BY RICH CAMPBELL
ASHBURN--
Trent Williams was so jittery on Thursday night that he couldn't sleep. Finally, at the lonely hour of 4:30 a.m. yesterday, his phone rang.His agent was on the other line with the news Williams was anticipating. They had reached an agreement with the Washington Redskins on a rookie contract.
"They wanted me up here at 6 o'clock, so I just figured there wasn't any point in teasing myself with an hour of sleep," Williams said.
Williams, the fourth overall pick and Washington's cornerstone left tackle, probably wouldn't have been able to sleep even if he wanted to. The terms of the deal--six years, $60 million with $36.75 million guaranteed, according to a source with knowledge of the situation--would perk up anybody.
"Obviously I was happy, but I try not to put too much emphasis on what I'm getting paid because I know I'm here to do a certain job and that's to protect the blind side," Williams said.
"And I know if I go out there thinking about the bucks and not doing my job, I won't be here long. So I just put it behind me. I'm going to try to save [money] and try to play my butt off."
Williams signed in time to practice with the first-string offense yesterday morning at 8:30 a.m.
"It was great to get him in," coach Mike Shanahan said. "I felt very good that he wanted to be a part of this organization. I just like the way he has handled himself since the first day."
Williams was the first player drafted in the top five to sign. He held out the first day but planned all along to get into camp quickly.
"It was nerve-racking because I really didn't want to miss the first day, but it was really vital that I didn't miss the second day," he said.
"I'm still a young guy learning the offense," Williams continued. "If I'm gonna be plugged in at a key position, I can't be out too many days. This offense is a new offense and we need chemistry. If I'm not here, it's kind of hard to build that chemistry."
Williams impressed during spring practices and minicamps. The athletic ability that prompted Shanahan to draft him has been on full display.
On one particular pass block yesterday in 11-on-11 drills, Williams spun defensive end Kedric Golston around and knocked him to his knees.
"He's just a phenomenal tackle, man," Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Orakpo said. "I've gone against him ever since he got here and I can just see the improvements. One time, I almost fell on my back because he got me in a good position. He's just getting better as the days go on."
PORTIS SHAKES OFF HIT
Running back Clinton Portis immediately got up off the ground after absorbing a helmet-to-helmet hit yesterday morning, a sign that eases concerns about how fragile his head is following the third-degree concussion that cost him seven games last season.
"It was good," Portis said. "You need that first lick, so it's out the way now."
Portis was running downfield on a pass route when the quarterback lofted a pass in front of him. Portis stretched out to catch it, but his helmet was sandwiched by those of linebackers H.B. Blades and Perry Riley. The collision sounded rough, but Portis was OK.
In general, Portis appeared to relish being back on the field and making contact. Before the helmet-to-helmet hit, he took a playful shot at Blades on the backside of a play. He also left his feet to help chip linebacker Rob Jackson on a pass rush.
GALLOWAY CATCHES ON
Veteran wide receiver Joey Galloway earned the first-string "X" (wide) receiver spot entering training camp because of how well he practiced during the offseason, Shanahan said.
That leaves third-year wideouts Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly scrambling to climb the depth chart after sitting out a good portion of the offseason with hamstring injuries.
"You can't really impress anybody if you're not practicing," Shanahan said. "They will get their chances. It's a starting point. It's surely not where we're going to finish--it could be, but there's going to be competition."
Kelly did not take part in team drills yesterday because of a left hamstring injury.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com