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Gus goes to Washington Lions QB returns to D.C. to face former team in playoffs
Posted: Tuesday January 18, 2000 11:37 AM
LANDOVER, Md. (CNNSI.com) -- It was predicted long ago that Gus Frerotte would one day start a playoff game in front of the Washington Redskins fans. But those predictions never had him wearing a Detroit Lions uniform. So emotions ran high for two teams starving for playoff success when the Redskins and Lions kicked off in the first round of the NFC playoffs. For Frerotte, the key will be keeping the emotions under control. "It's going to be strange walking out of the tunnel on the other side of the field," Frerotte said before the game. "People who cheered for you for five years all of a sudden are going to be cheering against you. It's kind of crazy. I was saying to myself, you could never write a better script." Just three years ago, Frerotte was the Redskins quarterback-of-the-future. The 1994 seventh-round draft choice won the job over No. 3 overall pick Heath Shuler and signed a four-year, $18 million contract in the summer of 1997. Maybe it was the money, or maybe it was because he was no longer the underdog, but Frerotte then hit a plateau. He became more emotional, more sensitive to criticism when things went wrong, more hyper when things went right. Then, in his next to last home start for the Redskins, Frerotte ran for a touchdown and celebrated by banging his head into the padded, concrete wall that rings the field. He had to leave the game at halftime with a sprained neck, and he said he's expecting fans to hang banners with big "Xs" on the wall Saturday, inviting him to do it again. "They'll never forget, and I hope they never do," Frerotte said. "It's funny. I lived it. I went through it. Maybe it did hurt my career at Washington, maybe it didn't. People ask me about it. I just laugh and move on." Frerotte lost his job to Trent Green last season, was cut at the end of the season and signed by the Lions to back up Charlie Batch. With Batch out with a broken thumb, Frerotte gained some closure to his Redskins trials by leading the Lions to a 33-17 victory over his old team five weeks ago. As it turns out, that was just Closure, Part One. Batch re-injured his thumb last week, and the playoff schedule has Frerotte and the Lions in Washington, where Detroit has never, ever, ever won -- 0-17 since the Redskins moved here in 1935. The Lions have lost four straight, they don't play well on the road, and Washington has won its last four home games. The Lions haven't won a playoff game in eight years, the Redskins in seven. In the NFL, players generally perform above their usual standard against teams that dumped them. Thus, Frerotte may be the Lions' best hope for victory -- assuming he keeps his head on straight. "Gus, in games that we've had him in, has been very calm," Detroit coach Bobby Ross said. "I have nothing but the highest praise for him in that area. I think there's a little difference in being what is considered to be THE starter and the person who is not." Frerotte said he feels "a lot less pressure" in Detroit, but he admits this game is something special. Not only is it a chance to prove his D.C. critics wrong once again, but it is also his audition day for teams around the league should he test the free agent market next month. "I'll be excited," Frerotte said. "But I don't think I'll be out of control." Frerotte also needs to be on target because the Lions have the third-worst running game in the league. They've rushed for just 48 yards the last two games combined, and Ross has said he'll use fullback Cory Schlesinger at tailback to try to get something going. The running game is also a concern for the Redskins. Stephen Davis, the NFC's leading rusher, hasn't played since spraining his left ankle Dec. 19 at Indianapolis. Davis practiced this week, but he won't be 100 percent. "Once the adrenaline gets going and he gets revved up, he'll be ready to go," coach Norv Turner said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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