Doin' the QB clash: Heath, Peete and 'Slash.'

Sporting News, The, July 1, 1996 by Bob Glauber

Kordell or Jim? Heath or Gus? Rodney or Ty? Quarterback controversy, anyone?

Training camp is almost here, and so are the questions that will hound coaches who have to decide who'll pull the trigger on offense. Although free agency has lessened the overall number of quarterback battles by spreading the passing talent more evenly around the league, there are still enough intriguing scenarios to fill the talk-radio airwaves and whet the appetites of fans itching for football to start.

The most closely watched competition looms in Pittsburgh, where the AFC champion Steelers move on from the Neil O'Donnell era with Jim Miller, Kordell Stewart or Mike Tomczak. Elsewhere, Redskins third-year quarterbacks Heath Shuler and Gus Frerotte will do their best imitation of Jurgensen vs. Kuhner; Rodney Peete will attempt to fend off Ty Detmer in Philadelphia; and it will be Steve Walsh vs. Mark Rypien in St. Louis.

To "Slash" or not to "Slash": Most folks in Pittsburgh are delighted O'Donnell isn't around anymore, but I wouldn't celebrate just yet. Yes, there have been the occasional bad throws from O'Donnell in big spots. But wouldn't you rather have a guy with experience on a team that came this close to winning the Super Bowl? Or are you really convinced Stewart or Miller can get the job done?

It says here the more polished Miller wins the job over the more athletically gifted Stewart, if only because Miller's ability to read defenses is superior to Slash's at this point Nevertheless, Stewart states his case.

"My dimension at quarterback is more threatening than any other position," Stewart says. "Yeah, we have seen Kordell Stewart go out there and catch the ball and run for 70 yards. We've seen Kordell throw the ball for 10 yards and get a first down. We've seen him fake a few guys and score a touchdown. But they haven't had the opportunity to see me throw the ball 60 yards downfield to Yancey Thigpen. They haven't had the chance to see me scramble in the pocket and throw it upfield. That's what I want to do."

Thing is, coach Bill Cowher would rather have a more conservative approach at quarterback, instead of a scrambler who's liable to get his head knocked off.

Blue chipper or bargain basement? When the Redskins came away from the 1994 draft, it all looked so simple. Shuler, the third overall pick, was the franchise quarterback, and Frerotte, the lowly seventh-round choice, was the backup.

Not quite.

While Shuler has struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness in his first two seasons, the underdog Frerotte has played well enough in spurts to become the fan favorite. Well, I don't mean to disappoint all you Frerotte loyalists, but it would be a major upset if Frerotte wins the training-camp duel. Coaches and players have noted that Shuler has picked up the offense quite well in his offseason workouts and is not hesitating as much in his reads.

Frerotte, the subject of numerous trade rumors during the offseason, will be disappointed if he doesn't win the job. But the Redskins have far too much invested in Shuler--$19.25 million, to be exact--to make any other choice.

And don't be surprised to see this controversy drag into next season and perhaps beyond. The Redskins retain Frerotte's negotiating rights through 1996, and even then, he's a restricted free agent, meaning the team can retain him at least another year as long as it gives him a qualifying contract offer.

For Peeete's sake: He wasn't exactly the second coming of Johnny Unitas after taking over last season for Randall Cunningham, but the bottom fine on Peete was this: He got it done, helping the Eagles exceed all expectations in reaching the second round of the playoffs.

Enough to guarantee him the job in 96? Not exactly. Though Peete enters camp as the incumbent, he'll get a strong run from Detmer, a free-agent pickup and a former Packers backup.

"(Detmer) is a competitive young guy, and I think he's going to surprise some people," coach Ray Rhodes says. "He's smart, and he's a winner, which counts for a lot in my book. He's one of those guys who finds a way to get it done."

The probable outcome: Peete wins the job in training camp, which isn't necessarily saying a lot. After all, Cunningham had the job heading into last season, and look what happened to him: Out by Week 5. Still looking for work.

Steve vs. Mark: Sorry, guys. Walsh-Rypien just doesn't get me all charged up. Suffice it to say that Walsh, the former Bears free agent, will win the job and be a serviceable quarterback.

The real issue in St. Louis is whether Walsh will have bad-boy Lawrence Phillips around to lead the rushing attack, or whether the entire offensive output will once again fall on the shoulders of receiver Isaac Bruce.

Quick hits

Rams officials aren't pulling any punches about rookie running back Lawrence Phillips, who faces a July 5 arraignment in a drunken-driving incident. A judge could rule that Phillips violated his probation from a misdemeanor assault last year involving his former girlfriend and would have to spend time in jail. "Lawrence has a decision to make in his life," Rams vice president of administration Bob Wallace says. "Does he want to be a responsible contributor to society and be a professional football player, or does he not? If not, he's not going to last long in this league."