.

"You're kind of young and you don't know what to expect," Washington said. "It's really exciting. You just really have to concentrate on focusing on the positives and get away from the negative things."

He's enjoyed helping steer Campbell and Rogers in the right direction. Like the other two - Rogers was the ninth overall selection in the 2005 NFL Draft and Campbell the 25th - Washington was a high round selection. He was selected in the second round (59th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft.

"It's like a little Auburn connection," Washington said. "When I first got up there, there were two Alabama guys on the team so it was like I was by myself. It's good to have more guys that represent Auburn."

The Redskins are 2-0 so far this season, having defeated Chicago, 9-7, in week one, then Dallas, 14-13, in a Monday Night Football Game that saw Washington score all of its points in the last four minutes of the game.

Marcus Washington leads the team with 18 tackles, with one for a loss. Campbell and Rogers have bided their time on the sideline, with Rogers seeing action in both games but failing to make his mark statistically.

All three speak of Washington's win over Dallas as a potential high point early in the year. Their goal: Get the Redskins into the playoffs.

"That was real nice," Rogers said. "That's all they talk about, the Redskins against the Cowboys. A real big win, that's a real confidence builder for the team."

"It's big. Hopefully we'll continue to roll and see if we can make the playoffs," Washington said.

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