By JOSEPH WHITE
The Associated Press
Monday, September 12, 2005
9:06 PM
ASHBURN, Va. -- Mark Brunell needed only one game to become the starting quarterback job for the Washington Redskins, with Patrick Ramsey undone by an interception, two fumbles and a very sore neck.
Joe Gibbs said Brunell will start next Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys, a quick undoing of the coach's 10 months of preparation for Ramsey to be the 2005 starter.
"This is something that is extremely hard," Gibbs said Monday. "You don't like doing this. I don't. Sometimes you don't chart the circumstances or what happens _ it just happens. Certainly it wasn't the plan I had going in, but sometimes plans change, and I think you do the best you can in dealing with it."
Ramsey left Sunday's 9-7 victory over the Chicago Bears with a sprained neck when he was hit by linebacker Lance Briggs on a blitz in the second quarter. Ramsey was well enough to return at halftime, but Gibbs stuck with Brunell for the rest of the game.
Gibbs said Ramsey's injury had nothing to do with the decision. The coach instead cited his limited patience for turnovers as a reason. Ramsey's three drives Sunday stalled with either a fumble or an interception.
"Most of the quarterbacks I've dealt with when they're young have had setbacks," said Gibbs, who then mentioned Mark Rypien as a fumble-prone quarterback who was benched and later led the Redskins to a Super Bowl victory.
Brunell had not been informed of the decision when he spoke to reporters early Monday, but he was clearly buoyed by his win in relief on Sunday.
"I really hope I get an opportunity," he said. "I'd really like to. I feel confident in how I'm playing and how I feel, and it'd be great to get this opportunity on Monday night against our rival."
As for Ramsey, this was considered his make-or-break year with the Redskins, who traded up to draft Auburn's Jason Campbell in the first round of April's draft. Now Ramsey, unless he regains the starting position soon, would appear to be in final months with the team.
"You know, I wish the best for the team," Ramsey told Comcast SportsNet. "I mean, I love the guys on the team. ... As coach said, I don't agree with what happened, but it's his decision to make."
Ramsey completed 6 of 11 passes for 105 yards against the Bears, but his first drive ended with an overthrow that was picked off by Nathan Vasher. Ramsey fumbled on third down on his second drive, but teammate Jon Jansen recovered. On his third series, Ramsey understandably lost the ball when he was popped by Briggs.
Brunell was 8-for-14 for 70 yards, more methodical and mistake-free. His biggest play was a 36-yard pass interference penalty that negated an interception. He led drives of 43, 47 and 63 yards, but they ended in field goals instead of touchdowns.
"I know a lot of people would disagree with this, and I understand that," Gibbs said. "For me, personally, I felt like it was a decision that I had to make. I think we've got a situation where two quarterbacks can win ball games for us. ... I know this is something that Patrick doesn't agree with _ he's a very competitive guy _ but it's something we're going to have to work through."
Brunell was the opening-day starter last year after winning a training camp competition over Ramsey, but he strained a hamstring early in the season and put up the worst numbers of his career. Brunell, who signed a seven-year, $43 million contract after being traded from Jacksonville, was booed heartily and was replaced with Ramsey in the ninth game. A few weeks later, Gibbs said Ramsey would be this year's starter.
But the 35-year-old Brunell appeared rejuvenated during training camp this year, outperforming Ramsey in all four preseason games and giving Gibbs confidence to make the switch.
"He's been real consistent with his play since we started back this year," Gibbs said. "He's been confident and sure. ... What I'm looking towards is somebody to really establish themselves as a quarterback, take over and take off with the football team."
A quarterback controversy always seems inevitable on a team that produced Sonny Jurgensen vs. Billy Kilmer, Jay Schroeder vs. Doug Williams and Heath Shuler vs. Gus Frerotte. But no one expected the issue to come to a head after just one game.
It turns out that Ramsey was injured just enough to open the door for Brunell's return.
"Mark did the thing that a backup is supposed to do," guard Ray Brown said. "Go in and play well and keep himself on the coach's mind."