Redskins' Landry finally shows _ at vacation time

Jun 11, 2009 - 11:11 PM By JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports Writer

ASHBURN, Va.(AP) -- Washington free safety LaRon Landry made a cameo appearance at practice Thursday - taking part in the last one before the Redskins broke for vacation.

He has been absent and out of touch for much of the spring, making his appearance akin to the guy coming over to help paint the house - only to show up just as you're putting the brushes away.

"Better late than never," quarterback Jason Campbell said.

Nothing seemed routine about Landry's arrival. He sported a new piercing just below his lip and what appeared to be a tiny red-heart tattoo just below his diamond stud earring. He flashed a cryptic smile when asked what he'd been doing to stay in shape. He said "Not at all" when asked if his teammates had given him grief, when in fact they had.

"We were messing with him a little bit," Campbell said, "calling him 'Fresh Legs."'

"It was like, 'Glad to see you the day before everybody goes home, that type of deal," receiver Malcolm Kelly said. "But he just laughed it off."

Coach Jim Zorn said he was surprised when Landry suddenly appeared in the office Wednesday. The two met for 15 to 20 minutes to clear the air, with Landry having to explain why he had not been returning the coach's calls.

"I said, 'What phone number do I have, and what phone number do you REALLY have?"' Zorn said. "So we kind of synchronized our phones."

Spring practice sessions are voluntary, but only a few players are absent from any given session. Coaches use them for teaching the play book and to help develop timing among the skill positions. Thursday was the last practice for the Redskins before the team reconvenes for training camp on July 29.

"I just wanted to come back and finish off with a good note, get back with my teammates," Landry said.

Landry and Zorn differed on why Landry had been absent. Zorn said it was because Landry simply preferred to work out on his own, while Landry said he was "at home dealing with a couple of personal issues." He did not elaborate.

Whatever he's been doing, he's hasn't been slacking off. All agreed that Landry looked in great shape on the field.

"I've got a couple of things to catch up with in the play book," Landry said, "but as far as my physical ability, my endurance, it's all there."

Landry aside, preparation for the season is well ahead of last year's pace, when Zorn was a rookie coach trying to install a new routine, new offense and new attitude. He even called off Tuesday's practice to take the team bowling for a team-bonding experience.

"We threw a lot of things at our players that we couldn't throw in last year because we were just learning," Zorn said. "So when they come back for camp, they'll already have a feel for the terminology and the vocabulary and some of those little things we're trying to get them to do. ... If I put in 10 plays last year, I've already put in 20-plus this year. It's been that type of leap for all of us."

NOTE: The Redskins signed the first of their draft picks Thursday, reaching deals with LB Cody Glenn (fifth round) and FB Eddie Williams (seventh).