Chris Samuels - a volunteer coach

[ethat001]

Chris Samuels continues to learn from Redskins staff


Technically, Chris Samuels' internship with the Redskins' coaching staff expired at the end of training camp last month. But as the regular season hits Week 2, he's still been at every practice, in every meeting and has been a constant presence around Redskins Park.

Samuels was one of 96 players across the league to take part in the NFL's Minority Internship Program and one of five in training camp with the Redskins. As camp was winding down and fellow interns Terrell Davis and Steve Atwater returned to their homes, Samuels approached Coach Mike Shanahan and said he would like to stay with the team and continue working with the coaching staff.

"I talked to the coach and asked if I could stay for the season, and he welcomed me to stay," said Samuels, who retired following last season. "I thought that was huge of him to let me stick around. I try not to get in anybody's way. I'm pretty much really a fly on the wall, just picking up and learning how to coach he guys. I've learned a whole lot from Coach Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan and especially a whole lot from our offensive line coach here, Chris Foerster."

Samuels has been working with the offensive line and spending a lot of one-on-one time with rookie left tackle Trent Williams. He's not technically an assistant coach, though he's keeping the same hours and performing many of the same functions. He essentially remains with the team on a volunteer basis.

"My payment is knowledge," Samuels said. "That's what I told Coach. 'You don't have to give me anything. I just want to stick around and learn.'"

By Rick Maese | September 17, 2010; 12:59 PM ET

Redskins Insider - Chris Samuels continues to learn from Redskins staff

I'm surprised.. To go for millions of dollars a year to being a volunteer. He really loves football and is a class act. I hope we make him a coach on the O-line like he deserves.

[artmonkforhallofamein07]

I think he also really loves the Redskins.

[insideman]

This is one man that deserves to be inshrined in the hall of fame one day. They don't get no better than Chris Sammuels. He's a breed apart from alot of the others.

[Big C]

what a legend. i saw him on the sidelines a few times. hopefully he gets a paid spot on the staff next season. he should be around the team for many years to come.

[GridIron26]

It is very unfortunate that Redskins was not able to win a super bowl with him.. This probably would push him into hall of fame..

[Hog1]

These small things will reap large benefits for the team and the organization. I am confident Chris is a big reason Trent Williams toook car of business with D ware the other night.....
I love the direction this organization is going!

[SirClintonPortis]

Great display of loyalty by Chris. Players of the past gens helping out the current ones get on the right track. That was lost during the Snyder era. He deserves to be called a true Redskin.

[steveherrin]

:headbange Move over Will Arnett, I just found my new man-crush.

[Lotus]

He is a true Redskin and that is great. But I hope that he is not with us in the future. I hope he gets a real coaching job somewhere else rather than playing second fiddle to Foerster here.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by Lotus

He is a true Redskin and that is great. But I hope that he is not with us in the future. I hope he gets a real coaching job somewhere else rather than playing second fiddle to Foerster here.

I think the whole point of him being here is so he can continue to learn and grow so he can be a good coach. Aka he's probably got a good future in coaching, it looks like he wants to be here, and he's learning a lot so there's no harm in it.

Good for him. Even after he's retired he's still being a positive role model and even a mentor to guys like Trent Williams. I hope he finds plenty of success in the future.

[doughtydoubter]

bravo

[InsaneBoost]

A true Washington Redskin at heart.

[sportscurmudgeon]

Samuels is a top-shelf human being. If he wants a coaching career, he needs to learn how to be a coach. The list of great players who turned into mediocre - - or bad - - coaches is a long one. Coaching is a skill that is different from playing.

Just a guess here, but I would not be surprised to see Samuels take a position as a position coach for a "second-tier college" sometime soon to start climbing the coaching ladder.

[Alvin Walton]

Samuels is beginning to fall into my category of Art Monk and Darrell Dreen type of classy guys.

[MTK]

Why not keep him here as an assistant next year?