THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 27, 1995 TAG: 9511270139
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Art Monk, the former Redskin who holds the NFL's all-time record for career receptions, told a Washington television station Saturday night that he expects to sign this week with the Philadelphia Eagles.
``I guess it's no secret that I was in Philadelphia (last week),'' Monk told former teammate Charles Mann on WUSA-TV's ``Redskins Blitz.'' He added that the Eagles were talking about signing him last week, ``but I told them not under the circumstances (of Sunday's game at RFK Stadium).
Monk, who finished last season with the Jets, told Mann that he was under the impression the Eagles would sign him this week. With Fred Barnett having suffered a pulled groin Sunday, adding Monk to the roster may take on more immediate importance.
``He can help us even if he doesn't play a snap,'' Barnett said. ``He brings wisdom to the team.''
The Eagles also are awaiting word on the status of receiver/kick returner Kelvin Martin. He has a stress fracture in his foot, and the date of his return is uncertain.
Eagles head coach Ray Rhodes has confirmed his intention of signing Monk, who would fit in perfectly with Rhodes' short-yardage passing offense.
PEETE AND RE-PEETE: It didn't matter to Rodney Peete that he was allowed to finish what he started Sunday against the Redskins. It was what happened in between that weighed most heavily on his mind following the Eagles' 14-7 victory.
After consulting with offensive coordinator Jon Gruden, Rhodes pulled Peete from the lineup midway through the third quarter, replacing him with former starter Randall Cunningham. Although Cunningham played just two series of downs before Rhodes reinstated Peete, the quarterback was still disturbed by his treatment 30 minutes after the game.
An excerpt from his postgame press conference:
How was (being pulled) explained to you?
Peete: ``It wasn't.''
Were you surprised you were removed?
Peete: ``Very.''
Were you surprised you went back in?
Peete: ``Very.''
What did you learn from watching two series?
Peete: ``Nothing.''
Are you going to talk to (Rhodes) about this?
``Yes, I'm not happy with him,'' Peete said. ``I'm disappointed with the decision that was made. It would be different if we were behind or we were a 3-8 team. I've started eight games, and we've won seven. Based on that, I feel I should be allowed to struggle a bit.''
Rhodes said he only intended for Peete to sit out long enough to regain his composure.
``Rodney wasn't as effective as we felt he could be,'' he said. ``I wanted him to just watch for a while and see what was going on and stay in the game mentally.''
Before he left, Peete was 11 of 18 passing. After he returned, with 14:14 to play and Washington ahead 7-6, he went 5 for 5 and engineered Philadelphia's game-winning drive, an eight-play, 75-yard march that took 2:54.
THIS 'N THAT: Ricky Watters has three 100-yard rushing games this season. Two have come against the Redskins. His 124 yards Sunday gave him 1,005 for the season. ``It's a big deal, no doubt,'' Watters said. ``That's how all running backs are measured. It's big, but it's bigger to be 8-4 after starting 1-3.'' . . . Most misleading stat of the game: Washington safety Stanley Richard's 12 tackles and an assist, more than twice as many as the next-leading Redskin. Richard has perfected the art of knocking opposing players out of bounds after they're run through linemen and linebackers. . . . The attendance of 50,539 was the smallest at RFK Stadium this season. by CNB