When the Washington Redskins drafted Miami All-America safety Sean Taylor, the team expected him to become the next Ronnie Lott. But nearly a week into training camp, Taylor can't get past Andre Lott.
Andre Lott, a third-year pro, will probably start at free safety when the Redskins open their preseason schedule against the Denver Broncos in Monday night's Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Lott, 5 feet 10 and 195 pounds, has played in 27 games the past two seasons but has never started.
Lott insists he isn't keeping the starting job warm until Taylor is ready. Lott said he plans on keeping it, regardless of Taylor's six-year, $40-million contract.
"It's competition," Lott said of Taylor, who was the fifth pick overall in April's NFL draft. "Nobody backs down from it. That's why we're all in the NFL. There aren't any bad players in the NFL."
Lott, 25, hasn't done much on the field since the Redskins drafted him in the fifth round in 2002. He had 10 tackles last season and was eighth on the team in special-teams tackles.
"I think I'm in better shape," Lott said. "I think I'm smarter. Each year, you gain a lot more knowledge."
Gregg Williams, the team's ssistant head coach for defense, said he has been impressed with Lott so far.
"He's playing really well," Williams said. "The thing I like about Andre is that he has corner movement skills, and now I want him to show safety toughness. I kid him all the time that maybe he wasn't tough enough to play last year. We've got him on the first team. That's what we think of him right now."
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