AP: Vick, Brunell get needed tuneups in exhibition finale

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By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer
September 2, 2004
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- For different reasons, Michael Vick and Mark Brunell are in need of a final tuneup.

Vick hasn't played much because he's been hurt. Brunell has played plenty, but he's been mediocre at best.

The quarterbacks can get some final polish Friday, when the Atlanta Falcons visit the Washington Redskins to wrap up the preseason.

``I've got to make sure I'm 100 percent,'' said Vick, who missed last week's game against Cincinnati with a sore right hamstring. ``At the same time, I know I need reps in this offense, and that's very important right now.''

Vick has taken only 24 snaps in the exhibition games, hardly the ideal preparation for a new offense under new coach Jim Mora. Still, the Falcons want to make sure the NFL's most dynamic quarterback is healthy for the regular season, and Vick admits the injury still preys on his mind.

``It's a bit of fear,'' Vick said. ``But the thing I'm trying to do is just forget about it and get my treatment, get rehabilitated as much as I can and try to build it back up and make sure that, whenever I do take off running and decide to sprint, it's not a question in my mind. I know it's going to be tough, but when I get out there, I've just got to let it all go all out.''

Vick, therefore, is expected to get some work, but not much. He and the rest of the starters will be long gone when the final whistle sounds in a game that is usually the final audition for third-stringers trying to make the final cut.

Brunell is also expected to have a short night before giving way to those on the roster's fringe, but any work he gets is much needed. Although he was chosen the opening day starter this week, Brunell essentially won the job by default because his competitor, Patrick Ramsey, has played so poorly.

Brunell is just 22-for-40 for 244 yards over four games, and last week's 28-3 loss at St. Louis showed just how much work needs to be done for coach Joe Gibbs to have a successful comeback after 12 years away.

``We could use some rhythm,'' Brunell said. ``And however we get that, whether it's on the ground or in the air, whatever we do, we've got to the move the ball and get some points. We'd like some momentum heading into the opener.''

The rest of the game will be one big sloppy audition. The final cutdown is Sunday, so this is when desperation sinks in for those on the bubble.

``My goal right now is to get into the end zone and get 100 yards,'' said running back Sultan McCullough, who made Washington's roster a year ago, but has slipped on the depth chart. ``I just really want a big run, a nice big run to show my speed. Hopefully, Sunday, at 4 o'clock I'll be a Redskin again. That's all I'm thinking about.''

Other players are still trying to secure starting jobs, or at least become fill-in starters. The Falcons are without their top two cornerbacks. Rookie DeAngelo Hall is out six to 10 weeks with a hip fracture, and Jason Webster has a groin injury that he hopes will heal in time for the Sept. 12 opener against San Francisco. Aaron Beasley, Kevin Mathis and Tod McBride are all contenders to move up.

``We just want to get through this game, and then we'll formulate our plan for San Francisco,'' Mora said. ``It could be Beasley. It could be Mathis. It could be McBride.''

The game marks a reunion of sorts for Gibbs, who was a part owner of the Falcons a year ago. He had to sell his interest in the team in January when he came out of coaching retirement and rejoined the Redskins.

``I have a lot of real good memories,'' Gibbs said. ``But I think you lose sight of all that when you're about to play a game.''
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