Dezmon Briscoe knows why he’s not in Tampa Bay anymore. It’s actually quite simple: The Bucs have a new coach, Briscoe missed a lot of the voluntary workouts and then failed the conditioning test before training camp.
Now, after a 35-catch, six-touchdown season, he’s in Washington trying to prove he can still play in the NFL. He’s reunited, sort of, with ex-Bucs coach Raheem Morris, now the Redskins secondary coach. The Redskins claimed him off waivers Friday.
“It’s tough, especially coming off the season I did have,” Briscoe said. “I felt I had good security, but things happen and you have to make the best of it.
“The conditioning test, not everyone passed. I feel that was a big reason [for the release]. It stuck out with me not passing because I wasn’t there in the offseason training. They made it seem like I was out of condition which I’m not. I just have to take advantage of my opportunity now.”
Briscoe said he had to take care of a personal situation in the spring, causing him to miss the workouts. He was involved in a Twitter fiasco with his reality TV star girlfriend, Royce Reed, and an ex-girlfriend, Christina Nero (also the mother of his son). Nero claimed that he and Briscoe were still involved in a relationship.
“I always want to be around my team but the situation that I had back at the house I felt at the time was more important,” Briscoe said. “I made sure I made the mandatory things.
“If Raheem was still there I’d still be there. … With the discipline program they’re running down there and me not showing up to voluntary workouts that made a big difference why I’m not there now.”
But the 6-foot-2 Briscoe, only 22, is not here for anything other than to see if he can help the Redskins’ receivers.
“There’s not many big guys [here],” he said. “Usually it’s speedier, craftier route-running guys here traditionally. Just come in and be a big receiver, make plays, go up over guys and score touchdowns.”
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