When Gibbs retired in January and Williams and Saunders were dismissed by Redskins owner Dan Snyder, it wouldn't have been a surprise if the 68-year-old Bugel had walked away with his two Super Bowl rings and a legacy as one of the game's greatest offensive line coaches. But the ever-enthusiastic Bugel opted to return for a 42nd season of coaching, 31st in the NFL and a 14th in Washington even though he's working for a boss, Jim Zorn, who's 13 years his junior.

All those numbers don't mean much to Bugel, who started 42-year-old Ray Brown at a playoff game against Zorn's Seattle Seahawks in 2005. Each member of Bugel's current five-man unit will be 31 by October and that's just fine with him.

"I like veteran guys, I really do," Bugel said. "They're smart. They've been in the system. You can't worry about age. It's how their health is and how they can play. Some of these young kids are up-down, up-down. A lot of those guys get saucer eyes. Going up against (Pro Bowl defensive end) Jason Taylor, they probably want to get his autograph."

That's not the case for tackles Chris Samuels (31) and Jon Jansen (32), guards Pete Kendall (35) and Randy Thomas (32) and center Casey Rabach (31 next month). And backups Jason Fabini (34 this month) and Todd Wade (32 in October) are still in the mix.

"I love the guys I'm coaching," Bugel said. "They keep me vibrant. They keep me young. I'm having a good time, I really am. I think I'm doing something good to be around that long. The teaching aspect is good. Get players who listen and you're in good shape."

Tight ends coach Rennie Simmons, a fellow member of Gibbs' title-winning staffs from the 1980s, said that Bugel hasn't changed since he was coaching "The Hogs" of Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby et al. And none one cares that Bugel was just 24-56 as coach of the Cardinals (1990-93) and Raiders (1997).

"There isn't anyone on our staff who has more respect than Joe Bugel," Zorn said. "He really kind of just walks around and you just want to be around him."

After two years in former coach Steve Spurrier's pass-happy scheme, Jansen was as disgusted that he wouldn't be able to play for new line coach Bugel in 2004 after rupturing his Achilles in the preseason opener as he was about facing months of rehabilitation.

"Buges is like a dad to us," Thomas said. "He gets the best out of you. He has taught me to be relentless, to set the tempo of the game."

CAMP CALENDAR: Two-a-days end on Aug. 14.