Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 17, 1994 TAG: 9410190032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Clark, the only player to catch 50 or more passes in each of his first nine years in the league, returned to RFK again Sunday as a third-down receiver.
He caught three passes. He has 14 in six games this year. He's not complaining.
``I like to be a gamer,'' said Clark, a Dublin, Va., native who had that reputation during his eight seasons with the Redskins. ``My job is to come out when I get in the game and try to do the things I've always done. I'm just kind of doing what they ask me to do. I don't think any less of myself.''
Nor, he says, of the new coaching staff led by Buddy Ryan. Clark signed a three-year, $6 million free-agent deal with Arizona in 1993 when former Redskins aide and Clark friend Joe Bugel was head coach.
Bugel was fired after last year. Ryan came in and told Clark he could take a pay cut or be cut. Clark's still playing, and his salary slid from what should have been $1.375 million this year to $962,000.
``I'm not going to sit there and try to question why they're doing it,'' Clark said.
Clark managed to stay three receptions ahead of Washington's Henry Ellard, who also had three catches Sunday, for 11th place on the NFL's all-time list. Clark has 630; he's two away from overtaking Raymond Berry for 10th place, and only five behind No.8 Drew Hill.
Clark shrugged off the coaching change, the first in his pro career that wasn't his choice. He played under Joe Gibbs for eight years in Washington.
``You go from pee wee to sandlot, from sandlot to high school ... there's always going to be turnover,'' he said. ``You just try to go out and do the best you can.''
BEING GREEN: Darrell Green's two interceptions gave him 37 for his career, breaking Brig Owens' Washington record. It was his eighth career touchdown (five interception returns, including two in the playoffs; one punt return; and two fumble returns). It was his first interception return for a score since the NFC Championship game against Detroit in 1991.
``He still is out there kicking my butt,'' Clark said. ``He'll probably play five more years. After I retire, I'll be able to watch him play on TV from my living room.''
BIG GAMBLE: In the Game-Day program, Redskins quarterback Heath Shuler says as a fifth-grader he swore off caffeinated drinks because he didn't want a ``stimulant or drug'' in his body, and he bet his father he'd stay clean for 25 years. The bet was for $1,000. Using the total years and value of Shuler's eight-year, $19.25 million contract, he makes $2,506.51 per minute per game.
ETC: Washington, 0-4 at RFK this year, hadn't lost the first four home games in a season since 1961, its first year in D.C. Stadium, when it started 0-6. The Redskins beat Dallas in a 1-12-1 season. ... In the past three weeks, opponents have run 245 offensive plays to Washington's 157. ... In its past three games, Washington is 5-of-32 on third-down tries; its opponents are 28-of-55 ... Shuler's 46-yard touchdown pass to Brian Mitchell in the first quarter was Washington's 12th scoring pass this year, one more than it had all of last year. ... Virginia Tech's marching band performed at halftime.
by CNB