The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

By George Solomon

Sunday, September 18, 2005; Page E02

Doug Williams knows how recently demoted Patrick Ramsey feels. In his four years working for Joe Gibbs as a quarterback for the Redskins from 1986 to '89 he bounced from holding clipboards for Jay Schroeder and Mark Rypien to becoming most valuable player of Super Bowl XXII in Washington's 42-10 victory over Denver in 1988 and on to a sad farewell a year later.

Demotions and promotions were part of life for Williams in his 11-year pro career, which began in Tampa Bay in 1978 and included stops in Oklahoma (1984) and Arizona (1985) of the U.S. Football League before signing with the Redskins as a backup in 1986, when he threw one pass.



Despite being named MVP of Super Bowl XXII in 1988, Doug Williams, above, knows how Patrick Ramsey feels. (By Amy Sancetta -- Associated Press)

At 50, Williams is now a personnel executive for the Buccaneers, with a successful head coaching run at Grambling and a brief assistant coaching stint at Navy on his résumé. His four years working for Gibbs included being an afterthought, surprise starter, MVP/star, replaced and displaced.

"Joe Gibbs is one guy who makes a decision he believes will help the team win," Williams said in a telephone interview. "He always told me he had to cut personal feelings from personnel decisions. Even when his decisions went against me, I found him an honorable guy. I came here from the USFL and was thankful for the opportunity. When I wasn't playing, I still felt I was the best quarterback. But I dealt with the situation. I was humble by the way I came up. There were few black quarterbacks in the league and I had the chance to compete for playing time. That's all you can ask. I considered it a privilege to play in the league."

I had a similar conversation with Williams last season, when the roles were reversed and Ramsey took over for Mark Brunell. Williams's view this time: "Brunell better play his [rear end] off; Ramsey ought to take what happened and work at getting better. And if you ask for a trade, make sure you know someone wants you. Joe won't throw Jason Campbell to the wolves, but he won't let him sit forever, either."

After last Sunday's game, which the Redskins won against Chicago, 9-7, Gibbs watchers left FedEx Field convinced he would replace Ramsey with Brunell for Monday night's game in Dallas. Statements such as "Mark doesn't make mistakes; I'm sure glad he's back" and not saying Ramsey would start if healthy were hints enough.

Gibbs was wise to officially announce the switch last Monday. But he was wrong to name Ramsey the starter last January rather than keep the position open for a competition that Brunell would have won this summer. "It's something I needed to do," Gibbs explained, if not to the satisfaction of Ramsey and a growing number of fans becoming disenchanted with the coach.

I agree with Gibbs's move to Brunell -- as well as with my friend, the Ol' Ball Coach, who used to say, "If one guy can't do it, try the other guy." What I do not agree with is Gibbs congratulating the fans at FedEx Field for making so much noise Bears QB Kyle Orton had trouble getting off his plays. I call that behavior bush league. In similar situations at NFL stadiums, the QB should step back and wait for the noise to subside, or until the home team is hit with a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

JSPB22 wrote:Uh, McFly, it's called the home-field advantage. Heard of it? 12th man, and all that. That's why teams have a silent count. This guy must not cover football. Is he an advice columnist?

In similar situations at NFL stadiums, the QB should step back and wait for the noise to subside, or until the home team is hit with a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

In similar situations at NFL stadiums, the QB should step back and wait for the noise to subside, or until the home team is hit with a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

In similar situations at NFL stadiums, the QB should step back and wait for the noise to subside, or until the home team is hit with a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Jake wrote:I claim this article: bush league.