THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 9, 1995 TAG: 9510090121
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PHILADELPHIA LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Don't be surprised if, once Redskins coach Norv Turner reviews the films of Washington's 37-34 overtime loss to Philadelphia, there isn't another controversy involving the officials.
With the clock winding down at the end of the first half, Philadelphia quarterback Rodney Peete hit Fred McCrary with a 2-yard pass close to a first down. The officials called timeout to measure at the same time the Eagles called timeout.
The measurement showed a first down, and referee Jerry Markbreit announced to the crowd that he'd restored Philadelphia's timeout because he'd used his own to measure. Markbreit then gave the signal for the clock, which read 39 seconds, to start.
But the clock didn't start until Peete took the snap from center - or after 10 to 13 seconds of real time had elapsed. The Eagles eventually used their last two timeouts and scored a touchdown with nine seconds to go in the half.
When asked about the play, Turner was unsure of the circumstances. He thought McCrary had been knocked out of bounds. He had not, and the closest anyone with the Philadelphia or Washington media could figure, it was a mistake for the clock not to have started.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: The Eagles walked away from their 37-34 overtime victory professing their respect for Redskins kick returner Brian Mitchell. Eagles coach Ray Rhodes even vowed to redo his special teams in time for the rematch against Mitchell on Nov. 26.
The feeling of admration was not mutual.
``Can't respect 'em,'' Mitchell said. ``Not after what they did today.''
After watching Mitchell rip off kickoff returns of 42 and 44 yards and a punt return for 59 yards and a touchdown, the Eagles forgot about chivalry and began kicking away from Mitchell.
``If you're going to kick the ball, kick it and then kick my butt,'' Mitchell said. ``Don't be scared. It doesn't look good.''
On the first punt following Mitchell's 59-yard scoring return, a play on which it didn't appear he was touched, Philadelphia punter Tom Hutton practically turned toward the stands before booting the ball. His kick went out of bounds after just 29 yards.
Mitchell, who finished with 190 total yards, set the career record for Redskins kickoff-return yards Sunday. He now has 4,205, beating the old mark of 4,128 set by Mike Nelms from 1980 to 1984.
In addition, Mitchell's punt-return touchdown moved him into sixth place on the league's all-time list, behind Jack Christensen and Rick Upchurch. Each had eight.
``He does a great job, but it isn't just him,'' coach Norv Turner said. ``The team does a great job. They believe. When you believe, you know if you do that little bit extra, he can take it all the way. That's what happened today.''
BROOKS IS BACK, BARELY: With Terry Allen held to just 53 yards on 16 carries, Turner made a brief fourth-quarter switch he hoped would give the Redskins a spark.
Reggie Brooks made his first appearance of the regular season. The former Notre Dame star, two years ago the team's leading rusher but almost forgotten since then, carried two times for minus-2 yards. On Washington's next series of downs, Allen was back in the lineup.
``I wanted to give him a chance,'' Turner explained. ``I thought maybe he could get outside and make something happen. But we didn't give him much of a chance.''
THIS 'N' THAT: The largest margin to decide the last eight Redskins-Eagles games has been four points. Philadelphia has won seven of them. . . . Sign of the times, at least at The Vet on Sunday: ``Forget the glove; let's understand love.'' . . . Another sign: ``Ricky Watters: MVP - Most Valuable Prima Donna.'' . . . Among the Philadelphia inactives was defensive end William Fuller, who had been forced from last week's game after one play with a hamstring pull. This marked the first game the Chesapeake native has missed since the 1992 season. . . . Quote of the day: From Turner: ``Why does a guy shoot 64 one day and a 73 the next? We beat the Dallas Cowboys and everybody thinks we're a little better than we really are and they're a little worse than they really are. The truth is, we're probably both somewhere in the middle.'' . . . The stats at the end of the first quarter showed Philadelphia with 170 yards, Washington with 17. The Redskins didn't make a first down until 13:48 before halftime. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS Photo
Eagles punter Tom Hutton tries in vain to tackle the Redskins' Brian
Mitchell as he crosses the goal line after a 59-yard punt return.
by CNB