THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 20, 1995 TAG: 9511200198
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Sunday at RFK Stadium, one man's excitement was 51,298 fans' worst nightmare.
But Heath Shuler wasn't about to let the lusty booing of the Redskins faithful affect his chance of rescuing his team with a dramatic fourth-quarter rally.
Or so he thought.
Instead, with Redskin fans expecting the worst, Shuler exceeded expectations by tossing two disastrous interceptions which led to 10 Seattle points and contributed mightily to Washington's 27-20 defeat.
``What can I say?'' offered Shuler, who also tossed a pair of picks in his last mop-up outing against Kansas City. ``I dropped back and threw the ball to the wrong guys.''
In reality, the Redskins' loss was truly a team effort, complete with five turnovers, defensive lapses, dropped passes and the usual assortment of gaffes that should be all-too-familiar to anyone who's seen the team play the past three years.
But judging from the way fans lit into Shuler, it was as though folks believed all the Redskins' ills could be cured simply by telling ol' No. 5 to get lost.
``Is it unfair? Of course it's unfair,'' Shuler said. ``But hey, this is entertainment. The fans have to feel like they're a part of it. They pay their money, so that gives them the right to cheer, scream, yell - and boo.''
Redskin fans, revved up by a 19-yard punt return by Brian Mitchell that set up a Washington first down at the Seattle 26, began exercising their booing rights upon seeing Shuler jog onto the field at the 7:46 mark in relief of an ineffective Gus Frerotte.
``The whole game, after every series, I'd look over at Coach Turner to see if it was a yes or no about me going in,'' Shuler said. ``When he finally said yes, man, I was excited.''
His first three plays netted minus-three yards. But Eddie Murray's 48-yard field goal pulled the Redskins to within four at 17-13.
On the Redskins' next series, however, Shuler tried to force a pass to Henry Ellard and instead found Seattle safety Robert Blackmon.
``It came right to me,'' Blackmon said. ``I didn't have to move but about two yards.''
While watching Blackmon's 12-yard return, Shuler took a shot in the chest from Seahawks defensive tackle Joe Nash. Seconds later, a half-filled beer can whizzed a few feet past Shuler's head.
Two Chris Warren runs through a worn-down Redskins defense later, Seattle was ahead 24-13.
``We Want Gus! We Want Gus'' cried what remained of the Redskins faithful.
Shuler wasn't finished yet, however. Two plays into the Skins' next drive, Shuler fired a bullet some five yards over the head of Michael Westbrook and into the hands of Seattle's Corey Harris.
An angry Westbrook hurled his helmet against the Redskins metal bench, the clanking sound obscured by yet another chorus of boos.
``You tell yourself to just block it out,'' Shuler said. ``But let's be realistic - you can't.''
The turnover resulted in a Seattle field goal. Finally, with the game safely out of reach, Shuler found his rhythm. He completed eight straight passes underneath a soft Seahawks zone, including a 10-yard touchdown strike to Westbrook with 1:18 remaining.
The late flourish made Shuler's final line - 10 of 12 for 98 yards and a touchdown - look pretty strong.
But the two interceptions were killers.
Even so, Redskins coach Norv Turner, who declined to name next week's starter, insisted he hasn't given up on the former first-round draft pick.
``I still think Heath's going to be an outstanding quarterback,'' Turner said. ``It's just going to take time.''
In time, Shuler added, Redskin fans might even reserve their hostility for members of the opposing team.
``Today it felt like playing at an away stadium,'' he said. ``But I'll get their support someday. I just hope it's not to the point where (the fans' faith) is totally gone.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Heath Shuler
by CNB