QB Drama Is Nothing New in Washington

QB Drama Is Nothing New In Washington http://www.redskins.com/cda-web/article-module.htm?id=c4414e3f-d196...

QB Drama Is Nothing New In Washington

By Mike Richman Posted Oct 21, 2011

Mike Shanahan’s decision to name John Beck the starter over Rex Grossman for Sunday’s game against Carolina marks another chapter in the most recent battle to be the Redskins’ main man under center.

Quarterback duels are nothing new in Washington. They’ve ranged in description from respectful competitions to controversies to sheer animosity between players seeking to start at the most critical position in football – and one of the most scrutinized jobs in the nation’s capital.

Here are some of the more memorable Redskin quarterback rivalries in recent decades:

Sonny Jurgensen and Billy Kilmer Sonny vs. Billy was the Redskins’ first quarterback controversy of the modern era of football. The famous duel began in 1971 after new Redskins coach George Allen acquired Kilmer in a trade with New Orleans. Jurgensen, Washington’s starter the previous seven seasons, had posted huge numbers in the 1960s that would lead to his Hall of Fame induction.

Over the next four seasons, Kilmer and Jurgensen alternated starting roles because of coaching decisions or injuries. The duel captivated Redskin fans and many took sides, putting “I LIKE SONNY!” and “I LIKE BILLY!” bumper stickers on their cars.

Jurgensen was the fan favorite. The aerial wizardry he used to bedevil defenses in the pre-Allen years was vivid in the minds of Redskin supporters. Kilmer, a great leader who threw wobbly passes, was Allen’s preferred choice because his conservative, no-risk approach mirrored the coach’s philosophy.

Both quarterbacks carried a fierce desire to play. But they never let the rivalry become acrimonious, supporting each other on

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the field and hanging out together away from the game. They’re still good friends today.

Billy Kilmer and Joe Theismann These two resented each other, had no relationship and rarely communicated. Theismann seemed to provoke the mutual disdain when as a Redskins rookie in 1974, he declared that he wanted to start over Kilmer and Jurgensen. Such brashness irritated the two proven veterans, who banded together to make sure Theismann warmed the bench.

Theismann returned punts in the next two seasons. But with Jurgensen retired, he rotated with Kilmer as starter in 1976 and 1977.

The situation got ugly. In a 1976 game, Theismann was banged up and left the field. After one play and with Allen’s consent, he began returning to the huddle. But Kilmer, already in the huddle, gave him the thumbs-out sign and stayed in for the rest of the game. Theismann felt humiliated.

“I ran off the field, and George said, `Well, I guess I didn’t tell Billy that it was one play,'” Theismann said. “I’d earned the job, I won the job, I was the starting quarterback. But paybacks are hell. Once, I got knocked to the ground, and Billy came jogging out, and I gave him the thumb. What goes around comes around.”

Doug Williams and Jay Schroeder This battle became personal, especially in the mind of Williams, and its intensity rose to extreme levels during the 1987 season.

Schroeder began the year as the undisputed starter over Williams, who was acquired before the `86 season after starring for Tampa Bay and in the United States Football League. But in the `87 season opener, an injured Schroeder was replaced by Williams, thus kicking off a game of musical chairs.

Schroeder was benched twice because of erratic play, while Williams lost his job when a player strike ended and because of a back injury.

Once, when Williams was ready to return as the starter after his injury healed, coach Joe Gibbs kept Schroeder in. Williams became choked up when explaining his feelings about Gibbs’ decision.

In the season finale against Minnesota, Williams replaced an inept Schroeder and led the Redskins to victory. He started in playoff wins over the Bears and Vikings, and in Super Bowl XXII. He threw for a Super Bowl-record 340 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-10 rout of Denver and earned MVP honors.

At one point, Williams left the Super Bowl due to a knee injury. Schroeder went in, but Williams quickly returned. Williams was determined to limit Schroeder’s playing time due to an incident in the NFC championship game the year before.

“Schroeder got hit, he was woozy, and Gibbs was sending me on the field,” Williams said. “Schroeder waved me off. We got beat, 17-0, but we still had a quarter to go. There was no telling what could have happened.”

Heath Shuler and Gus Frerotte This competition pitted the No. 3 pick in the 1994 NFL Draft, Shuler, against the 197th selection that year, Frerotte. The less-heralded quarterback would outplay his much-ballyhooed teammate.

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Shuler immediately stoked the ire of Redskins fans by staging a 13-day holdout before signing a $19.25 million contract, then the richest deal in team history.

He inflamed the situation by failing to live up to his billing as the Redskins’ quarterback of the future. Once in 1994, he threw five interceptions in a loss at RFK Stadium and was booed mercilessly by fans bitter that the Redskins were paying so much money to a struggling quarterback.

Frerotte started the next game, completing 17 of 32 passes for 226 yards with two touchdowns in a win over the Colts. Redskins fans, eager to root for the underdog, immediately got on the “Gus Bus.”

Shuler still had chances to prove himself, rotating with Frerotte in `94 and `95. But Gus was named the bonafide starter entering the 1996 season, and Shuler never again appeared in a Redskin game. He was traded to the Saints after the season and is today regarded as one of the top draft busts in team history.

Brad Johnson and Jeff George In 1999, Brad Johnson threw for 4,005 yards, the second-best total in Redskins history. He also posted one of the NFL’s top quarterback ratings and earned his first Pro Bowl invitation. All signs pointed to him as the Redskins’ starter in the coming years.

But prior to the 2000 season, the Redskins signed super-talented quarterback Jeff George as part of a free agent spending spree. The signing irked Johnson, who struggled a bit early on until posting performances reminiscent of his 1999 season. He started the first nine games until an injury thrust George into the starting role.

George started the next three games, but with Johnson’s knee healed, Redskins coach Norv Turner reinserted him in the starting lineup for a game against the Giants with playoff implications. Johnson, however, threw two interceptions and was benched. His only other start that year was in a meaningless season-ending game against the Cardinals.

The Redskins finished 8-8, missed the playoffs and a disgruntled Johnson left after the season via free agency.

Mike Richman is the author of The Redskins Encyclopedia and the Washington Redskins Football Vault. His web site is www.redskinshistorian.com and his email is [email protected].

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