ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, November 11, 1996 TAG: 9611120044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
There was a game for the ages Sunday at creaking RFK Stadium. It also was a game for the aged.
When it was finally over, after more than four delicious hours, the Washington Redskins were beaten by two of the oldest players in the NFL - just down Capitol Street from an edifice where Medicare and Social Security are always major issues.
Kevin Butler, an old Bear of a kicker, got a second life with Arizona last week when the Cardinals cut Greg Davis, who is only the No.2 scorer in franchise history behind famed booter Jim Bakken.
Then, the 12-year veteran cut by Chicago late in training camp got a third opportunity in overtime to become a hero in his first game for the Cardinals.
The guy who put Butler into position to boot a 32-yard field goal in the waning seconds of OT enjoyed a spectacular homecoming. Boomer Esiason, in his 14th NFL season, however, describes himself as ``a benched starter.''
In a 37-34 victory over the Redskins, the blond bomber who played collegiately in the neighborhood at Maryland showed why he is the most prolific southpaw passer in pro football history.
Esiason, playing in only his fifth game for the Cardinals, constantly stretched Washington's defense, then picked it to shreds. He passed for 522 yards, the third-highest total in the NFL's 76-year history.
``He was incredible,'' marveled Frank Sanders, one of Esiason's favorite targets and a man who was a fifth grader in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., when Esiason, 35, began his NFL career with Cincinnati in 1984.
``It was one great game,'' Esiason said, not even speaking personally. ``This stadium, the atmosphere, an overcast day, the cold. It's the kind of game where you let it all sink in.''
Esiason didn't have to describe his game. He played it. He, more than anyone else, made one of the final afternoons in RFK's storied history one to remember.
It also was the kind of game you want to stay in, which is what Esiason was trying to do in the first quarter. He threw half of his four interceptions on the Cards' first two possessions.
``I was grateful Vince [Tobin, the Arizona coach] didn't bench me after the first quarter,'' Esiason said. ``I was trying to stay away from him on the sideline so he couldn't find me.''
There was little chance of Tobin yanking the veteran, who finished with three scoring passes. He supposedly is starting because Kent Graham is injured. The backup Sunday was untested Stoney Case.
Maybe Esiason was rocky at the start, but the Cards protected him well, and he completed 35-of-59, not counting the four caught by Redskins. His 522 yards were 10 more than he had thrown for in four previous appearances this season.
He was 25-of-31 in the second half and overtime for 369 yards.
``I guess I have a few more yards left in my arm,'' Esiason said. ``When you're in a zone, I guess it's like a pitcher throwing a no-hitter. I'm just glad to have the opportunity to come back and play.
``I just had a feeling something was going to happen today. In practice this week, I felt good and we kept hitting deep balls.
``It's a crazy league, a crazy game. I was intercepted by a defensive tackle [Marc Boutte, on a tip-and-pirouette] for God sakes. Bruce Smith got one off me like that one time, too.''
While Esiason's throws and completions weren't Cardinal records - Neil Lomax has those - his air yardage was eclipsed by only two previous passers.
Norm Van Brocklin threw for the NFL record of 554 for the Los Angeles Rams in 1951, against New York - the Yankees. Esiason just missed Warren Moon's 527 yards for Houston against Kansas City six years ago.
``After Boomer got it going, he sure looked good,'' said Tobin. ``He just kept throwing, and we kept getting two touchdowns behind.
``The whole ballgame was a gauntlet of emotions. They'd score, and we'd get back in it. They'd score, and we'd get back in it. I figured if we could ever get to the hump, we could get over it. The problem was, it didn't seem like we'd ever get to the hump.''
The Cardinals (4-6) did it with 615 yards of total offense, leaving a large portion of the RFK crowd chanting ``Lynn must go,'' in the late stages at Washington defensive coordinator Ron Lynn.
This was supposed to be a very winnable game for the Redskins (7-3) before a 12-game stretch in which an RFK visit by San Francisco is sandwiched by trips to Philadelphia and Dallas.
It won't be easy for Washington to go into Veterans Stadium next Sunday and battle the Eagles for the NFC East lead, particularly after the Redskins blew a two-touchdown lead and chances to win in OT with penalties.
Butler barely missed with 9:10 left in OT from 32 yards, although the replay was inconclusive as his kick sailed over the top of the left upright. Then he hit the same pipe from 37 yards.
Washington was offside on that one, only a few minutes after Scott Galbraith's holding penalty nullified what would have been a Redskins' game-winning boot by Scott Blanton. Then, Blanton shanked from 49 on the re-kick.
Given another chance, Butler did it.
``One second you're winning, one second you're not winning,'' Redskins quarterback Gus Frerotte said. ``That was the craziest game I've ever seen in my life.''
He probably still will remember it that way when he's Esiason's age.
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Arizona quarterback Boomer Esiason threw for 522by CNByards Sunday, the third-best aerial performance in NFL history. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL