Destiny Beckons, But Dallas Looms

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Word on the Street With Ken Harvey - Dec. 26

Former Redskins linebacker Ken Harvey previews Washington's upcoming season finale against Dallas.

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Not really. Washington knows Romo's backup all too well -- it's veteran Brad Johnson, who has a bone in his throat when it comes to the Redskins. In '99, Johnson passed for 4,005 yards, took the Redskins to a playoff win and, as repayment, had the rug pulled out from under him as the team acquired Jeff George. Johnson's revenge? Banished to Tampa Bay, he guided the Bucs to a Super Bowl crown while the far more highly paid Redskins foundered. Then, in last season's opening day at FedEx, Johnson led the Minnesota Vikings to a 19-16 victory as he completed 16 of 30 passes for 223 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.

Either way -- against Romo or Johnson -- the game figures to be no picnic for the Redskins. And yet sometimes sports offers us the opportunity to say things that are so wonderfully ridiculous we couldn't have imagined them only a few weeks ago. For example, the Redskins' best chance to clinch a playoff spot against the 13-2 Cowboys may be to go for a quick knockout behind the passing of Todd Collins. See, wasn't that fun?

Nobody on earth really knows how good Collins is, including the quarterback himself. Nobody takes a 10-year hiatus between starts, yet spends every day studying and improving just in case he gets a chance to do the job again. It's ludicrous, like a lawyer practicing summations to the jury for a decade in an empty room. But how honorable, too. Collins may have the silliest, most wonderful stat line ever: 18 for 27 for 229 yards -- for the previous nine seasons combined before he finally got his chance in mid-game against the Bears on Dec. 6. He trotted out and won NFC offensive player of the week honors!

If you want to pick an athlete for a child to emulate, maybe you want to reconsider that Michael Vick or Roger Clemens jersey and opt for Collins, instead. His example of perseverance, being ready every day for 10 years and hardly ever being summoned, then shooting the lights out when he got the chance, is the kind of life lesson that normal people might actually use.

Perhaps the true highlight of Sunday's game will be the moment when Redskins fans get to welcome Collins back to FedEx. Maybe he'll lead the team to a fourth straight win. Maybe he'll throw seven picks. It's real life, so there's no happy script. And next year he may be back on the bench. But, whatever happens, if anybody boos this guy, shame on you.

The stage is almost set for the finale of a season that, less than a month ago, seemed like it would be as mournful as any in Redskins history. Now, counting on 90,000 12th men, the Redskins hope to keep alive a season well worth remembering.

But don't let anybody tell you it will be easy.