ASHBURN, Va. -- This is how you reach 500 catches for a career, with a lot more coming in the future: The day the doors open for 8 a.m. workouts in late June, you’re one of the first to enter. Even though your minicamp just ended several days ago -- for some who train here, that’s reason enough to take a few extra days. Washington Redskins receiver Pierre Garcon shows up, works out for the next six days. Wash, rinse, repeat until training camp begins.
"He’s just consistent on his work," said Tony Villani, who trains Garcon and many other athletes at XPE Sports in South Florida. "I can’t remember the last time he missed an offseason workout. He doesn’t miss them."
This, too, is how you reach 500 catches: You pay attention. That’s what Garcon did as a young receiver with Indianapolis, surrounded by receivers Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez and tight end Dallas Clark. Not to mention quarterback Peyton Manning. Garcon learned one thing early: he had to catch the ball well.
So he listened to teammates telling him to catch more passes on the jugs machine. Catch more passes from a quarterback, or a coach, or anyone. Nine years later, Garcon still works the jugs machine after practices and still catches passes on the side.
"They instilled that in me when I first came in and it was like, 'All right, I’ve got to do it ... Just keep working every day,'" Garcon said.
Longshot dream
Garcon has kept working, which is how he’s risen from Division III receiver, albeit a talented one, to one who now has 502 receptions and counting, considering he’s only 30 years old. He’s caught 314 of those passes with the Redskins, including 17 this season (he has yet to score a touchdown).
"He’s a phenomenal player, one of our best athletes. Hard worker, he’s very intelligent," Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said. "He has those characteristics that lend themselves well to having a long, productive career, to having a consistent career.
"I’d love to be able to play with him for a long time. He’s certainly helped me as a player and made me a much better quarterback."
Catching 500 passes is longshot dream for a sixth-round pick from Mount Union College, a Division III powerhouse. It’s certainly not a number Garcon dared to consider when he was picked in 2008. His mindset was set on a different goal when he was drafted.
"You’re just like, 'man I hope I make the team,'" he said. "Five hundred catches isn’t something you think about until you’re close to 500 and it’s like, 'This can happen.' It’s one of those things you can tell your kids and family or if you go teach somewhere you can say, '500 catches.' Not too many guys have that. It’s an icebreaker, I guess."
Hard work pays off
Villani knows why Garcon has reached this point. Pro athletes who train with him usually are more serious. Even among that group, Villani said, Garcon sticks out. He shows up in February and stays for two months.
This past offseason, the Redskins ended minicamp on a Wednesday. At 8 a.m. the following Monday, he arrived at Villani’s place along with veterans Anquan Boldin, Mark Ingram and Eric Berry. Others trickled in throughout the week.
"I was like, you are the four that should take a break," Villani said. "You’re the four that doesn’t need to work out and you’re the ones that work out first, more than any of our first-, second- or third-year guys."
Garcon would work out six days a week until heading to Richmond for camp.
"Most receivers don’t work out as hard as Pierre and Anquan," Villani said. "They’ll run routes, but they don’t work on speed, agility and explosion and getting in and out of cuts. Pierre works on all assets of the game, which helps him get the ball. He wants to be physical and fast and quick and strong. And then he also wants the ball. It’s a different mindset."
Garcon clearly has been frustrated at times in the Redskins’ offense. He’s often used as a possession receiver, asked to break tackles and pick up tough yards. It’s the last year of his contract with Washington, and there’s no guarantee he’ll return.
"We know what type of player he is. He’s a heck of a possession guy," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. "Very tough, catching the tough balls across the middle or on the sideline or underneath or what have you, and he can go deep."
But Garcon also knows in this business, he must adapt to his role.
"If they ask me to block, I’ll do it well," he said. "Ask me to catch a ball, I’ll do it well. Ask me to break tackles, I’ll do that well ... I’m not a one-trick pony. I’ll work at everything."
Which is why he can continue adding to his reception total.
"I’ve got a lot left in me," Garcon said. "Shoot, [Baltimore’s] Steve Smith is still 37 and we have the same kind of motor. I wouldn’t want to do anything else than come to work, lift weights, stay in shape, catch balls and be on TV. I want to play for a long time. I’m trying to go to about 36, 37. Then I’ll revisit this conversation."
