Ramsey will probably start against Cowboys;

[ducks]

Ramsey will probably start against Cowboys; Daniels out at least two weeks

By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer
September 20, 2004
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Struggling quarterback Patrick Ramsey will probably start next week for the Washington Redskins in place of Mark Brunell, who has a strained hamstring.

And, defensive end Phillip Daniels is out at least two weeks with a strained groin.

The Redskins were counting injuries and miscues Monday, a day after committing seven turnovers a 20-14 loss to the New York Giants.



``You can't make those kind of mistakes,'' coach Joe Gibbs said. ``We're so inconsistent over there. We make real good plays, and we come right back and throw the ball someplace where you just can't throw it.''

Brunell and Ramsey accounted for five turnovers Sunday. Brunell lost a fumble and threw an interception before leaving the game with the hamstring injury in the third quarter, continuing a streak of uninspiring play that dates to the beginning of training camp.

Ramsey, meanwhile, threw three interceptions and continued to look as if he's been put totally out of kilter by the switch from departed coach Steve Spurrier's Fun 'n' Gun offense to Gibbs' more conservative approach.

But Brunell's injury makes Ramsey the likely starter next Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys. Gibbs said he would have to see Brunell ``look real good in practice'' this week to decide otherwise.

``We'll see how everything goes with Mark,'' Gibbs said. ``If you had to guess right now, I'd say (Ramsey's) probably going to be playing Monday night.''

Brunell said he felt better after receiving treatment Monday morning, but he added: ``I've got a ways to go.''

An already thin defensive line was dealt a blow with another injury to Daniels. The free agent signing from Chicago played in only one exhibition game because of an abdominal strain, and now he is off to see a specialist because of the groin injury.

Daniels is expected to miss two to four weeks.

``I've got to be smart and realize that the teams winning in November and December are the ones going to the playoffs, so they need me for the long haul,'' said Daniels, who walked gingerly out the front door of Redskins Park. ``Hopefully I can get back soon.''

The news was better for kicker John Hall, who has the rare of distinction of having two strained hamstrings at the same time. He hurt the hamstring in his non-kicking leg Sunday to match the injury in his other leg suffered in the opener against Tampa Bay, but Gibbs said neither injury would probably keep Hall from playing.

Despite Ramsey's struggles, Gibbs said he would not consider starting third-stringer Tim Hasselbeck against the Cowboys.

The quarterbacks certainly weren't the only players to blame. The entire team sputtered with sacks, penalties, drops and turnovers. It spoiled another good performance by the defense, which held the Giants to one touchdown and didn't commit a penalty.

Receiver Rod Gardner is in danger of re-earning his old nickname of ``50-50,'' as in someone who alternates fantastic catches with careless drops. Running back Clinton Portis had gone 10 games without losing a fumble, but he lost two against the Giants.

``We've got to understand that we've got to be so much smarter,'' Gibbs said. (DUCKS NOTE YES PLAY SMARTER)

[scott]

In other news, Redskins will probably still suck.

[ducks]

in other news cowboys fans will really be ticked now if ramsay beats the cowboys

[scott]

Check your history book, quack.

Your second win in almost 8 years isn't going to suddenly make us cower to you.

[bigzak25]

keep holding on to the past scott....i bet you still look upon your high school diploma with adornment....

p.s. you just lost a vote pal. :p

[Jimcs50]

Scott, who was at the helm during the past losses to dallas....it was an ex defensive coordinator under Gibbs, ex Cowboy coach, a retread coach and a college coach....check out the Redskins record with the HOF coach in charge, then get back to me.:rolleyes

[Jimcs50]

Zak, it sucks that Daniels will miss the game...the freaking Cowboys always catch the Redskins after we lose key players, just as last year when Ramsey and Betts went out the game before we played them.

[bigzak25]

well, they lost julius jones....

just have to worry about george and rashard lee now....

testeverde will get his yards, we just gotta stop the homerun and keep them outa the endzone.

it sucks to lose daniels, but we're bringing the heat with others so, i'm not sure how much of an affect it will have on our pressure or ability to stop the run.....and as you posted, it looks like ramsey will start, which should make the dallas secondary start salivating, but i think he'll have a solid if not spectacular game....it's on portis to do the damage, as usual.

