NFL analyst Jon Gruden said last week that John Beck should be Washington's starting quarterback, with Rex Grossman serving as the team's backup. "I'm glad I'm not playing for Jon Gruden," Grossman said on Monday. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has yet to name a victor in the quarterback battle, so both Beck and Grossman feel the job is still up for grabs. "Every week is an opportunity to separate yourself. This week's no different," Grossman said. "I'm excited about playing. We'll see what happens."

We still don't know who will start at quarterback for the Redskins in Week 1, but it appears certain that Tim Hightower will be Washington's starting running back. "He's done a good job," coach Mike Shanahan said. "I'm not going to say he's our starter, but if you were betting in Vegas you'd probably bet in that direction." Hightower is averaging 6.8 yards per carry over three preseason games. "I felt like I belonged since my first day here," Hightower said. "This team has a good offensive line, and we've made a commitment to running the ball. In some ways I feel like it was meant to be."

Engaged in a battle for Washington's starting quarterback role, Rex Grossman and John Beck each threw a touchdown pass in Thursday night's loss to Baltimore. "I feel very good about both quarterbacks. We can win with (either one)," coach Mike Shanahan said. "They played well enough today for people to see that, even outside our organization." Neither outplayed the other, leaving the team's quarterback situation unsettled. "I'm going to evaluate them all the way through camp, all the way through the last preseason game," Shanahan said. "Possibly all the way up to the day before we play the Giants. It all depends if somebody separates themself."

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan won't name the team's starting quarterback until "right before" the Sept. 11 opener against the Giants. Rex Grossman and John Beck are battling for the job. Shanahan isn't going to let the world know because he wants to keep the Giants guessing. "Probably have the team get ready for both quarterbacks," he said.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has praised quarterback John Beck. However, it remains to be seen whether Beck or Chad Henne will start for Miami against Baltimore on Thursday. "I haven't made that decision," Shanahan said. "We'll see what happens during the week with our football team and obviously share with the players first." Shanahan said he was pleased with the decision-making of Beck, whom the Colts sacked three times Friday in Washington's second preseason game. "Good quarterback play is taking a sack when you have to take a sack, trying to make something happen when you're able to make something happen," Shanahan said. "And I thought John made some good decisions."

The Redskins very nearly acquired running back Jamaal Charles from the Chiefs before he exploded onto the scene. Charles was fourth on the depth chart when Todd Haley took over in Kansas City in 2009, so Washington called offering a fourth-round pick. According to Redskins executive Vinny Cerrato, the Chiefs countered by asking for third-round pick. The Redskins said no and talks fizzled.

Albert Haynesworth's lawyer has repeatedly offered money to a waitress so she would help convince the government to drop her sexual abuse case against the defensive lineman, prosecutors said Thursday. Haynesworth is accused of sliding his credit card into the waitress' bra and touching her breast at the W Hotel where he was having drinks with friends in February. Prosecutors wrote in a court document filed Thursday that on "numerous occasions" after the allegations, Haynesworth's lawyer approached the waitress' attorney and offered money. Haynesworth's attorney, A. Scott Bolden, denies the money offer. "Just not true," he said in a telephone interview Thursday.

The Redskins have decided to start quarterback John Beck in their second preseason game against the Colts. Beck is battling Rex Grossman for the starting job. Grossman started last week against Pittsburgh and completed 19 of 26 passes for 207 yards and one touchdown in the first half. "I'm just excited to play," Beck said. "It would've been good to get out and have that good week of practice leading up to the game and play in the game, but I wasn't able to. So, for me, this is my first opportunity to go out and play in the game, and that's what I'm looking for."

The Redskins cut Shayne Graham on Sunday, leaving incumbent Graham Gano as lone remaining kicker at training camp. Graham is the third most accurate kicker in NFL history, but he shanked a 29-yard field goal attempt and also missed a 49-yarder in Friday's win over Pittsburgh.

The Redskins will be without tight end Chris Cooley for at least a couple of weeks, according to coach Mike Shanahan. "Keep our fingers crossed that he'll be back. When it will be, I can't tell you for sure," Shanahan said. Cooley has missed some practices because of a sore left knee. He had arthroscopic surgery on the knee following last season but has experienced swelling and irritation that has kept him off the field.