Montgomery Doesn't Expect To Start

Defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery said he expects to be on the sidelines when the Redskins face the Giants on Thursday. Montgomery played behind Kedric Golston in their rookie season - 2006 - then rose to be the starting nose tackle last year, but Golston held the job throughout the season. Montgomery expects Golston to start at The Meadowlands, too.

"It looks like it's going to be Kedric," Montgomery said. "He's getting most of the reps in practice and after the Jacksonville game (to end the preseason) I'm guessing they made their evaluation and that's who they chose to be the starter. So I just have to focus on my role."

The coaches have been hard on Montgomery since he entered the league - defensive coordinator Greg Blache in particular - and he has long battled being labeled an underachiever. The Redskins believed Montgomery had the talent and body frame to be an elite tackle - he is a gifted overall athlete - but have tried to get him to play harder and with more of an edge.

Montgomery said he feels that, now entering his third season, the label is unfair.

"I've got this label that I don't want to work hard, that I don't want to be pushed," Montgomery said. "I kind of want to get that label off of me. This is the NFL. I'm not going to go out there and half-step it. I've been trying to get here my whole life, and to kind of have people just think I don't work hard and I need to be pushed, I don't know, it's almost like a slap in the face to me. If that's what they see in me, all I can do is go work and try to change their opinion."

Regardless of not starting, Montgomery should be in line for ample reps against the Giants. Blache believes in rotating linemen as much as possible to keep them fresh and he will continue to have chances to prove his worth.

"I'm definitely going to play a lot," Montgomery said, "and when I'm out there I'm going to play as hard as I can and show them that I do work hard and that I deserve to play."