THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 9, 1995 TAG: 9508090567
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Comment
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Chip Lohmiller was the kicker who cried wolf.
Washington Redskins coach Norv Turner released Lohmiller Tuesday, about 72 hours after the eight-year veteran's latest inane pronouncements, issued with all the tact of the rube who belches during a moment of silence.
Lohmiller missed a 29-yard field goal and an extra point in last Saturday's lopsided preseason loss to Kansas City, then announced that he no longer could practice twice a day during training camp because his leg was sore and that he had to work with just one holder because working with more screwed up the process. Even from 20 yards away.
Give him credit. They were vintage Chip shots.
A terrific athlete who two years ago won a hardest-shot competition conducted by the NHL's Washington Capitals by slapping a puck 94.3 mph, Lohmiller had a tissue paper-thin psyche when it came to booting a football. When he missed a field goal or extra point - and his 71-percent accuracy in the former and 98-percent accuracy in the latter suggest he missed too often for someone of his ability - it usually was someone else's fault. So he said.
The snap wasn't just spiffy enough, or the holder didn't quite have the laces facing the right way, or his spot was a tad off the mark, or the tilt of the ball was a centimeter off. Everything but the sun's glare was eligible as an excuse, and he'd have used that one if almost everyone didn't know that you look down when you kick. He was smart enough to not just blurt it out, but you always got the sense that the reflection in Chip's mirror was blameless.
In the early '90s, a rag-armed quarterback but pinpoint holder named Jeff Rutledge hung around Redskin Park a couple of extra years as the security blanket that made Lohmiller feel warm and fuzzy.
Last year, Lohmiller battled special teams coach Pete Rodriguez when Rodriguez attempted to alter his kicking style. Rodriguez finally gave up, but it's a good bet neither he nor Turner forgot.
Tuesday, finally, Turner got tired of the excuses and pooched Lohmiller into unemployment. Not that he'll be there long. Some team will claim him; for his sake, hopefully one that plays in a domed stadium. That's where Lohmiller was at his best. There and Texas Stadium.
Right now, Texas Stadium and taut contests against the occupant there are the farthest things from Turner's mind.
Joe Gibbs could afford to keep Lohmiller - and Rutledge - around because so many pieces of a good football team were in place. Building a pyramid the old-fashioned way might be less taxing for Turner than rebuilding these Redskins.
So while Eddie ``The Fossil'' Murray, assuming he wins the job from (sore-legged) free-agent Scott Blanton, isn't an improvement, Turner has so many woes elsewhere he looked at dumping Lohmiller as addition by subtraction.
First, the Redskins saved the lion's share of Lohmiller's estimated $710,000 salary. Neither the much-traveled Murray or Blanton will run near that much. That's about $500,000 the Redskins can spend on a position where they need help, like defensive line.
Or, at the present epidemic-like rate of injury - Bobby Wilson, Cory Raymer, Dan Esposito and Elic Mahone already out for most or all of the season - maybe general manager Charley Casserly figures he needs a larger-than-usual Red Cross fund for replacement players.
Besides, in case you've forgotten, this is the era of free agency. Players jump from team to team like pogs launched by a giant. The guys who jump the most are special teamers. There's no sentiment for building a marriage between snapper, holder and kicker. It's wham, bam, thanks Sam.
Strangely enough, replacing Lohmiller with the geezer, stop-gap Murray is a move for the future. The Cowboys proved last season that really good teams can find placekickers (Chris Boniol) off the street and get within a whisker of the Super Bowl.
There are youngsters out there who can do the job. Blanton may be a guy Washington stashes on injured reserve and gives a season to develop.
Finally, Lohmiller was in the final year of his contract. He made no bones about trying his hand elsewhere next season. Turner heard him bay and decided he'd be the first to say goodbye. by CNB