The interview ended and Chris Cooley

"You try to get him to be all disciplined back there with his footwork and all that, that's not the strength of his game. It never really has been. The pretty passes, hit your fifth step, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, hit your fifth step, ball out, ball on the finger tips, that's not really what he does best. But he is a very good creator, he extends plays well, he doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Those are also some of the weaknesses, too: Hold the ball too long, not throwing on timing, all that kind of stuff.

"But I think Mike, he's seen enough of him through this offseason, through the tape, to know that he's not a great rhythm and timing passer, that he does have some mechanical issues when it comes to accuracy.

"The best thing Andy Reid did, he always used the analogy of Larry Bird. If Larry Bird got off to a bad shooting night, Boston didn't take the ball out of his hands. He'd keep shooting and hopefully shoot his way out of a slump. For most Sundays, if Donovan started off bad and went through a bad stretch, it didn't really stay all game. He'd get himself out of it, and Andy understood that. I think Mike knows he can be really streaky hot like that. And if he is, you ride him. If he isn't and he gets off to one of those starts where the ball is all over the place, that's where I think the two tight ends, bootleg, dink and dunk, those kind of things might really help him get out of it."

I think Donovan could have a great year. I just don't know if they have enough at the wideout position to really scare anybody right now. I think that's where they're limited. ...You just don't know if they have enough
guys to really scare anybody down the field. Now maybe Malcolm Kelly will turn into something. I haven't seen anything from him. Maybe Devin Thomas will really come on. I don't know what they have out there right now. I know what Santana [Moss] is and there's a place for Santana. But you're asking Donovan to throw a pin-point pass 30 yards downfield to Santana Moss, that's going to be hard to do."

The interview ended and Chris Cooley did, well, what Chris Cooley does. Which means something a little different. This time it involved shaving off the stubble on his face as part of a promotion, surrounded by cameras. Another time in camp he helped a fan with a marriage proposal.

But the Cooley that Washington needs him to be is the one he was on the field for his first six seasons. That's before a broken ankle ended his season after seven games in 2009. And while Fred Davis emerged in his absence, it must be noted that Cooley made the Pro Bowl in 2007 and '08. And in a dreadful season he was on pace for more than 64 catches when he was hurt.

It was very hard for me to sit out and watch last year," Cooley said. "I can't wait to get out and start playing."

Nor can the Redskins wait to see him this season. With major questions at receiver, aside from Santana Moss, Washington needs receiving threats. Cooley and Davis can offset some of the problems because they're both dangerous. And Washington plans to incorporate both into the game plan. Just remember: Mike Shanahan's credo is to maximize strengths and minimize weaknesses.

Davis and Cooley can be in the game at the same time serving as blockers in the run game -- both have improved in this area. Davis and Cooley could be the best tight end tandem in the NFL; both could catch more than 50 passes.

"Both of us have proven that we can catch the ball," Cooley said. "It makes us very versatile ... . Defenses will have to guess."

And offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said, "They're all interchangeable. It's 'What's the best matchups?'"

Usually that best matchup at tight end will involve Cooley. And Cooley knows what Mike Shanahan can do with a tight end, having watched Shannon Sharpe as a young Denver fan. He doesn't remember specifics; he does remember watching the Broncos win.

"To sit down and talk to Mike Shanahan for the first time was kind of cool," he said. '"I was in awe a little bit."