THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 24, 1996 TAG: 9610240534
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: JIM DUCIBELLA
LENGTH: 72 lines
ASHBURN, Va.
Shar Pourdanesh's second season begins Sunday.
With left guard Tre' Johnson all but out of the Washington Redskins' game against the Indianapolis Colts because of a knee injury, Pourdanesh will start at left tackle, while Joe Patton moves into Johnson's spot.
Pourdanesh opened the season at left tackle against the Philadelphia Eagles, but was benched after that game and Patton reinstated as a starter. Pourdanesh, a former Canadian Football League all-star who is the only Iranian-born player in the NFL, hadn't played since until Johnson was injured in the fourth quarter of last week's 31-21 victory over the New York Giants.
``I've been approaching every game as if I was going to start,'' Pourdanesh said. ``I've done more film work than usual. Sometimes, it's disappointing when I don't play, but we're winning and I can't complain about that.''
If the Redskins choose not to give Pourdanesh any help - a highly unlikely approach - he will go against end Tony Bennett. Bennett has started just four games this season, but has two sacks and 22 tackles.
``I don't know if I'm better physically, but I'm much farther along mentally than at the start of the year,'' Pourdanesh said. ``I played that first game scared, scared of the competition, scared to be playing in the NFL, scared that I'd make a mistake. I won't play scared any more.''
For Frerotte, it's 2 years since his first NFL start
Wednesday was the two-year anniversary of Gus Frerotte's first NFL start - against the Colts at the RCA Dome. Frerotte, at the time the third-string quarterback behind John Friesz and Heath Shuler, completed 17 of 32 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-27 victory that snapped a five-game losing streak.
``I look back now and I see where I made a lot of mistakes,'' said Frerotte, who sports a 7-1 record in the eight straight games he has started since taking over for the injured Shuler in the next-to-last game of 1995. ``Fundamental things, like footwork, things I do so much better now.''
Although Indianapolis coach Lindy Infante doubles as the team's offensive coordinator and thus concentrates on breaking down the other team's defense, he admitted Wednesday that he has watched three game films of Frerotte this season.
``He looks like a very impressive young quarterback,'' Infante said. ``I haven't stood next to him on the sidelines, but it looks like he has tremendous arm strength. It wouldn't surprise me to see him playing in a Pro Bowl one day soon.''
This 'n' that
Frerotte's notoriety is definitely increasing. Both The Associated Press and The Washington Times received anonymous phone calls late Tuesday night saying that Frerotte had just been involved in a serious automobile accident. When asked, Frerotte denied it, claiming he went to bed at 9 p.m. . . . Darrell Green has been announced as the Redskins' 1995 man of the year in a promotion sponsored by a national chain of hardware stores. The award goes to the player who displays ``characteristics of a great team leader and humanitarian.'' Green's Youth Life Foundation will receive $5,000 in recognition of his selection. Although he didn't practice Wednesday, Green probably will start against the Colts, defensive coordinator Ron Lynn said. . not ready to play a whole game and Leslie has played well when he was in there,'' coach Norv Turner said when asked why Westbrook wasn't starting. ``It's a combination of both.'' . . . The Redskins are 2 1/2-point favorites. with a very ugly looking black eye. ``It's OK, my wife even likes it,'' he joked. ``She was tired of me being the best-looking quarterback in the NFL.'' ILLUSTRATION: MIKE HEFFNER/The Virginian-Pilot file photo
Shar Pourdanesh makes his second start at left tackle Sunday for the
Redskins. He was benchec after the season opener. by CNB