[SAmikeyp]

Dallas not finding the endzone has been their biggest issue. Although, penalties have been up there as well. If they could cut down the mistakes and score TD's instead of FG's, they could have beaten the Browns by 20. I don't think they could have beaten Minny but it would have been a lot closer and with some breaks could have stolen that one.

Despite Jim's lack of objectivity and raging paranoia...I do agree with him on one thing. Gibbs will make a difference. There have been games during this recent Dallas dominance that Washington had no business losing. Especially to Dave Campo! I picked Washington to win this game because of Gibbs. He will not allow what happened last week to continue. I know that Jim has his Super Bowl tickets right next to his Big XII championship tix but I don't see it. Unlike Jim, its not because I am against a team, its because I think that there are teams better in the conference that would get there ahead of Washington. I don't see Dallas or Washington making the playoffs this year...then again...stranger things have happened.

Julius Jones has not been a factor this season so far so not having him will be irrelevant.

[Tommy Duncan]

Foreskins suck.

[Jimcs50]

Mikey, Mr Pot, is telling me, Mr Kettle, I have unrealistic goals for my team. :spin

[SAmikeyp]

Hey...I can admit when my team is not playing well and will call them out when doing so. I know when my team loses, its because of themselves....I don't drop the consipiracy card.

You are the one that has an objectivity problem. :spin

But I am glad that you admitted you have unrealistic goals for your team...its the first step on the road to recovery.

[Jimcs50]

Mikey I guess you missed this quote by me, who you are calling unrealistic.



That's something to build on. But the Redskins need solid, substantive improvements too. And they need sensible expectations, that are not a matter of Gibb's aura. Last week the Redskins looked promising, this week they look doomed. Which team are they? Both. This is who they are, realistically, both the good and the bad. Baby steps, Zak, baby steps.As far as Portis' fumbling, that was an anaomaly, before thoses fumbles, he had 268 consecutive carries w/o a fumble.

[Jimcs50]

Stop The Wagon, I Want Off

By Tony Kornheiser
Tuesday, September 21, 2004; Page D01

Not that this is a Bandwagon column, mind you, because it most assuredly is not. After the performance the Redskins put on against the Giants, there should be no talk at all about The Bandwagon. I mean, come on.

Kurt Warner hadn't won a game in three years! The guy can barely stand upright. He fumbles, he stumbles, he bumbles, and now all of a sudden he looks . . . oh, no! Gosh darn it. I'm sorry, but I just dropped the keyboard I was typing this on. I must have had a Clinton Portis moment.

_____

No, there is absolutely no reason to write a Bandwagon column now. If the Washington Redskins can't win on the road against a team coached by Captain Bligh and quarterbacked by Grandpa Munster, there can be no talk of any Bandwagon. The Giants are probably the weakest team in the division, and they were reeling from what Philadelphia did to them last week. Plus, did I mention they hate their coach, and they would happily throw him off the Empire State Building? This martinet has actually fined players for not being early enough to meetings. When were they supposed to get there to please him -- before he even thought of the meeting?

But if I were writing a Bandwagon column -- which I am definitely not -- I would write about those seven turnovers. Seven? This is what Joe Gibbs came back for? Let me explain to you how many turnovers seven turnovers is: It is at least five too many. Cough the ball up seven times? What do the coaches have to do, tie the ball around some people's necks like a cowbell? I don't remember that Clinton Portis dropped his pen when he signed that $50.5-million contract, so why would he drop the football so much? You don't think somebody's going to have to, ahem, coach 'em up, do you? (Which is a sly way of asking, "Haven't we been to this movie before?")

