THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 31, 1994 TAG: 9408310548
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Heath Shuler finally paid the biggest penalty for the contract holdout that caused him to miss 13 days of training camp last month. Tuesday, Redskins coach Norv Turner passed him over and named veteran John Friesz to start at quarterback against Seattle Sunday.
``I just feel more comfortable with John,'' Turner said. ``He's started in this league, he's been involved in driving a team to the playoffs, been involved in season-openers. And we've got a young guy who is very talented, but not ready to play the whole game yet.
``This gives us the best chance to beat Seattle.''
However, the day wasn't a complete loss for Shuler. Turner said the rookie from Tennessee, the third pick in the '94 draft, will replace Friesz from game to game on a schedule he had yet to settle on.
And Turner again made no bones that his plan is for Shuler to start as soon as the coach feels he is ready.
``I don't know how long it will last,'' Turner said. ``At some point, if you get the opportunity to play, it comes down to who plays the best. All I know is that we're working to a point when Heath is the starting quarterback. It's just a matter of when.
``He understands if he does the things he expects to do and we expect him to do, it won't be very long before he's playing all the time. He understands there's some growing to do. I hope he realizes this is the best thing for him.''
He does. Shuler called the plan, ``a good decision on Norv's part,'' and insisted he wasn't disappointed.
Shuler is coming off a 19-of-30, 206-yard passing performance in the final preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Turner admitted that had made the decision more difficult, though ultimately the coach felt that Shuler needed more seasoning.
``It could have gone the other way,'' Turner said. ``He's gotten a lot more comfortable in three weeks. The other two weeks (he missed) could have made the difference. It's awfully hard to answer that.''
When asked about it, Shuler emphasized that he had no regrets about holding out.
``If we lived in a perfect world, I would have been in camp the very first day,'' said Shuler, who eventually signed for nine uears and $19.25 million. ``We don't. Hopefully, I'll have a long career and make up for whatever time I miss.''
Shuler said Turner told him of the plan two days ago, and also suggested that the coach told him he would use two quarterbacks the day he reported to camp.
Friesz said he was made aware of Turner's plan in a Monday afternoon meeting between the three. Although details haven't been completely worked out, it appears that Friesz will play the first quarter, Shuler the second, after which Turner may pick who will play the second half.
Turner also made it clear to both players that whatever schedule he arrives at will be followed regardless of what happens on the field.
``It's not going to matter if I start out 13-for-13; Heath is going to get some time in the second quarter,'' Friesz said. ``It won't matter if I'm 0-for-13.
``I'm just going to go out and get the team off to a good start, lead them to a couple of scores in the first half. Hopefully that'll be good enough to get some time in the second half.''
For now, Friesz will get 60 percent of the work in practice, and will carry a full gameplan into the game. Shuler will receive 40 percent of the practice time, and will work from a scaled-down gameplan on Sundays.
``Some will say that doing this makes it harder to prepare, but we're going to have to be very specific, zero in on the things needed to get both men ready,'' Turner said. ``It actually could help.
``If you try to do this on a long-term basis, there are some major headaches. That's been proven. But if they'll go out and play and execute what's there, then on a short-term basis, there aren't any hazards.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
John Friesz
by CNB