ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, August 25, 1996 TAG: 9608270014
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JACK BOGACZYK
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
Since the day he walked onto a field in the NFL for the first time, Gus Frerotte has been the darling among the Washington Redskins' quarterbacks.
It's the same way with RFK Stadium faithful now as it was on Oct. 23, 1994. On that Sunday, Frerotte went from a seventh-round rookie and third-string inactive clipboard carrier to leading the Redskins to a midseason triumph over the Colts at the then-Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis.
It's that way now as Washington coach Norv Turner has anointed Frerotte as the club's starting quarterback over Heath Shuler. In a twist on the old TV commercial, Frerotte got the job the hard way. He didn't earn it.
Nevertheless, Frerotte will remain the favorite as the Redskins open their 65th season - and likely the last at RFK - with home dates against Philadelphia and Chicago. Turner says he will stick with Frerotte,. Will the fans do likewise?
If the Redskins start 0-2, probably not. They will be calling for Shuler, whose two NFL seasons have been a collection of injuries and mistakes, the biggest one being his holdout before signing a $19.25 million contract as a rookie. He's been playing catch-up since.
The bottom line is this: Washington may be the world's most powerful city, unless you're talking football. The Redskins are looking at a third consecutive losing season. That hasn't happened since a nine-year drought from 1957-65.
If the Redskins are worse than 8-8 this year against an NFL with as much parity - or mediocrity - on paper as ever, Turner may not get to coach a game in the new 78,000-seat palace Jack Kent Cooke is building in suburban Maryland.
The Shuler-Frerotte battle no longer is about money, or the investment the club has made, so Turner didn't feel pressured to name the former Tennessee star as his starter. Whichever quarterback exits at the end of this season - and one will - it will be as a restricted free agent, and the Redskins will recoup extra first- and third-round draft picks for the loss.
The Redskins would have to pay Shuler $8 million to ``buy back'' the next two seasons of his original contract, which had a three-year escape clause. If they don't buy and Frerotte is successful, then the Tulsa alumnus likely will sign a three-year deal for about $8 million.
It's just an expensive wash.
Frerotte will be paid $208,000 in base salary this season. Shuler will get $1.41 million. If the Redskins release Shuler after this season, the remainder of his prorated signing bonus, or $1.729 million will count against the Washington salary cap next season. That's a figure on paper. Shuler got the $5 million bonus already, a big reason why he owns a 700-acre ranch in Blaine, Tenn., just northeast of Knoxville.
Having watched most of the Redskins games the past two seasons, this press box regular has seen Frerotte as the better of the two quarterbacks. Shuler has struggled often to read the confusion created by opposing defensive coordinators. Frerotte also has become flustered under pressure at times.
And when Turner wanted and needed it most, no one really stepped up at a position that's hardly been one of stability for the club. In the '90s, the Redskins have had eight starting quarterbacks - Frerotte, Shuler, John Friesz, Rich Gannon, Cary Conklin, Mark Rypien, Stan Humphries and Jeff Rutledge. Go back one more year and you can add two Doug Williams starts to that mix.
Who will be next? Are the Redskins hoping for a GOP victory in November so they can go up Capitol Avenue and give Jack Kemp a tryout?
While everyone has been watching the quarterbacks, it might not matter who's behind center but who's alongside center. Frerotte and Shuler not only need time to develop. They need time to throw.
While the club made needed improvements to the defense, the offensive line crumbled. Joe Patton, Shar Pourdanesh, Cory Raymer, Vernice Smith, Bob Dahl? No need to do any Hog calling. They're all selling cars or doing radio shows.
Forget Frerotte and Shuler. Really, to quote another old commercial, it's what's up front that counts. The Redskins will go only as far as their offensive line can push them.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 linesby CNB