Of course, it could be worse. We could be talking about the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Man, were those guys mopey. I got the same sense watching them as I got watching the U.S. Olympic basketball team -- that they thought they could just walk out there and scare people to death. By doing what, waving their checkbooks at the Europeans? Just as Argentina was a better team than we were in Athens, the Europeans were a better team than we were in Oakland Hills. Not better individual players, but a better team. It was clear the event mattered more to the Euros than it did to us. The U.S. players walked around like zombies most of the time. And when the Americans finally got a spark on Saturday morning from the unlikely chemistry of Chris Riley and Tiger Woods, Riley backed off from playing again with Tiger in the afternoon matches, explaining he was emotionally fatigued! Excuse me? At that point Hal Sutton should have grabbed Riley by that fancy collared shirt and said, "Son, that'd be all well and good if I was Dr. Sigmund Freud. But since I'm not, I suggest you get your bony behind out there and keep making Tiger smile, because he's the guy who's gonna win this for us."

And why Sutton paired Tiger with Phil twice on Friday is beyond me. Why would you put two men who are barely civil to each other in a team match? Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise speak to each other more often than Tiger and Phil. You should be putting people out there who will work together. Tiger wouldn't read a putt for Phil if Phil came out there with a cane and a dog. And vice versa. By the way, for years everybody in America has made fun of Colin Montgomerie for being a doughy choker. You still think that? Monty is to the Ryder Cup what Ken Jennings is to "Jeopardy." Ah, but I digress.

Where was I? The Bandwagon? Oh, heavens, no. Have I mentioned that the Redskins had seven turnovers? "That's almost unheard of in pro football," said Patrick Ramsey. Duh. Five of those seven turnovers came from their quarterbacks, Mark Brunell and Mr. Ramsey, which inclines you to think maybe the Redskins ought to try their other quarterback, Tim "Don't You Wish Your Wife Looked Like My Wife?" Hasselbeck, who at least has plenty of spirit.

Brunell had an interception and a fumble, and later left the game with a pulled hamstring. Brunell is now listed as "day-to-day," which may be the precursor to how Brunell was most recently listed in Jacksonville, which was "year to year." Ramsey had three interceptions, and looked like the Ramsey of last year, which is to say he held the ball until he looked like he was going to be knocked around like a piñata by a horde of charging defenders, then he threw it to the other team. It's hard to make chicken salad out of that. On a lighter note, one of Ramsey's passes was intercepted by a "Gibril Wilson," and I am checking to see if Gibril is any relation to Don Zimmer. And on the same wavelength, one of Portis's fumbles was recovered by an "Osi Umenyiora." And when I asked my editor, Cindy, where he's from, I was told, "Troy State." Ah.

So at this point, at 1-1, with two of the weakest teams on the Redskins' schedule behind them (combined record 1-3), there's no point even mentioning The Bandwagon. It's better to leave it alone and concentrate on the next game, Monday night against the Cowboys. Have you seen their quarterback? He's 90-year-old Vinny Testaverde, and he seems to be having a difficult time completing passes of more than five yards in length to anyone on his own team. Vinny had three interceptions Sunday, which would seem to make him an ideal candidate for the Redskins' job. Vinny is joined in the offensive backfield by 70-year-old Eddie George, who spent the exhibition season going one yard and a cloud of dust. The third member of the Cowboys' AARP Brigade is Keyshawn Johnson, who is a sort of human filibuster. They are all coached by the indomitable Tuna, Bill Parcells, who provided one of the great moments of this young season Sunday, when he looked at Keyshawn, who was, as always, babbling animatedly about some terrible injustice that had just befallen him. And Parcells got up in his grill and said to him curtly, "Shut up." At homes around America, millions of lip readers cheered lustily.

One of the reasons I am not writing a Bandwagon column here is because the problem with a Gibbs-Parcells matchup is Parcells. He tends to beat Gibbs. On a head-to-head scale, Parcells is significantly ahead of Gibbs; he's 11-6. On any other scale, however, like a meat scale, Parcells would literally crush Gibbs. Did you see The Tuna on Sunday? He's as big as a porpoise again.

When he first got to Dallas last year, Parcells was notably slim -- for him. Now that belly is once again jiggling straight out of St. Nicholas. You know, you might need a Bandwagon just to carry him.

[SAmikeyp]

Never once did I say you had unrealistic goals...I was quoting what you said in your post.


I guess you missed the several quotes where I agreed with you about Gibbs.


Bandwagoners like Kornheiser are scum. You do have redeeming qualities Jimbo....one of them is not being a bandwagoner.

