Feature story on Colt Brennan and Chase Daniel trying to make it in the NFL

WP = Washington Post

About how Chase Daniel and he went out the night of the Heisman ceremony, Colt said:
"We ended up just having a blast the whole night." (WP)

WP Note: "Now, having shredded the record books and earned near-constant attention at their schools -- Brennan at Hawaii and Daniel at Missouri -- the two are teammates with the Redskins, fighting for reps during the organized team activities that continued yesterday."

WP Note: "In college, they combined to pass for more than 26,000 yards and 232 touchdowns, collegiate numbers that dwarf those of the Redskins' top two quarterbacks, Jason Campbell and Todd Collins. In the NFL, both have been forced to fight for a job."

About how the success Daniel and he had in college didn't mean much to the NFL, Colt said:
"We barely made it here, huh? I was such a late draft pick, he was a free agent. You'd think for two guys that had that kind of success . . . but that's just football." (WP)

WP Note: "Both were mega-celebrities in college. Brennan, who led Hawaii to a BCS bowl in 2007, said he often didn't eat his first meal until 2 p.m. because of practice, media and autograph commitments. Daniel, who led the Tigers to a No. 1 ranking the same year, said he "can't go around Missouri anywhere and not get noticed." "

About how he doesn't have the media attention that he did in college, Daniel said:
"I'm just getting to do my own thing, don't have to worry as much about media requests as I used to, and getting hounded, and expecting to go out there and throw for 500 yards every game. I don't have to worry about all the pressure; just go out there and compete." (WP)

WP Note: "Both said their draft status was hurt by factors outside their control, including their size and the supposed pinball offenses their colleges used. Brennan was battling a torn labrum in his hip before the '08 draft, and Daniel was held back by his 6-foot frame, neither of which dissuaded the Redskins."

About Colt and Daniel, Washington assistant Chris Meidt (who works with the QBs) said:
"They were two of the best quarterbacks in college football history. You're dealing with guys who know how to play the game. Colt is awesome -- everyone saw him in preseason last year, Colt can really play the game. His fundamentals aren't always where you'd like, so at least for him, we know what we have to work on. But he's getting better; if you watch him and his fundamentals, he's improving dramatically. So with him it's a defined set that we have to improve on, because we know he can play the game. Chase is really the same deal. He can play the game. It's not a question of, 'Hey man, when the bullets are flying, do they have what it takes?' We know they both do. It's a matter of can they mechanically be good enough to execute our system." (WP)

WP Note: "That question likely won't be decided until August, when Brennan and Daniel could theoretically be competing for the same roster spot. Meantime, they've continued a friendship that started the summer before that Heisman ceremony, when they played basketball together while working as counselors at an elite summer camp."

About Colt, Daniel said:
"He's a good friend and he's helped me out a lot." (WP)

About Washington signing Daniel, Colt said:
"Oh, I was stoked. I knew Chase was a good guy, and that's all that matters. I've been around football long enough to know that it's a game, it's a competition, but the best thing you can ask for is a good guy. That makes for healthy competition. That's what it's all about." (WP)

WP Note: "The Redskins are the only NFL team with two players who have been Heisman finalists over the past five years. Brennan led the nation in total offense during that '07 season, and Daniel was fifth. Both set career marks for touchdown passes at their schools."

About the similarities between Daniel and him, Colt said:
"I think we're definitely similar in that we're trying to beat these stereotypes. Because we came from successful offenses and had great numbers in college, that doesn't mean that we can't play in the league." (WP)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/03/AR2009060303380.html