THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 19, 1997 TAG: 9702190557
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 52 lines
Washington Redskins free agent Heath Shuler found the surroundings in Kansas City much to his liking Tuesday at the conclusion of a two-day visit to the AFC Chiefs during which he blamed the Redskins for playing the wrong quarterback last season.
``It looks like there's a really close feeling between the players,'' Shuler told the Kansas City Star following a reunion with former Tennessee teammate Jeff Smith, who plays for the Chiefs. ``But there's something missing. Jeff really doesn't know what it is, but he hopes a quarterback can come in and change that.''
The Chiefs, who are known to be interested in veteran Chris Chandler, got a strong message from Shuler that he will not join their organization unless he's the starting quarterback. And he pointed to last season, in which he took just one snap in place of starter Gus Frerotte, as his reason why.
``This last year was a difficult year, knowing you are better than someone and that someone is playing in front of you,'' Shuler said. ``That's very hard for me to get over. To be a backup to someone is something I don't want to do. Going out and playing and being a competitor is something I'm really looking forward to.''
The former No. 1 pick has no other visits scheduled. The same can't be said for cornerback Tom Carter. He finished his trip to Chicago promising that he and the Bears would talk again in a few days. Meanwhile, Carter's agent says his client will talk next to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who lost Willie Williams to Seattle last weekend and may lose Rod Woodson as well.
Carter's agent, Jeffrey Irwin, told The Washington Post that although the Redskins made Carter their transition player - meaning that, to keep him, they must pay him the average of the top-10 cornerback salaries in the league last season - he has doubts they'll actually follow through.
``I get the feeling the Redskins won't match any offer to Tom unless it fits into their (salary) cap situation,'' Irwin said. ``Tom is drawing a lot of interest. I think he's going to narrow it down to five, then make a decision within the next week.''
Washington may not want Carter. They haven't yet signed running back Terry Allen or Frerotte. Defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, their designated franchise player, remains far from satisfied with the negotiations and has left the Washington area for his home in Pennsylvania.
The Redskins have offered Gilbert around $3 million, slightly more than the $2.8 million minimum a franchise defensive tackle must earn this season. Gilbert is seeking about $4.5 million. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
``Going out and playing and being a competitor is something I'm
really looking forward to,'' says former Redskin Heath Shuler.