It's obvious by now, isn't it? Steve Spurrier may win some games and score some points this season in Washington, but he's not going to take the NFL by storm, as many had expected, and he's not going to be able to make chicken salad out of the careers of journeyman quarterbacks like Shane Matthews and Danny Wuerffel.
Matthews & Co. may be able to beat the Arizonas of the world, and even win the NFC offensive player of the week in the process. That will get Spurrier six, seven or eight wins a season. But it won't put him in position to challenge the Philadelphias or San Franciscos of the NFL. And that's what we found out watching the Redskins lose to those NFC heavyweights by a combined 57-17 in the past seven days.
Late Sunday afternoon, you could almost see Spurrier scaling back his once-grand expectations for 2002. He knows now that he can't get to where he wants to go until he has a quarterback capable of more than Matthews and Wuerffel, his two former Gator stars.
He can flip-flop them until his heart's content, running them out there on alternate plays if he so desires. But against the league's better teams, the outcome probably will be the same. The Redskins (1-2) don't look like a playoff threat right now no matter who's under center.
The best thing Spurrier can do at this point is what he's probably planning on doing: Using the team's upcoming bye week to get rookie quarterback Patrick Ramsey ready enough to make his NFL starting debut. Ramsey may not prove to be the answer either, but you never know until you ask the question, right?
Even Matthews sounded braced for that reality, saying: "Patrick is their future. I will be supportive about whatever their decision is."
Looking back, it's painfully apparent that Spurrier erred in not trying to land a higher-profile quarterback this offseason. Washington could have gotten into the Drew Bledsoe bidding, but Spurrier was convinced that he could make do with his former Gators, and spend the Redskins' cap dollar elsewhere, namely on defense.
That's where Spurrier's pride and lack of current NFL knowledge hurt Washington's chances in 2002. Don't forget, he traded away backup Sage Rosenfels during the preseason and nearly cut a deal to send Ramsey to Chicago when the rookie's contract situation threatened to drag on. Where would the Redskins be right now in terms of hope if they didn't have Ramsey to turn to?
Against San Francisco on Sunday, the Redskins' offense did virtually nothing after a pair of second-quarter scoring drives netted them 10 points. In the second half, Washington was anemic, amassing just 41 yards of total offense and two first downs. All told, the Redskins had seven drives of three plays or fewer, 57 yards rushing, only 160 net yards passing and three turnovers.
Spurrier himself sounds at a loss to explain his team's troubles. He's getting his NFL comeuppance, and it's a role he's clearly not used to.
"It's the whole team," he said Sunday. "Don't put it all on the quarterbacks. Our offensive line didn't play super. We had a lot of disappointing third-quarter plays."
Offense, defense, everything looks broken in Washington at the moment. And even more alarming to Redskins fans, this isn't a team -- especially on defense -- that was built with next year in mind. Not with veterans like Darrell Green, Bruce Smith, Dan Wilkinson, Daryl Gardener, Jessie Armstead, Kevin Mitchell, Stephen Davis, Sam Shade and Brendan Stai taking up a good chunk of the salary cap.
With 13 games to go, it's too early to know the full story of the 2002 Redskins. Spurrier may yet surprise us. But already, the focus feels like it's shifting to 2003. As it turns out, the first surprise was on Spurrier.
The best of the 49ers' trip to the Big Queasy
Remember when we thought Sunday's Redskins at 49ers game would be all about the memory of Osaka and what happened toward the end of the teams' preseason meeting seven weeks ago?
Who knew that San Francisco would instead be dealing with a case of Montezuma's Revenge?
Gross quote from the stomach flu-stricken 49ers locker room, Part I: "I was throwing up. I had the runs. Basically I was losing fluids both ways. My stomach acted up four times before the game, then I had the dry heaves on the field, but I didn't actually throw up until halftime." -- San Francisco guard Derrick Deese.
Gross quote from the 49ers locker room, Part II: "I'm proud of how our guys sucked it up." -- San Francisco head coach Steve Mariucci, in a questionable [on this day, at least] choice of words.
"Some of us wore those blue masks ... like you're having a baby. It was kinda crazy in here." -- Mariucci, on the 49ers pregame locker room Sunday.
Owens in need of a little indignation
The most interesting theory I heard all weekend was this: If you're looking for a way to explain Terrell Owens' slow start, blame his temperament. The San Francisco receiver isn't mad enough.
Let's face it, Owens rolled up monster numbers the past two seasons, when he was mad at the world. Now that he's at peace with everyone, he's doing nothing but blending into the scenery. Who needs that? Certainly not the 49ers' offense, which has struggled to stretch the field and is turning into a dink and dunk outfit.
Owens' overbearing, in-your-face style of play was always annoying, but usually effective. He is one of the game's most dominant play-makers, and San Francisco will go only as far as he carries them. Team harmony and happiness are all well and good but, hey, the 49ers don't want to turn their premier weapon into just another receiver. They've already got J.J. Stokes and Tai Streets for that.
Through three games, Owens has just 11 receptions for 112 yards and one receiving touchdown. That puts him in a three-way tie for second place among 49ers receivers, trailing tight end Eric Johnson. Fortunately for San Francisco, a bit of the old T.O. showed up Sunday against Washington. First, he ripped off the play of the day, zigging and zagging his way to a 38-yard touchdown run on an end-around option play, and then later he questioned the killer instinct of head coach and nemesis Mariucci.
Owens quibbled with Mariucci's decision to run out the clock deep in Redskins territory at the end of the game. Asked if Spurrier would have taken the same approach, Owens shot back: "Nope. Not at all."
That's it, Terrell. Let it out. Stomp and shout. Get mad. Your team needs you.
And speaking of angry receivers, congratulations to all of you who had Week 3 in the Randy Moss Stops Trying Pool. Remember, every one is eligible to re-enter next season.
But seriously, that didn't take long did it? And Moss' effort against Carolina on Sunday wasn't called into question by us media smart alecks. Nope, this time Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper did the heavy lifting, screaming at his gifted teammate after several instances where Moss seemed less than interested in going all-out to catch Culpepper's passes.
"Daunte just wants to win, just like any guy in his profession," said Moss, who had four catches for a paltry 16 yards. "I think he's just frustrated that we're sitting right now at 0-3."
Hmmm. Which begs two questions: Why doesn't Moss seem to want to win as much as Culpepper, and why isn't the Great One a tad more frustrated himself at Minnesota's winless start?
Somebody remind me when the "new" Randy Moss was supposed to have shown up. I can't seem to lay my hands on any of those preseason puff pieces that heralded his new-found maturity and re-dedicated level of commitment.
Watching underrated Green Bay cornerback Mike McKenzie make that juggling, sideline interception, his flowing dreadlocks bouncing out of the back of his helmet.
Miami receiver Oronde Gadsden's breath-taking one-handed stab of a Jay Fiedler pass on a crossing pattern. (And you thought the NFL outlawed stickum.)
Owens' helter-skelter cross-field 38-yard touchdown gallop on an end-around pass-option play. Is there anything better in football than watching the blocks develop when a runner cuts it back across the grain?
I think we'll all know a lot more about who's going to win the new-fangled NFC West in two weeks, when the Rams visit the 49ers in Week 5. Until then, let's not make too much of the 49ers' 2-1 mark, or the Rams' 0-2 beginning.
Since beating New Orleans in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs in January 2001, less than 21 months ago, the Vikings are 5-15. From 1998 through that game against the Saints, Minnesota went an NFL-best 39-14. The last time the Vikings missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons -- as they will in 2001-2002 -- was the end of the Jerry Burns era in 1990-91.
If I'm San Francisco defensive end Andre Carter today, I'm sending flowers to Redskins tackle Chris Samuels. Isn't that what you're supposed to do after you've treated someone like a doormat?
Twice in a six-day span, opposing head coaches have refused to run up the score late in a win against Spurrier's Redskins. Maybe they're trying to teach him by example.
Ah, so that's why the Bengals haven't made a prime time TV appearance in four years.
And you wonder why Cincinnati has such a hard time getting any decent starting quarterback candidate to take its money in free agency? Gus Frerotte is just another brick in the wall, baby.
The Cardinals drew 28,986 for their home-opener Sunday in Tempe, where temperatures were 100 degrees at kickoff. If that keeps up, Bill Bidwill is going to consider moving his team to Montreal. We hear there's a dome up there that might be available pretty soon.
Hey, Jim Haslett, what was that again about Ricky Williams not being able to break off the big run?
With that nifty 25-yard touchdown pass that Brian Westbrook threw to Todd Pinkston on a halfback-option play against Dallas, the Eagles rookie officially passed backup Koy Detmer on Philadelphia's quarterback depth chart.
Best press box line of the day in San Francisco was uttered by a writer having just watched another in a series of Miami offensive highlights against the Jets: "Maybe that Randy Ratio thing ought to refer to [Dolphins rookie tight end] Randy McMichael."
Yep, it's a pass-happy league all right. Priest Holmes, 180 yards rushing on 30 carries. Lamar Smith, 154 yards on 30 carries. Williams, 151 yards on 24 carries. Wonder what this week's NFL trend piece is going to be? I've got it. How about the return of the rushing game?
I believe New England kicker Adam Vinatieri would still be 8-for-8 in field goals this season even if the NFL adopted the Arena League's goal posts. He's that accurate. With or without the beard.
What's Dick LeBeau waiting for? Could Akili Smith really be any worse than the two clowns who have been playing quarterback in front of him?
The Saints have beaten the Bucs, Packers and Bears, three playoff teams from 2001. The Chargers have beaten the Bengals, Texans and Cardinals, three teams that are also in the league. Who said there's parity in the NFL.
Don't look now, but my gutsy, surprise AFC Super Bowl pick (OK, I pulled Denver out of my you-know-what) will be 5-0 once it rolls over Baltimore next Monday night and then takes care of business against San Diego (which never wins in the Mile High City) in Week 5.
Just imagine what Cleveland could do if it ever finds a running game? Almost time to slap William Green's face on the old milk carton, isn't it, Butch Davis?
Quickie Quiz: What two things do Mike Tice and Bud Grant have in common? Right. Both Vikings head coaches have eight letters in their names, and 35 years apart, started their Minnesota tenures 0-3. Tice actually is 0-4 counting last year's season finale, but who's counting?
Will somebody please wake me when Emmitt Smith gets within 150 yards of passing Walter Payton's career rushing record? I'll pay attention then, promise. But until, will the hype-meisters in the NFL office please tone it down? This thing is going to take longer than Early Wynn chasing his 300th win.
Just for kicks, let's figure out how many yards Lamar Smith needs to break Payton's all-time league rushing record.
Uh, oh, NFC East. The Eagles scored 37 points Monday night at Washington, and 44 at home against Dallas on Sunday. If I'm the Giants, I don't feel good about that trend.
Just wondering, but given his offseason, ah, indiscretion, is every pass thrown to Packers rookie running back Najeh Davenport considered a dump-off?
Let's take this from the top: Tom Brady wasn't a fluke. Troy Brown wasn't a fluke. Bill Belichick wasn't a fluke. Antowain Smith wasn't a fluke. Did I leave anybody out? Yeah, we see you, Bob Kraft.
I'm not making this up: Donovan McNabb's mom started a Moms of Quarterbacks club for other moms who happen to be the nurturing, loving role model for NFL signal-callers. Bet the Campbell's Chunky flows at those meetings.
Don't say we didn't warn you last week, Chicago Bears. You can't live on the edge every week in the NFL without occasionally getting a paper cut.
I know he didn't pull it off this time, but rest assured that wasn't the last fourth-quarter comeback we'll see out of Detroit rookie quarterback Joey Harrington. Sorry, Mike McMahon. No more calls, we have a winner. A tad more air under the ball and Harrington had himself a game-winning touchdown pass to Lions tight end Mikhael Ricks.
If I'm Herman Edwards, I'm telling Chad Pennington to get loose. After losing by a combined 74-10 to the Patriots and Dolphins -- the two AFC East teams that you're fighting with for division supremacy -- does anyone in New York seriously still harbor Super Bowl dreams? And while we're at it, the Jets only squeaked past the Bills in overtime thanks to two Chad Morton kickoff return touchdowns.
That's why it's time to find out what you've got in Pennington, Herm. Vinny Testaverde was only the guy if you really believed you were going places in 2002. Guess what? You're not. So make the move. Don't leave Chad hanging.
What homefield advantage? Entering Monday night's Rams at Bucs game, road teams are 23-22 in the NFL this season.
After watching what the Chargers and Colts did to the Texans, I figure Jerry Jones is even sicker about that opening-night egg that his Cowboys laid against the league's newest expansion team. And by the way, if the Texans can some how schedule the Cardinals and Chiefs, they can pull off the rare feat of playing all five NFL teams whose nicknames begin with C.
