- The coaching staff was praising the work of undrafted rookie cornerback Chase Minnifield.

Minnifield, who intercepted a pass during Tuesday’s afternoon practice, was a topic during the press conferences of Mike Shanahan, Jim Haslett and defensive backs coach Raheem Morris at different times during the Redskins’ mini camp this week. Haslett says the team evaluated Minnifield as a third-round pick at the University of Virginia last season before injuries crippled his chances of being a high draft pick.

“I’m ecstatic he did not run as well in his 40-time to make him a free agent to be able to come to Washington,” Morris said of Minnifield. Haslett actually went as far as to say he shouldn’t have run because he wasn’t healthy. Some people feel like Minnifield’s poor showing cost him a chance to be drafted. “He’s done a nice job. I’m very happy and very pleased,” Morris added.

- Raheem Morris says he didn’t consider taking time off away from football after being fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

“[You] don’t want to do years off in coaching. Years off in coaching is bad ball. I enjoy what I do way too much, having that ability to come out here and teach younger guys and teach guys to come together as a unit.”

Morris also said that he isn’t worried about going from being the head coach to the leader of just one position group. “That’s for guys with egos. Coaching is coaching. There’s 32 people that do what I do in the world. That’s it. Only 32 of us, whether you’re a head coach, whether you’re a position coach.

- Kyle Shanahan said that Pierre Garcon was the best WR on the market this offseason.

Shanahan spoke about why the Redskins liked Garcon enough to make him their top free agent target. “As a coach, you don’t look at stats. Wide receivers can’t control whether they get the ball [or] don’t get the ball. You look at how a guy’s wired. How talented is he? Can he get off bump? Does he have the physical build to separate versus NFL corners. He’s as talented as it gets when it comes to that stuff. Does he have a good hands? Is he physical? He’s fearless. He’s everything I look for in a wide receiver.

- Jim Haslett was asked to break down the Redskins’ three new veteran safeties

On Brandon Meriweather, Haslett said: “Really athletic, really instinctive, he’s got a great nose for the ball. He’s the most like some of the guys I’ve coached in the past. He’s got great ball skills, you can see why he was in the pro bowl.” His analysis of Madieu Williams? “Really, really smart. He kind of runs the show back there. I think he’s on top of it. He’s kind of like having a coach on the field. He’s also got good ball skills. He can run well.” And Tanard Jackson? “Really is athletic. He’s like having a corner back there. He can cover a lot of ground.”