[DuffMcCartney]

Hey dont knock on my boy Kornheiser...he's hilarious. He also speaks the truth..I don't think he is much of a bandwagoner though...he knows when teams suck and when they dont.

[timvp]

Redskins and Cowboys both suck. It'll be a boring MNF game.

[Jimcs50]

[Johnny Blaze 47]

Kornheiser sucks. Nothing but a rip-off of every other sportswriter.

[SpursFanInAustin]

Ah yes, Ramsey starts again vs the Boys. Can't wait to see Roy and company lay some hard licks on Patty, just like last year when they knocked him out of the game.

[bigzak25]

you must think spurrier is still the coach....

so you're gonna blitz williams, while newman will most likely be locked on coles for the majority of the day, and leave the rest of the secondary coverage in the hands of the backup safety and a scrub corner? sounds like a great plan! please do!

it should be a close game, i say skins by 3. washington and the over. :king

[SAmikeyp]

Ah yes, Ramsey starts again vs the Boys. Can't wait to see Roy and company lay some hard licks on Patty, just like last year when they knocked him out of the game.

I must have missed the word "Blitz" in this post.

[Jimcs50]

Mikey, he said just like last year...last year they blitzed over and over and over.

[SAmikeyp]

no he said hit not blitz. you can do one without the other.

Although I would guess their would be the occasional safety blitz by Williams. I would say that most of the blitzes would be by a linebacker.

[Jimcs50]

Mikey, how in the hell is Roy going to hit Ramsey without blitzing??? Ramsey is not a runner, he will be in the pocket most of the time, and if Williams is going to be hitting him like last year, it will be on a blitz.:rolleyes

[SAmikeyp]

He said Roy and Company are going to hit him in reference to the whole defense. I also said Roy might blitz from time to time. All I said was, a hit doesn't neccessarily have to be a blitz. What if Ramsey decides to run? Possible but not probable.

[bigzak25]

roy should have some good hits....that's what he does.

i'm just saying that the flood gates are not open like last year.....can you get to our QB, hell yes you can....but it will be a little harder. bottom line, is it's gonna be fun.....

but i would think williams is more concerned about portis running than ramsey.....i expect both teams to put some points up....maybe a 20-17 type of game.....

[SAmikeyp]

I agree with that Zak and that was the score I predicted in my picks contest. Its always a great game with these teams. You are right, it will not be easy for either team. Neither team should count on the turnover-fest that they exhibited last week.

[Jimcs50]

Mikey, if Roy is hitting Ramsey, it will be on blitzs, Ramsey does not run the ball like Vick...can you ever admit you are wrong???

[SAmikeyp]

When I am wrong I say so but I didn't say he would run like Vick....but there are occasions when a QB has to leave the pocket...if a play breaks down or if the protection is not there. It doesn't have to be on a designed play. Ramsey could be chased out of the pocket and Roy Williams could hit him. Are you saying that cannot ever happen?

I said that a hit is not neccessarily a blitz. How is that wrong?

[Jimcs50]

Mikey, when the safety is in the backfield, it is s blitz or a delayed blitz....now if Ramsey holds the ball for 6 seconds, then yes a safety can hit the QB, but that does not happen very often. Damn, Zak just made a statement that Washington is not the same team as last year wher Dallas blitzed 80% of the time because of Spurrier's lack of blocking schemes in pass protection, and you have to take exception. Your point was not correct, the original intent of SpursfaninAustin, was that Dallas' Williams was going to hammer Ramsey just like last year(blitzs), and that ain't gonna happen.

[SAmikeyp]

no the intent of the original post was that the defense...referred to as Roy and Company....was going to hammer Patrick Ramsey not just Roy. "and company" is a common reference to a group of people.

My point was and still is that a hit is not neccessarily a blitz.

Ramsey is a pocket passer and is not very likely to leave the pocket. The best way for Roy Williams to hit him would on a be on a blitz. It is not, however, the only way for that to occur. Several things would have to happen for that to occur and those things are not very likely...my point is that it is not impossible.

And yes, I agreed with Zak that it would be very different this year. It will be a great game and both teams will have to play well to win. I certainly think that Dallas is capable of winning however I predict Washington wins a close game.

