You're not the only one wondering …

Sporting News, The, Oct 18, 1993 by Chris Mortensen

Before we get started, I'm looking for some answers as to why this season is so very ugly.

Really, who wants to go on without Dan Marino at quarterback for the Dolphins?

Does that mean the Bills and Broncos - who have lost six Super Bowls between them in the last seven years - become the co-favorites to win the AFC title?

Can it really be that Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar can sign a seven-year, $27-million contract and get benched two weeks later - for Vinny Testaverde?

What did Colts Coach Ted Marchibroda do to deserve Jeff George?

Is Wayne Fontes trying to get fired in Detroit? Who's the quarterback? Have the Lions called the Oilers about Warren Moon yet?

What's wrong with the Chargers?

Are quarterbacks this bad, or is it the offensive coordinators?

Should we finally listen to Jim Finks, the chairman of the competition committee, who wants to restrict situational substitutions on defense?

Did I hear right? The Patriots beat the Cardinals in Phoenix? Do I wish Phoenix Coach Joe Bugel well now or later?

What did you say? The Jets blew another big lead Sunday? To Vince Evans and the Raiders?

Did I really hear Jets Coach Bruce Coslet complain about the officials after the game?

Is somebody going to tell me that artificial turf wasn't responsible for the season-ending knee injury to Colts defensive tackle Steve Entman last Sunday? Don't. I won't believe it.

How many times must we hold our breath while a motionless player is strapped to a stretcher?

Do the Eagles really have any chance without Randall Cunningham, Fred Barnett, Eric Floyd, Tim Harris and Andre Waters?

Nah, the Redskins didn't lose 41-7 to the Giants, did they? They're what - 1-4?

Did somebody say there was just a misunderstanding when Eric Dickerson thought he was waived last week by the Falcons? Yeah, right.

Was Jerry Glanville really out getting his commercial (race-car) driver's license on the day of the Dickerson snafu? While his team is 0-5?

Why is former Oilers defensive coordinator Jim Eddy (now in Dallas) smiling these days?

Does Joe Montana get sick pay?

Have Saints fans ever sent thank-you cards to Jim Mora just for being their coach?

Does Rams Coach Chuck Knox wake up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat, wondering if he really has the guts to pull Jim Everett in favor of T.J. Rubley?

How many teams are going to call Bill Polian (now in the league office) to fix their organizations the way he once fixed the Bills?

Is it obvious to everyone now that if you don't have your offensive line set, your offense stinks? Period. No matter who's at quarterback.

So, why was Tampa Bay left tackle Paul Gruber still sitting at home last week, not signed and not traded? Have the Buccaneers been to confession?

All he's cracked up to be?

With Marino hurt, maybe we can find out if Dolphins offensive coordinator Gary Stevens really is one of the league's better offensive minds.

Before Dallas Coach Jimmy Johnson hired Norv Turner as his offensive coordinator, Johnson tried to get Stevens, only to have Dolphins Coach Don Shula make Stevens an offer he couldn't refuse. A prominent NFL general manager says he thinks Stevens would be an excellent candidate for a head-coaching job.

Quite frankly, the Dolphins'offense has sputtered under Stevens. In fact, one of the greatest misconceptions in the NFL has been that Miami has one of the league's most potent offenses. In fact, the Dolphins' offense has been the source of Shula's frustration.

But some traveling NFL scouts don't believe Stevens has been to blame. In fact, a few have pointed the finger at Marino. They say it's obvious that Marino is calling far too many audibles. They say it's obvious that he has become stubbornly independent.

Regardless, Stevens now has to get the offense rolling with Scott Mitchell, Marino's replacement, who has thrown 24 passes in his NFL career.

Stevens also should take some notes from Shula's history book.

Shula has won in the past when injuries struck down Johnny Unitas and Bob Griese. He has made do with Earl Morrall, Gary Cuozzo, Tom Matte, Don Strock and David Woodley.

In that, Mitchell and Stevens can take solace.

They don't just lack luster

Granted, the Redskins are off to a horrible start. But attempts last week to paint Coach Richie Petitbon with the same brush that was used on former Giants coach Ray Handley was amateur work.

Petitbon deserves much more respect than that. He has been an established player and coach in this league for more than 30 years. Handley was not. Petitbon's work as defensive coordinator was more than a contributing factor to Washington's three Super Bowl victories under Joe Gibbs.

The Giants, under Handley, also thumped the Redskins, 24-7, last season. Remember, Gibbs was the coach then. The Giants are 11-5 against the Redskins since 1986. They have Washington's number.

That being said, we should remember that Gibbs was one of the great coaches of his generation. Of course he is missed, both as coach and as the offensive coordinator.

We also should recognize that Petitbon was left with a lot of missing pieces. The offseason departure of outside linebacker Wilber Marshall has hurt the team beyond expectations. And Carl Banks, Marshall's replacement, has been a disappointment.