THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 23, 1994 TAG: 9408230544
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Ron Middleton knew something was seriously wrong Monday morning when tight ends coach Russ Grimm met him at the front door to Redskin Park.
``Coach wants to see you, Ron,'' Grimm said softly.
A couple minutes later, another position on the Redskins had been swept clean of any remnant of the team's victorious past.
With the Sept. 4 season opener less than two weeks away, the Redskins have no quarterbacks, no receivers and, now, no tight ends who played in the 37-24 Super Bowl victory over Buffalo on Jan. 26, 1992.
Norv Turner cut Middleton, a 6-2, 262-pound battering ram whose career was testimony to unwavering dedication and resilience. Middleton squeezed in eight pro seasons, despite being cut nine times by Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Cleveland and Washington.
He finally stuck with the Redskins in 1990. The following season, he started when incumbent tight
end Donnie Warren broke his ankle in a training-camp scrimmage. Middleton's blocking was one of the primary reasons the Redskins averaged 135 yards a game on the ground that season.
As was the case so many other times during his career, Middleton came to work Monday hoping just to get through the day.
``I was kind of feeling it all along, but I was hoping to get through tomorrow,'' Middleton said, referring to the fact that the Redskins must trim eight more players by 4 p.m. today to reach the league requirement of 60.
Waived with Middleton were punter Tim Kalal, running back Tico Duckett, safety Chris Paul, defensive back Dondre Owens and quarterback Pat O'Hara.
Middleton's waiver means the Redskins will keep three tight ends on the roster - starter Ethan Horton and rookie Kurt Haws and four-year veteran James Jenkins.
Horton and Haws are considered primarily pass-catching tight ends, though at 6-5, 250, Haws has the physique to be an effective blocker. Technically, Jenkins is the only blocking tight end on the roster, although Frank Wycheck will swing between fullback and tight end to offer the coaching staff a little more flexibility.
As always, Middleton worked hard during the offseason and came to Turner's pre-training camp workout optimistic he could adapt to a style that placed greater emphasis on the tight end as pass receiver. But he pulled a hamstring a couple of days before the Redskins went to Carlisle, and he said Monday it slowed him for nearly three weeks.
``My hamstring acted up, and Jenkins and the other guys started having good camps,'' Middleton said. ``I knew I was in trouble. My salary also became a liability. I think I could still fit into this offense but I couldn't show it.''
Middleton was slated to earn $500,000 this season. Jenkins, his replacement, will earn the league's minimum for veterans of $162,000.
Middleton hasn't given up on professional football, though he understands no one is going to pay him $500,000 a year. He says he will try to hook on with another team sometime this season. If not, he will pursue his long-held dream of attending law school and use the pre-law degree he earned at Auburn. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ron Middleton
by CNB