Through two interview sessions with various Washington Redskins following practice yesterday and today, I've been amused with the theory that the team -- led by coach Joe Gibbs -- had a "Super Bowl or Bust" mantra last training camp.

Nothing could be more inaccurate. Sure, the Redskins thought they had a realistic chance to make a deep playoff run but examples of over-the-top bravado were rare. It's been funny to see players give puzzling looks as if to say, "We thought we would be good, but we weren't publicly talking about the Super Bowl."

The only player who intimated the Super Bowl talk last year was quarterback Mark Brunell, on the first day of camp.

Back then, Brunell said: "We expect good things, and anything short of going all the way, honestly, would be a disappointment. That's the mind-set of every team now in training camp, but we need to be better than last year, and I expect us to be better."

Not exactly earth-shattering stuff, but the interesting thing was that Brunell brought the subject up himself. He wasn't responding to a question about the Super Bowl.

The next day, Gibbs immediately downplayed Brunell's comments.

So how does that turn into a familiar line of questioning, particularly by media members who aren't regulars at Redskin Park? It's because these people thought the Redskins had a chance to reach the Super Bowl last year and naturally, they think the players felt the same way. (Personally, I had them going 10-6 and reaching the playoffs, but not the Super Bowl). Hopefully the, "You had Super Bowl or bust expectations last year, what about this year ..." questions will end by tomorrow.

* In this morning two-hour practice, right guard Randy Thomas (sore knee) sat out again and rookies Tyler Ecker (groin) and H.B. Blades (cramps) did not complete the practice.