Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 2, 1995 TAG: 9510020070
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Darrell Green, in his 13th season as a cornerback in the NFL, knew better than to accept credit Sunday for Washington's 27-23 victory over previously unbeaten Dallas.
If he did that, he also might have to take the blame for a 38-31 loss to Denver in which he was victimized on the winning touchdown pass with no time remaining.
``I didn't have the play of the game,'' Green said Sunday after deflecting a pass that could have enabled Dallas to tie the score with 41/2 minutes remaining. ``I was just out there playing.
``I appreciate the opportunity to make that play, but that was not the play of the game. I've never lost one for the Redskins; I've never won one. From way back, this team has always prided itself on a team effort.''
None of the Redskins has been with Washington as long as Green, which may have accounted for some of his reluctance to equate Sunday's victory with some of the great moments in series history.
``I really wouldn't put this in one of the big spots,'' Green said. ``It has implications as a home game, a conference game [and] the Cowboys vs. the Redskins, but it's just very hard to slot it until the end of the year.
``See, are we in the playoffs because of this? Are we in the Super Bowl? What does it really mean? Right now, it was just a great win today.''
Green was covering Kevin Williams on the critical third-and-goal play, although his assignment had been Michael Irvin for much of the afternoon. Green was unable to break up a touchdown pass from Wade Wilson to Irvin as Dallas closed to 27-20 in the third quarter.
Wilson, pressed into service when All-Pro quarterback Troy Aikman suffered a pulled calf muscle in the first quarter, completed 15 of 16 passes during one stretch and finished 21-of-29 for 224 yards.
``I thought he did an excellent job,'' Green said. ``I respect all of my opponents, but I don't remember anybody saying in the huddle, `Wilson's in there; now we're going to kill 'em.'
``I don't think we even mentioned it. I just think Aikman was out, but those were still the Dallas Cowboys on the other side of the ball.''
Green, who has played in three Super Bowls and experienced victory in two of them, has seen the Redskins win games in virtually every fashion. However, many of his younger teammates had failed to win a close one.
``I think it's important for the whole team,'' he said. ``It took the whole game - all of the quarters, all of the minutes, all of the players, coaches and staff.
``I think that's how you build a team. I watched the Dallas Cowboys build. They build with everybody, from the owner to the least-expensive special-teams player [who is] the last guy on the roster.''
Green went looking for the most expensive Cowboys player, free-agent cornerback Deion Sanders, who was on the sideline Sunday recuperating from ankle surgery.
``I just wanted to leave a word with him, because I've never really gotten to know him very well, to exalt Jesus Christ [and] go out there and make a difference,'' Green said.
Green, 35, was more general in his post-game conversations with teammates and the media, to whom he preached perspective. After all, even during a down period, Washington has won three of its past four games against Dallas at RFK Stadium.
``I understand what you're saying,'' he said. ``It is the Dallas Cowboys-Redskins, but it's a different time. It's a different era. It's a different time of the year.
``Right now, this is only our second win in five tries. It's just not the same. When the season's over, maybe I'll be able to give people a better answer.''
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB