Paul Woody: Brunell's experience key to deal

[bubba9497]

Brunell's experience key to deal

12-year veteran is likely to start for Redskins ahead of third-year QB Ramsey

BY PAUL WOODY

TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Feb 21, 2004

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031773811286&path=!sports!redskins&s=1045855935462

The question for Joe Gibbs and the Washington Redskins is whether Mark Brunell will become Doug Williams or Gerald Riggs.

When Gibbs served his first tenure as the Redskins' coach, from 1981-92, he was instrumental in the acquisition of Williams, a quarterback, and Riggs, a running back.

In 1986, the conventional wisdom in the NFL regarding Williams was that his best years were behind him.

But Gibbs had coached Williams in Tampa Bay. Gibbs believed Williams, a refugee from the USFL in 1986, still had plenty left and pushed to bring in Williams as the Redskins' backup quarterback.

Everyone knows the rest of the story. In 1987, Williams saved the final regular-season game in Minnesota, then led the Redskins to the Super Bowl, where he was named the MVP.

Riggs was the power running back Gibbs thought he needed for his offense in 1989. He pushed General Manager Bobby Beathard to acquire Riggs from Atlanta. Beathard resisted, but eventually gave in to Gibbs and acquired Riggs for the Redskins' first-round draft choice in the'89 draft.

Riggs played three seasons in Washington, was supplanted as the starting running back by Earnest Byner in 1990 and gained a total of 1,557 yards. He was the short-yardage back in 1991.

And now, in his second tour of duty with the Redskins, Gibbs has decided that Brunell will be his starting quarterback.

The Redskins acquired Brunell from Jacksonville for a third-round draft choice. Brunell will receive a seven-year contract worth $43 million, including an $8.6 million signing bonus.

Brunell will be 34 on Sept. 17. He was sidelined by an elbow injury early last season, and he suffered concussions in the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

The Jaguars were more comfortable trusting their future to a second-year quarterback, Byron Leftwich, instead of Brunell, who will be entering his 12th NFL season in 2004.

The Redskins prefer Brunell to their third-year quarterback, Patrick Ramsey.

Barring an injury, Brunell is almost certain to be the starter. Players who receive $8.6 million signing bonuses do not sit on the bench.

Ramsey has started 16 games in two seasons for the Redskins and has a 6-10 record. He has a strong arm and is a willing student. But he is not adept at reading defenses, has limited mobility and has yet to display a trait Gibbs values in a quarterback: a willingness to throw the ball away and avoid a bad play.

Ramsey's season last year also was shortened by a foot injury, as well as a concussion that might have cost him playing time had the foot not kept him out of games.

Brunell is adept at reading defenses. His arm remains strong, and he will not try to force a pass into a spot where it will not go.

He once was the epitome of the modern, mobile quarterback. But injuries and age have slowed him. Now, he has, at best, average mobility.

Brunell and Ramsey will have to learn a new offense, so they are even in that regard. But Brunell already possesses something Ramsey cannot obtain before the 2004 season begins in September: experience.

Gibbs believes that youth must be served in the NFL, but he would rather it be served on defense, at running back or at one spot in the offensive line. When it comes to his quarterback, Gibbs likes them aged like fine wine and a good cheese.

[bubba9497]

NFL notebook: Feb. 21

February 21, 2004

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/football/article/0,1406,KNS_321_2672509,00.html

Report: Southern Cal's Williams to enter draft

INDIANAPOLIS - Mike Williams, a standout wide receiver who just completed his sophomore season at Southern Cal, could become the first player to join Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett in taking advantage of the ruling by a judge that opened the NFL draft for the first time to college freshmen and sophomores and high school players.

Executives from two NFL teams told the Washington Post they expect Williams to enter the draft. A USC athletic department spokesman said Williams had told school officials he had not made a decision.

Redskins reach deal with Jacksonville QB Brunell

WASHINGTON - The deal that will send Mark Brunell to the Washington Redskins is done.

Talks that began during Super Bowl week wrapped up late Thursday, when agent Leigh Steinberg and Redskins owner Dan Snyder agreed to a seven-year, $43 million contract with an $8.6 million signing bonus for the longtime Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback.

The deal becomes official once the offseason trading period begins March 3. The Redskins will give the Jaguars a third-round draft pick.

Brunell is expected to displace Patrick Ramsey as the starter, giving coach Joe Gibbs the veteran he has sought in his first season back in Washington after 11 years away from football.

Extra points

Atlanta cornerback Juran Bolden was indicted in Fulton (Ga.) County on charges of driving a stolen car and marijuana possession. Bolden faces a felony charge of theft by receiving stolen property for driving the vehicle Oct. 11.