[Jimcs50]

why are we arguing semantics so vehemently? :spin

[SAmikeyp]

because that is just who we are! :spin

[bigzak25]

is there any kind of hit that gets ruled out?

if a cowboy runs over ram with a golfcart in the tunnels, is that ruled out? :lol

[SpursFanInAustin]

you must think spurrier is still the coach....

so you're gonna blitz williams, while newman will most likely be locked on coles for the majority of the day, and leave the rest of the secondary coverage in the hands of the backup safety and a scrub corner? sounds like a great plan! please do

Yeah, and we all know Mario Edwards last year at RCB was far from being a scrub. Pete Hunter is not that far of a dropoff from Edwards. In fact, I'd say the Boys lost nothing, and improved on that spot (edwards was a pass interference machine). While you may not have Spurrier, fact of the matter is, besides say Chris Samuels (who is a decent LT, but overrated by some of the DC Media), the offensive line for the Skins is very suspect, especially after the loss of Jon Jansen in the preseason. Our D is gonna be lickin their chops to get a hit on Ramsey. LaRoi Glover and Greg Ellis usually play well upfront, getting to the QB vs Washington. Roy will blitz on occasion, as will Dexter Coakley, Bradie James, and Dat Nguyen. Newman can hold his own on Coles, judging by Coles' statline vs the Boys last year. BTW, who is the RT for the Skins now? He'll be having to go up against Greg Ellis. You guys might need to leave a TE or a FB for doubling Ellis from the right side.

[Jimcs50]

Chris Samuels is not overrated at all. He was in handcuffs with Spurrier's "blocking" schemes. He was Pro Bowler prior to Spurrier coming on board, and he will be again. Against Simeon Rice in week 1, he did not allow Rice to get 6 ft from Brunell, and we all know what knid of pass rusher Rice is.

[SpursFanInAustin]

Flozell Adams > Samuels

[Jimcs50]

My grandmother> Flozell Adams


What are you smoking, I want whatever it is.

Samuels is 2 time ProBowler and will be again this year.

Flozell sucks.

[SpursFanInAustin]

Flozell, under Parcells, was a pro-bowler in 2003, and is definitely having another good year again. The Chris Samuels I remember is the guy I remember getting whipped by Ebenezer Ekuban in the 2000 season, when Ekuban sacked Jeff george and dragged him like 5 yards after the play.

[Jimcs50]

Adams was not a Pro Bowler

[bigzak25]

and skins fans were everywhere applaud any abuse that jeff george got....way to go ekuban. :smokin2


our line isn't all world. it takes time to gel. we got a 2nd year player at left guard, and a new center and a backup RT.

Samuels and Thomas (RG) are our probowlers....and it's no secret that Samuels had off years during the spurrier regime....

luck has it, Samuels is nearing contract time, and is thus extra motivated...

I'll bet that the skins have more sacks than dallas on monday night....i.e. vinny will kiss the turf more often than our QB.

[Jimcs50]

Don't forget that we lost a Pro Bowl type players in Jansen, that is s huge hole to fill.

[bigzak25]

there is no arguing that, but there are no excuses....injuries happen, and good teams have to overcome.

i feel very confident with Buges coaching the dirtbags, and as mentioned earlier, and as you Jim already know, we are gonna have TE's and H-Backs helping out on every passing play. If they blitz, they better bring it up the middle.

[Jimcs50]

Yeah Zak, too bad we do not have Bostic in the middle clogging it up.

[SAmikeyp]

actually Adams was a pro bowler.

www.nfl.com/probowl/nfc_roster (http://www.nfl.com/probowl/nfc_roster)

Samuels has had injuries over his career but is still a great player.

[Jimcs50]

He said he was a ProBowler in 03, he was not, this was 04.

[SAmikeyp]

yes...the 2003 Pro Bowlers play in the 2004 Pro Bowl.

[SpursFanInAustin]

Yes Jansen is hurt, which is why Ellis and Glover will dominate. Oh yeah, and as far as Vinny kissing the turf? He's only been sacked twice this whole year. Our o-line is doing great thus far. Everyone thought with Vinny back there instead of the mobile Quincy, that he wouldn't last the whole season.