THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 14, 1996 TAG: 9608140499
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FROSTBURG, MD. LENGTH: 80 lines
Maybe it's no coincidence that there's a sign on Interstate 68, just as you make the turn for Frostburg, that proclaims: ``Noah's Ark Being Rebuilt Here.''
It rained so much in this bumpy little mountain town that when the Redskins cut two players unusually early in training camp, the joke was that Norv Turner was opening roster spots for Janet Evans and Tom Dolan. Heh heh.
But it didn't take long for the laughter to stop. Turner put up with the coolest, wettest summer this area has seen in 50 years for a couple of weeks, alternating between the gym and a generally sloppy pair of practice fields. But he cut the penultimate week of training camp short by a day to return to Washington for practice on artificial turf.
Turner begged off the ``Fan Appreciation Day'' planned for Tuesday and ordered his troops to break camp for good and get back to Ashburn after another gym practice Monday. To compensate, Turner will return with some players and visit the pediatric wards of two local hospitals during the bye week that begins Sept. 30.
The good news is Turner might have found a unique way to settle the quarterback controversy between Heath Shuler and Gus Frerotte. After Monday's practice, Shuler stood under one basket and fired a football into the hoop at the other end of the court, 94 feet away. His second attempt spun around the rim and came out. No lie. Frerotte tried it once and didn't hit the backboard. If Shuler wins the job . . .
OK, on to football. Time for the 1996 ``Frostys.'' Each winner receives a Frostburg State umbrella from new assistant coach Willard Scott. (Judging from the number of complaints players and staff voiced about the food, Turner should demand Scott double as cafeteria manager).
Dumbest daily routine: No competition. Turner wants his photo crew to sound an airhorn at the end of certain segments of practice. Originally, he gave them a schedule of times to sound it, but invariably, he wasn't through working a certain drill when it went off. So now he yells ``HORN'' loud enough for everyone to hear, then the photographers squeeze out the signal.
Worst quote made under stress: Safety James Washington, shortly after being waived, said, ``One of the good things you have to realize about success is that it ends.''
Offensive lineman to conduct more interviews in four weeks than Ed Simmons has in 10 seasons: Canadian Football League import Shar Pourdanesh. The story of what he endured after his family moved here from Iran is so compelling, and he tells it so well, that he'll be the rage of all the national pregame shows as soon as they see his name on the final roster.
Biggest surprise of camp: Safety Brian Walker. The Redskins called him late on draft day and told him to ``hold on,'' they'd get to him once they were done picking real players. So did three or four other teams. He's already on nickel pass coverage, with much more playing time around the corner. Fullback Larry Bowie is a close second. No one called him until after the draft.
Most improved player: Safety Darryl Morrison. He was a cinch to make the team, but no one expected him to blossom into an occasional starter on what should be a very good secondary.
Player most missed in the locker room: Center John Gesek. The Redskins saved $500,000 by waiving James Washington. That's the same amount they'd have to pay Gesek, a gentleman whose neck injury has finished a solid career, to satisfy his contract. That's going to happen soon.
Newest Redskin on the roster: The best veteran center available off the waiver wire next week.
Redskin least likely to play 16 games: Wide receiver Michael Westbrook. He's already had two injuries in training camp.
Player-walking-the-tightrope award: Defensive end Rich Owens. Much is expected of the second-year pro from tiny Lehigh. But he hasn't practiced in a couple of weeks because of a sprained ankle. Right now, he's potential, not performance. The Redskins are crossing their fingers that he stays healthy enough to give them a speed rush from the outside.
Kicking off for the Redskins . . . Eddie Murray, over Scott Blanton. Coach Pete Rodriguez used the ``I'' word - inconsistent - in discussing Blanton's kickoffs. The last time he did that, strong-legged Sean Fleming was jettisoned.
Quarterback to be named starter next week: Reading between the lines (no one reveals their true feelings about this, not even off the record), Turner spent several minutes praising Shuler for the improvement he's made, the better consistency he displays, how he's typical of many third-year quarterbacks, how the Redskins knew he had this ability, etc. Asked about Frerotte, Turner basically said he's been fine. Who do you think he's picking? by CNB