Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

The most famous media day question that never was asked

 

By Rich Tandler

Tuesday was media day at the Super Bowl and every year when that rolls around talk turns to the multitude of dumb questions that get asked of the players during that event. Inevitably, the story of the question that Redskins quarterback Doug Williams supposedly was asked prior to Super Bowl XXII comes up.

As the tale goes, Williams, who was to become the first black man ever to start at quarterback in a Super Bowl, fielded dozens of questions about what his skin color meant. And then one reporter asked the ultimate dumb question:

“Doug, how long have you been a black quarterback?”

Great story showing just how dumb the media can be. Only problem is, it didn’t happen.

According to Snopes.com, a website that investigates urban legends and other such myths, that wasn’t quite the reporter’s question. Bob Kravits, then a reporter for the Rocky Mountain News and currently a writer for the Indianapolis Star, tells the real story of the question asked by Butch John of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger.

I hate to burden this column with the truth—really, why start now?—but I was next to the guy when that question supposedly was asked of Doug Williams, and what the reporter actually said was, “Doug, obviously you’ve been a black quarterback your whole life. When did race begin to matter to people?” Which was a perfectly reasonable question on a day when Williams was fielding hundreds of “black quarterback” questions. Problem was, Williams either misunderstood or didn’t hear the question because he said, “How long have I been a black quarterback?”

So, there you have it. The only person to utter the words about how long he’d been a black quarterback on that day was Doug Williams himself. 

 

Today in history: Dolphins top off perfection at Redskins' expense

By Rich Tandler

On this date in 1973, the Redskins played in their first Super Bowl and had the misfortune of running in to the undefeated Miami Dolphins. Here is my account from The Redskins Chronicle.

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum--George Allen’s Over the Hill Gang was flying so high going into Super Bowl VII that they were actually installed as three-point favorites over an unbeaten Miami Dolphins team. Sure, Miami had rushed for nearly 3,000 yards that year, but Washington had shut down Green Bay’s high-powered rushing game in the first round of the playoffs to gain a 16-3 win. And, yes, star quarterback Bob Griese would be back after missing much of the year with injury, but the return of Roger Staubach—who also was destined for Canton—didn’t help the Cowboys much as Washington thrashed the defending champs 26-3 in the NFC Championship game.

It quickly became apparent that the Redskins’ status as favorites was unwarranted. The Miami defense—nicknamed the No-Name Defense due to its lack of well-known stars—stuffed the running of Larry Brown by taking away his cutback lanes. Tackle Manny Fernandez was particularly effective; whenever Brown tried to find a hole up the middle, Fernandez was there to give him an inhospitable greeting. During the entire first half the Redskins took one snap in Miami territory, that at the 48. On that play, Billy Kilmer was rushed and his pass intercepted by linebacker Nick Buoniconti and returned 32 yards to set up Miami’s second TD just before halftime. They had scored earlier on an 18-yard Griese pass to receiver Howard Twilley near the end of the first quarter.

Trailing 14-0, the Redskins tightened up defensively and made several unsuccessful efforts to get back into the game offensively. Taking possession after the second-half kickoff, Kilmer finally got a hot hand, hitting Charlie Taylor, Roy Jefferson and Jerry Smith to move smartly down the field to the Miami 17. A sack killed the drive, Curt Knight’s 32-yard field goal attempt flew wide right and a five-minute drive went for naught. Miami appeared to seize the momentum again when Larry Csonka created a highlight film clip demonstrating the futility of the Redskins defense as tackler after would-be tackler bounced off of the powerful Dolphins running back during a 49-yard run. Washington held on, though, as Brig Owens intercepted a pass in the end zone before embarking on another drive deep into Miami territory.

If it wasn’t already clear that it just wasn’t the Redskins’ day, it became painfully obvious on a second-down play from the Miami 10. Smith broke wide open in the end zone. Kilmer spotted him and threw a pass that seemed destined to hit the tight end in the numbers. It struck the crossbar of the goal posts and fell harmlessly to the ground. On third down, game MVP Jake Scott intercepted Kilmer’s pass in the end zone and returned it to the Washington 48. The Redskins appeared to be dead until, in the words of Miami guard Bob Kuchenberg, “Garo did his little thing.”

