New ‘Skins sheriff lays down law

Whoever the Washington Redskins select in this week's NFL Draft better be prepared to double-time it at all times, toe the line on the sidelines and not double-park their cars in the parking lot.

New sheriff, er, coach Mike Shanahan has laid down the law to the Redskins, giving them a list of dos and don'ts at the team's recent minicamp. According to the Washington Post, among the rules are running on and off the field, running in and out of the huddle and running all plays in practice 5 yards past the ball in all drills.

There is to be no double-parking in the parking lot and no parking in handicapped spots. And when you enter the building after practice, you take off your shoes.

Failure to comply will mean a fine. How much, the Post did not say. But Shanahan defends his actions.

"What you have to do as a head football coach is make people accountable," Shanahan told the Post. "That's my job. It's also their job to understand what it takes to help this organization be successful.

"The reason why you have rules -- and we don't have a lot of rules -- is to make them, everybody beat to the same drum. And if you don't, usually you're not very good."

So if the Redskins make the playoffs, is it safe to assume that it was because everyone took off their shoes before entering the building?

■ VALERO POSTMORTEM -- Edwin Valero never fought in Las Vegas, and he never fought Manny Pacquiao, either.

Valero, the former WBC lightweight champion of the world, died Monday in a Caracas, Venezuela, jail, a day after allegedly stabbing his wife to death. Valero hung himself in his cell.

He was 27-0 with 27 knockouts. But he also had issues outside the ring. In 2001 he suffered a subdural hematoma following a motorcycle crash, and he also had squabbles with the law. Because of his medical issues, Valero never was able to get licensed in Nevada, and it ultimately cost him an opportunity for a big-money fight against Pacquiao.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao and promoted Valero late in his career, said he had visions of a Pacquiao-Valero fight.

"I was grooming him as a great future opponent for Manny Pacquiao," Arum said. "That would have been a sensational fight."

■ LEAVING ON TOP -- As if the LPGA doesn't have enough problems. Now, another of its brightest stars has called it quits.

Lorena Ochoa's announcement Tuesday that she was retiring at age 28 is reminiscent of Jim Brown's decision to leave football at 29 while he arguably was the best player in the NFL.

Ochoa, who was married in December and is a four-time LPGA Player of the Year award recipient, said on her website she wants to concentrate on her family and her charities.

She leaves the game as the No. 1 women's golfer the past three years. She also becomes the second LPGA star to step away from the game in the past three years. Annika Sorenstam, a former world No. 1, retired in 2008.

COMPILED BY STEVE CARP
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL