By Liz Clarke
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 9, 1998; Page C9

TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 8 – Washington Redskins wide receiver Michael Westbrook idled for a second straight game today, never taking the field during the 29-27 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium.

Coach Norv Turner suggested afterward that Westbrook's absence had no punitive intent. And whether the presence of the team's leading receiver would have altered the outcome is an open question.

Turner's game plan featured 26 running plays. And when passing plays were called, they rarely involved wide receivers at all, focusing instead on short-yardage attempts to running back Brian Mitchell, who led the team with seven receptions, or to tight end Jamie Asher, who caught five passes for 49 yards.

The fact that Westbrook got no playing time at all, however, came as a surprise to some of his teammates, who expected to see him in the lineup, particularly after the Redskins got off to a miserable start in the second half.

Turner, asked about his decision to leave Westbrook on the sideline, said: "We had six plays in the third quarter, and there's not much chance to sub in that situation. In the fourth quarter, the guys who were in the game and playing, I thought they were the guys who gave us the best chance."

Later, Turner added: "The story is not about the guys who didn't play. It's about the guys who did play."

Turner placed Westbrook on the inactive list and fined him $4,000 on Oct. 31, the day before the Redskins' game against the New York Giants, when he missed a team meeting and walk-through. Turner had said Westbrook wouldn't start in today's game, but would earn his playing time during practice.

Westbrook seemed to work hard during practice last week, and Turner voiced no public complaint.

But as promised, Albert Connell started in his place today alongside Leslie Shepherd.

None of quarterback Trent Green's passing went their way until just two minutes remained in the half. Instead, Green gained ground with completions to Asher, who got the bulk of playing time over rookie Stephen Alexander.

Green said it became clear this past Wednesday, when Turner installed the game plan, that Westbrook wasn't going to figure prominently – at least in the opening drives.

"What would be determined through the flow of the game was something Coach Turner had to decide on his own," Green said. "It was known during the week who was in certain packages, and he wasn't in there."

The Redskins offense clicked without him in the first half. Green completed nine of his 16 passes for 85 yards, while running backs Skips Hicks and Mitchell rushed for a pair of touchdowns.

The offense all but stalled in the third quarter, as Arizona's defense picked up the pressure on Green.

"We were producing plays and points and getting drives in that first half, so we had things going," Green said. "Now, when we were struggling there in the third quarter, I don't know if [playing Westbrook] entered his mind. But guys were making plays all the way up until the end."

Said Turner: "My intention was, depending how the game went and where we got to, that he may or not play. Obviously the guys who were playing, I thought, were playing well."

Alexander, who has shown a greater feel for big plays than Asher, didn't have a ball thrown his way all day. Turner said he was concerned about Alexander's sprained shoulder.

Connell had no receptions on the day, and said he fully expected Westbrook to join them in the second half.

"I was looking for it," Connell said. "That was the coach's decision. We didn't know what was going to happen. I was relaly surprised. I was figuring he'd get in at some point."

Shepherd caught a 35-yard touchdown pass that brought the Redskins within 26-24 in the fourth quarter, but otherwise was silent.

"The last thing I was want to do is say something crazy, but I don't know," Shepherd said, asked about his limited role. "My role was minor this week. I knew that Wednesday.

"Offensively, the receivers didn't really have any input in the game at all. We were just out there blocking. Maybe we were trying to be conservative like last week. But we're trying to win right now."