Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 23, 1995 TAG: 9510230151
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
In his 13th NFL autumn, Green knows he is in the winter of his stellar career. Opposing quarterbacks no longer are reluctant to pick on Green, and a couple of the Washington Redskins' late losses came in front of and behind the cornerback.
On Sunday, however, Green took another giant leap toward enshrinement in Canton, Ohio, and the Redskins' took a small step toward regaining respectability.
The eighth touchdown and 39th interception in the five-time Pro Bowl performer's career appropriately lifted Washington to a 36-30 overtime triumph over the Detroit Lions.
``Most people probably think it was the greatest play in the world,'' Green said.
He wasn't sure he was buying that. The scramble from the RFK Stadium grass with a Scott Mitchell pass less than four minutes into OT was only a 7-yard play.
``I won't reflect on what's the best play [of his career] until it's over,'' Green said. ``But, for the moment, it's the best play. Today, it was a great play. It happened in RFK, and it's been such a struggle this season.''
He could have been speaking singularly, as well as for his team. Finally, in what has been a season dominated by narrow defeats, close counted for the Redskins.
``Gus, I need the grass cut at my house,'' Green said, passing Redskins' second-year quarterback Gus Frerotte in the postgame interview room.
``Anything you want, Darrell,'' Frerotte respectfully answered the future Hall of Famer.
Green's pickoff was an appropriate finish for the Lions, who never have won in Washington and haven't gone on the road to beat the Redskins since 60 years ago, when the franchise called Boston home.
Detroit did plenty to help the Redskins, who turned four turnovers into 23 points. Or how about the play-calling of coach Wayne Fontes?
In the second quarter, trailing 13-3, Fontes didn't run star back Barry Sanders on first-and-goal from the Redskins' 2. Or on second down. Or, on third down, either. Three incomplete passes brought a field goal.
Of course, that was ancient history by the time Green found himself under a pile of teammates in a corner of the end zone. You'd have thought the Redskins had won something bigger than a four-hour game.
``When you're like us, you're playing a Super Bowl every week,'' Frerotte said. ``We've got to learn how to win these close games. All that we've been through has made us stronger.''
Frerotte drove the Redskins' to a tying situation that was dripping with more the emotion. Veteran kicker Eddie Murray booted a 39-yard field goal with four seconds left to sent the game into OT.
``It was pretty gratifying, the way it happened,'' Murray said.
He spent 12 years of his 16-season career with Detroit. He's the leading scorer in Lions history, by only about 500 points.
``I still think of myself as a Lion, down inside,'' Murray said afterward. ``I guess I always will. I still live there. My son goes to school up there. Sure, it was emotional.''
On a day when he erased former Washington kicker Chip Lohmiller's record for consecutive extra-point conversions in the NFL modern era - since the pipes were moved from the goal line to the end line in 1974 - Murray's biggest kick was a different one.
There was room for another veterans' day celebration, too. The 700th reception of Henry Ellard's career was doubly special because it was a scoring pass by Frerotte with 5:26 left in regulation, a 13-yarder that restored the lead for Washington.
Only Art Monk, Jerry Rice, Steve Largent, Charlie Joiner and James Lofton have more NFL catches. But Ellard's grab was huge on a day when Detroit's wideouts combined for 24 catches and nearly 300 yards, including 10 receptions and a touchdown by former Virginia star Herman Moore.
So, instead of being near the bottom of the NFL success ladder with New Orleans, New England and the New York Jets, the Redskins (3-5) have matched their victory total for all of last season.
They're 3-1 at home, with the struggling New York Giants visiting next Sunday night. Seattle, Philadelphia and Carolina also will visit RFK. The Redskins aren't going to finish the 9-7 owner Jack Kent Cooke predicted, but they do have a shot at a reversal of those numbers.
They're still playing a young quarterback in Frerotte, while a now-healthy and high-priced Heath Shuler has his patience tested on the sideline. The Redskins also have no pass rush. Washington has 12 sacks in eight games. No wonder opposing passers have pressured Green and Co. and hit 65 percent of their throws.
However, Washington had no turnovers against the Lions (2-5) and are plus-six in that category this season.
``We've played well at home [3-1], and now we've won one that was similar to our road games,'' said Norv Turner, the Redskins' coach. ``If we build on this and understand we're going to be in more games very much like this ...
``We made the play today and we can make it again. If you make the play at the end, you have a chance of winning. It's just nice to win one like that.''
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