ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, August 20, 1996 TAG: 9608200057
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: ANALYSIS
SOURCE: JIM DUCIBELLA LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
Question: How do the Washington Redskins handle Heath Shuler and the remainder of his original eight-year, $19 million contract now that Gus Frerotte has been named the team's starting quarterback?
Answer: There is nothing the Redskins can do this season. Shuler will receive $1.425 million. Frerotte will get $208,000.
The Redskins can't begin to explore their options until after this season. Although the original contract was for eight seasons, it can be voided at the end of three, assuming Shuler achieves some fundamental incentives, such as being on the Redskins' roster for the last game of the 1996 season.
However, the Redskins can ``buy back'' two additional years by giving Shuler a $4 million bonus that would be prorated against the NFL's salary cap over three years. That decision must be made by Jan.25, the day before the 1997 Super Bowl.
Here are three scenarios:
* If Frerotte plays poorly or is injured and Shuler plays well enough to win the job, the Redskins exercise the buyback option. Shuler's cost against the salary cap would be $3.958 million. As a three-year pro, Frerotte automatically would become a restricted free agent. By offering Frerotte a 10 percent raise, the Redskins would retain the right to match another team's offer and keep him, or accept draft picks as compensation if he left.
* If Frerotte plays well enough to keep the job and the Redskins don't exercise the buyback option, Shuler becomes a restricted free agent. By offering him a 10 percent raise, Washington would retain the right to match an outside offer or accept first- and third-round draft picks if he left. His cost against the '97 cap would be $3.559 million if he stayed with the Redskins for the 1997 season.
* If Frerotte keeps the job, the Redskins don't exercise the buyback option in Shuler's contract, Shuler becomes a restricted free agent and signs with another team, he still would count $1.792 million against Washington's salary cap. The Redskins would save about $2 million by letting Shuler go. But remember this: The average salary for a starting quarterback is $2 million. What the Redskins save by dumping Shuler would have to go to Frerotte to bring his pay in line with what other starters are making.
Here's a look at some previous Redskins quarterback controversies:
EDDIE LeBARON: He lost the starting job on several occasions. After leading the team in passing in 1952, LeBaron wasn't even on the team in '53 and '54. Jack Scarbath was Washington's leading passer those years. LeBaron returned in 1955, but he angered owner George Preston Marshall by becoming Washington's player representative in 1956 and lost his job to Al Dorow. LeBaron returned to the lineup and led Washington in passing from '57-59.
SONNY JURGENSEN VS. BILLY KILMER: Coach George Allen started this one by trading with New Orleans for Kilmer in 1971. The controversy, complete with ``I Like Billy'' and ``I Like Sonny'' bumper stickers, ran for a couple of years before Jurgensen's increasingly poor health made it a moot point. Both quarterbacks were - and are - best friends.
JAY SCHROEDER vs. DOUG WILLIAMS: Schroeder replaced Joe Theismann after the New York Giants' Lawrence Taylor broke one of Theismann's legs during a Monday night game in 1985. In 1986, Gibbs traded for Doug Williams, who was to be a backup. Schroeder threw every pass for the Redskins in '86, but near the end of the '87 season, he became ineffective. Gibbs pulled him for good when Williams led a winning rally against Minnesota to close the regular season. Williams won playoff games against Chicago and Minnesota and was MVP of Super Bowl XXVII. On opening night of the '88 regular season, Gibbs dealt Schroeder to the Raiders for offensive tackle Jim Lachey.
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB