Washington's self-promotion bothered some Vols

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - Some of the Tennessee Volunteers have been concerned about the attention outspoken receiver Kelley Washington draws upon himself. <br> <br> However, coach Phillip Fulmer said Tuesday none of the players had talked to him about any problems with Washington. <br> <br> Washington, who led the No. 11 Vols (2-1) last season with 64 catches for 1,010 yards, missed the first two games this year with a sprained right knee. <br> <br> He played for the first time in last weekend&#39;s 30-13 loss to Florida and had seven catches for 102 yards. <br> <br> Some players say they are worried Washington has been too focused on himself and not the team. <br> <br> Those concerns were discussed among Tennessee players this week, said tight end Jason Witten, who says he&#39;s friends with Washington and has come to an understanding. <br> <br> ``We don&#39;t need any boost for the other team,&#39;&#39; Witten said. <br> <br> It&#39;s not clear whether the players have taken their concerns to Washington himself. <br> <br> Washington, a walk-on who came from playing on a Florida Marlins farm team, often boasts about his abilities, calling himself a top-class athlete or ``the future&#39;&#39; among receivers. <br> <br> He made a habit last season of pointing to his mother in the stands after scoring a touchdown. He has already talked about going to the NFL next year. <br> <br> Washington says his actions are to try to get himself and the team pumped up. <br> <br> ``Most of the people feed off it. They like to see me back up my talk. If you win, it&#39;s a different story. When you lose, everybody looks at that,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> ``I can take a lot of pressure. I can take a lot of media talking about me as far as me playing for myself. I&#39;m a very team-oriented guy, but I&#39;m a very outspoken guy as far as what I believe in.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Fulmer said he didn&#39;t have a problem with Washington, only that he had talked to him about not doing anything during a game that would result in a penalty. <br> <br> ``Some of those guys talking need to be playing up to his level,&#39;&#39; Fulmer said. ``I do not expect him to ever get us a penalty. We had a conversation about that. He understands.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> ``I think players need to take accountability for their own actions. And to our credit most of them do.&#34;

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