THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 17, 1994 TAG: 9410170130
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
If Heath Shuler is as gifted in the art of throwing a football as everybody seems to think, Sunday's game is inconsequential, the stuff of radio squawk shows and nothing more.
The five interceptions? They are a pimple on the portrait of a Golden Boy.
Shuler is a rookie in a league where kid quarterbacks are turned into hors d'oeuvres by defenses as wily as Buddy Ryan's.
When Norv Turner decided to start him three games ago, he guaranteed that Shuler would be embarrassed early and often.
Sunday was a rude awakening for Shuler, and for any Redskins fan who thought the Cowboys game was as bad as it could get for the first-year pitcher.
And when Turner blamed him for the excruciating 19-16 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Shuler underwent a baptism of a different sort. The coach has taken off the kid gloves.
Has Shuler showed signs that he is the next Troy Aikman? If so, you have to squint to see them.
``This,'' said Shuler, ``is the toughest defeat I've ever had in my life.''
It's a fair assessment from Shuler's perspective. But do three games prove anything? Absolutely not.
``Now,'' Shuler said, ``it's like starting all over again.''
If that's the case - even if it's not - he should go back to where he started this season. He should go back to the bench.
With the long view in mind, Turner needs to revise his master plan. Shuler should be given a clipboard and a week to regain his wits.
If diplomacy is an issue, Turner can announce that he's holding Shuler out of next week's Indianapolis Colts game to protect the prospect's tender right ankle. It's an explanation Redskins fans will gladly accept.
``I thought my ankle was gone,'' Shuler said afterwards in an often whiny postmortem.
``I couldn't stick my back foot to push off it, so I was having to throw with my arm instead of my body,'' he said. ``You just don't do that.''
What you don't do is allow people to think you're a crybaby.
Before he was finished, Shuler blamed Desmond Howard for his final interception, as if Howard needs one more critic. In response to a question, Shuler confirmed that he was suffering from the flu.
On a roll now, he then complained about footballs he said were too slippery.
``The NFL shellacks the ball,'' he said. ``It's 99 percent the football. It's no excuse, but we don't practice with them.''
Like some of his passes, Shuler probably wishes he could take back the comment about shellacked footballs. Troy Aikman is completing 68 percent of his passes with the slick ball. Next problem, please.
Turner wisely waved off the greased football issue. Shuler, he said, ``takes too deep a drop. To make up for it, he tries to release the ball early and the ball gets away from him.''
In other words, he's not ready.
Shuler was more engaging when he deflected credit for his touchdown pass.
``Yeah, one good play,'' he said. ``And how many bad ones?''
How many? More than enough. Enough to earn him a benching. For his own good. And perhaps only for a week or two. Until his body and ego heal.
Sunday, Shuler was shellacked by an ominous strain of Arizona flu. This is normal for a rookie quarterback in his third start.
But after the toughest game of his life, what Shuler needs most is the sanctuary of the sidelines. by CNB