“Garo” was Dolphin kicker Garo Yepremian and the “little thing” was that an attempted pass after his 42-yard field goal attempt with just over two minutes left was blocked by tackle Bill Brundige. Nobody is quite sure to whom the diminutive kicker was trying to pass after he scooped up the ball, which slipped out of his hands as he started into his passing motion. It was so bad that when Mike Bass picked it out of the air and ran it in 49 yards for the TD, he was credited with a fumble recovery, not an interception. Instead of holding a 17-0 lead to build the team’s season record to a perfect 17-0, the Dolphins were suddenly sweating it out with 2:07 to play. Allen eschewed the onside kick and kicked off deep. The defense held and Washington got the ball back with a chance to tie with 1:14 left. But the Miami defense swarmed all over Kilmer, the drive went nowhere, and Miami took over on downs.

 

Today in history: Missed opportunities in Seattle

By Rich Tandler

On this date in 2006, the Redskins played the second playoff game of the Gibbs II era. The previous week they had beaten the Bucs to advance to the divisional round where they faced the top-seeded Seahawks. Here is my account from the pages of The Redskins Chronicle.

Qwest Field--The Seattle Seahawks will spend the next week preparing for the NFC Championship Game. The Redskins will spend the week—and probably many more after it—ruing the opportunities they missed in their 20-10 playoff loss to the Seahawks. Seattle starting out the game playing like the favorites they were. A drive to the Washington 11, however, ended when NFL MVP Sean Alexander fumbled and Lemar Marshall recovered. The Seattle offense stalled after that, going three and out four straight times. Late in the first quarter they lost Alexander to a concussion. They appeared to be on the ropes.

But the Redskins did not deliver any punches. They one-upped their opponents by reeling off five consecutive three-and-out series. After the fifth, they got the break they needed. The punt was muffed and Pierson Prioleau recovered at the Seattle 41.

The Redskins did string together a couple of first downs but failed to take full advantage of the turnover. The drive died at the seven and John Hall’s 26-yard field goal gave Washington a 3-0 lead. Soon after that from the Seattle 26, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw a pass right into the hands of Carlos Rogers. The rookie cornerback had nothing but empty field turn between himself and the goal line and, for a moment, it looked like the Redskins would take control of the game.

But the ball bounced off of Rogers’ hands. Seattle continued the drive that culminated in a 26-yard touchdown pass from Hasselbeck to Darrell Jackson. That made it 7-3 and the score held until halftime. The Washington offense remained in the deep freeze and the Seahawks stretched their lead to 17-3 on a six-yard Hasselbeck touchdown run and a Josh Brown field goal. When the Redskins finally cranked out a sustained drive into Seattle territory, it died when Brunell was sacked and fumbled on fourth down from the 33 with 1:55 left in the third quarter.

The Redskins, however, managed to create one last chance. After Brown’s field goal with 14:20 left to play, Chris Cooley grabbed a Brunell pass and rumbled 52 yards to the Seattle 24. On third down from the 20, Brunell’s pass was knocked away by cornerback Andre Dyson. But the ball hung in the air long enough for Moss to seize it out of the air for a touchdown and suddenly, it was 17-10.

As if that wasn’t enough good fortune, Josh Scobey fumbled the ensuing kickoff. The Redskins moved from the Seattle 40 down to the 18 but couldn’t seal the deal. Brunell misfired while trying to hit Moss on third down and Hall pushed his 36-yard field goal attempt wide left. Seattle then burned off all but the last three minutes and Brown’s 31-yard field goal put it out of reach at 20-10.

 

Today in history: Green return beats Bears

By Rich Tandler

On Jan. 10, 1988, the Redskins and Bears faced off in Soldier Field in an NFC Divisional playoff game. At stake was the right to host the NFC Championship game the next week. This is from the pages of The Redskins Chronicle:

Soldier Field--The Redskins and Bears faced off in a rematch of the previous season’s divisional playoff. In that matchup, also played in Soldier Field, Washington had stunned the defending champs to earn a ticket to the NFC title game in New York.

This time, the stakes were a bit higher. The wild card Minnesota Vikings had upset the 49ers the previous day, and the winner of this game between the Central and Eastern division champions would host the NFC title game. It was perfect Midwest football weather: a cold, sunny day where every breath was visible.

The Bears jumped to a 14-0 lead and appeared headed to revenge. But Doug Williams, who had just nailed down the starting quarterback job, had other ideas.

A 32-yard pass from Williams to Ricky Sanders set up a three-yard George Rogers scoring run, and the Redskins tied it before halftime with an 18-yard Williams to Clint Didier touchdown pass.

Bears quarterback Jim McMahon started to find the going a bit tougher when Charles Mann started taking up residence in the Chicago backfield. Mann had three of the Redskins five sacks of McMahon and the Redskins were in control. Then Cap Boso became part of Redskins history.

