THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 19, 1994 TAG: 9412190137
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Redskins reserve linebacker Lamont Hollinquest was suspended for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, and his career with the team could be in jeopardy.
Hollinquest, a second-year pro from Southern Cal, missed both meetings and the team's walk-through Saturday at Redskin Park. He had not been excused.
Redskins coach Norv Turner indicated Hollinquest and the team have made contact. But when asked whether Hollinquest would be with the team for Sunday's season-finale against the Los Angeles Rams, Turner's only comment was ``I'll meet with him Tuesday and we'll work that out.''
MITCHELL'S MARK: Redskins return man Brian Mitchell's 29-yard kickoff return in the second quarter gave him an NFL single-season record for combined yardage on punt and kickoff returns.
Mitchell finished the day with 1,791 return yards - and might have had much more. His 32-yard kickoff return midway through the fourth quarter was aborted by Tampa Bay kicker Michael Husted, who used his right foot to trip Mitchell just as he was about to break into the clear.
The previous record was 1,737 yards, set by Stump Mitchell of the Cardinals in 1981.
``He's had an outstanding season,'' Turner said. ``He's been a big part of the reason we've been able to stay in a lot of games. The plays he's made have helped us make some of these games closer.''
LOOKS FAMILIAR: Bucs coach Sam Wyche knows what it's like to coach struggling teams like the Redskins. His first two editions of the Buccaneers went 5-11. Say this for him: He's a gracious winner.
``I want to compliment Norv Turner and the organization in Washington,'' he said. ``When you're struggling and going into that frustrating locker room after a game with a close defeat instead of a win, it's real tough to hold a team together.
``It's takes a strong coaching staff and a lot of respect from the players towards the coaches to do it and they are doing that.''
As for his team, Wyche says it's turned the corner.
``This team never feels like it's out of it anymore,'' he said. ``This ballclub has gone through a history of saying after the first punt, `Uh oh, here it goes again.' It's not that way anymore. It's just so much fun to be around a team that knows it's going to win. They have a chance every Sunday.''
SHUFFLED LINE: Starting left tackle Jim Lachey and backup Tre' Johnson missed Sunday's game with injuries. Lachey is still in Arlington Hospital recovering from a deep gash in his leg suffered last week against Arizona. Johnson is out with a strained calf muscle.
That forced a major re-shuffling of the line. Ray Brown moved from left guard to Lachey's spot. Raleigh McKenzie moved from right guard to left guard and Mark Schlereth moved from the bench to right guard.
Still, the Redskins rushed for 73 yards and quarterback Heath Shuler was sacked just once.
THIS N' THAT: Linebacker Monte Coleman played what may have been his last game at RFK Stadium Sunday. The 16-year veteran has indicated he wants to return to the Redskins next season, but it's unlikely Washington will let him return. Coleman wasn't available for reporters to talk to after the game. Redskins spokesman Mike McCall said he was too emotionally wrought to conduct an interview. . . . The sweep was the first for the Bucs since they took both games from Detroit and Minnesota in 1990. . . . Henry Ellard caught four passes for 60 yards. He enters Saturday's game against the Rams needing 121 yards to set a Redskins's season record for most yards receiving. He has 1,316. . . . Tampa Bay's four-game winning streak is its longest in 15 years. by CNB