In the third quarter of a tie game, Darrell Green fielded a punt at his own 48. It appeared that Boso would either tackle Green or knock him out of bounds at around the Bears’ 30. That was until Green hurdled the would-be defender and, while in the air, changed direction back to the middle of the field.

The jaw-dropping move cost Green a torn rib cartridge that would keep him out the rest of the game, but it gained the Redskins the go-ahead touchdown as he glided into the end zone, clutching both the ball and his rib cage. Washington had a 21-14 lead. All Chicago could muster was a field goal later in the third period. Washington was headed home to host the NFC title game.

 

25 years ago today--Theismann out, Schroeder in

It was 25 years ago today that Joe Theismann had his unfortunate encounter with Lawrence Taylor on Monday night football. The memories of that game for many end when Theismann was taken off the field on a stretcher. But the game continued and it was a classic in its own right. From the pages of The Redskins Chronicle.

11/18/85	WASHINGTON (6-5) 23, Giants (7-4) 21					53,371
NYG	7	0	14	0		21
Was	7	0	7	9		23
Was	Warren 10 pass from Theismann (Moseley kick)
NYG	Morris 56 run (Schubert kick)
Was	Riggins 1 run (Moseley kick)
NYG	Morris 41 run (Schubert kick)
NYG	Morris 8 run (Schubert kick)
Was	FG Moseley 28
Was	Didier 14 pass from Schroeder (kick failed)

RFK Stadium—Everyone watching on Monday night football will remember the broken leg, the grotesque angle that Joe Theismann’s shin took when Lawrence Taylor took him down from behind, Taylor’s frantic gesture towards to Redskins sideline to get help for the quarterback, and the removal of Theismann in the stretcher. Redskins fans will remember all that, too, but will also recall how an untested quarterback came off the bench to save the season for Washington. Theismann, in the midst of one of his worst seasons, started slowly, able to complete just a couple of short passes on the Redskins’ opening drive. On fourth and two at the Washington 43, punter Steve Cox threw to Raphel Cherry for 11 yards and a first down in New York territory. After misfiring on a long pass to Monk, Theismann settled in and completed three passes for 36 yards to finish the drive, including a 10-yard TD pass to tight end Don Warren to give his team a 7-0 lead. It didn’t take long for the Giants to come back. Two series later, running back Joe Morris got loose on a run off left tackle and couldn’t be caught, going 56 yards for the tying touchdown. On first down at the Washington 46, the play call was “50 Gut Pitchback,” which asked John Riggins to take a handoff up the middle, stop and pitch back to Theismann. The maneuver was designed to delay the Giants’ pass rush long enough for Theismann to find an open receiver downfield. The Giants weren’t fooled. Linebacker Harry Carson and tackle Jim Burt pushed Theismann to his left, where Taylor was waiting. Taylor dragged the quarterback down from behind, falling on Theismann’s right leg in the process. The television replays caught the moment where the leg suddenly gave out, bending in mid-shin in a manner that made even the strongest viewers cringe. Those fainter of heart had a much stronger reaction. A stretcher took Theismann off the field to a thunderous ovation, and the game resumed. It took just two plays for Jay Schroeder to evoke an ovation of his own. The second-year quarterback, who had thrown just eight NFL passes, zipped a 44-yard completion to Art Monk for a first down at the New York 13. Riggins fumbled the ball away three plays later to kill the scoring threat, but things did not seem quite as bleak as they had when Theismann was lying on the turf. The score remained tied at seven at the half. Apparently, Joe Gibbs was anxious to see what Schroeder could do after halftime, so he called for an onside kick to start the half. Cox executed it to perfection and recovered the ball himself. Schroeder went back to Monk, this time for 50 yards to the New York four. Riggins scored from a yard out three plays later and the Redskins had a 14-7 lead. Another long Morris touchdown run—this one of 41 yards—soon had the game tied again. Then George Rogers fumbled the ball back to the Giants at the Washington 23. With a shorter field to work with, Morris only had to run eight yards for his third touchdown and a 21-14 New York lead. With the game getting away from them, the Redskins responded. They drove 65 yards to a 28-yard Mark Moseley field goal with 11:25 left to play. Gibbs called for another onside kick and it worked as well, with Greg Williams making the recovery at the New York 46. Five plays later, cornerback Elvis Patterson tipped Schroeder’s pass, but Clint Didier snared it for a 14-yard touchdown. Although Moseley missed the point after, the Redskins held a 23-21 lead with 8:52 left to play. The Giants were unable to cross midfield after that and Washington had an improbable win. On the day, against the NFC top-ranked defense, Schroeder was 13 for 20 for 221 yards.