NFL: Quitters Can’t Win, and You Can’t Win With George

For the first time in my life, I’m embarrassed to be a Redskin fan. I can't wear half of my wardrobe--Redskins jacket, sweats, shirts, hats, scarf, even sandals!

Sure, the team has choked before. They’ve been 3-13 and 4-12 in consecutive seasons. What they have never done is quit on their coach, their teammates, their season and their fans, which is exactly what they did Saturday against the Steelers.

Pittsburgh fans and players deserved a good game. They were closing their beloved Three Rivers Stadium, a hideous multi-purpose structure that was full of good memories and beloved in Pittsburgh.

The Redskins gave them a good game for about a quarter, until their season-long weakness, special teams, did them in by allowing a punt return for a touchdown. This 53-yard punt return for a TD was the longest in the 30-year history of Three Rivers?! The tackling was atrocious (and that theme would continue throughout the game).

Despite statements to the contrary by Interim Head Coach Terry Robiskie, the team took one shot to the mouth and quit. They gave up. I won’t say they stopped caring, but you could tell by their faces that they were numb to it, and they knew they were going to lose. No one stood up to say "I’ll make a play to change the momentum." They all sat there on the bench like they had just discovered there is no Santa Claus.

The defense, which had been stalwart all season, gave up nearly 200 yards rushing to the Steelers, a week after being shredded for 242 by Dallas.

In the fourth quarter, Richard Huntley looked like Marion Motley when he carried Redskins into the end zone from the ten yard line. The offense was simply inept, managing only three points. For the second week in a row, Stephen Davis fumbled on the first offensive play of the second half. Even when it looked like the team would salvage a little bit of pride, Stephen Alexander was about to score but was stripped and fumbled into and out the back of the end zone for a touchdown.

On the first play of the next (and last) drive, Brad Johnson fumbled away the fifth turnover of the game. Maybe Norv Turner is an offensive genius after all. The problems in the White House for the next four years are going to be nothing compared to the problems at FedEx Field if Jeff George is the starting quarterback—-four more years of one spectacular throw, then a fumble, poor throws and boneheaded decisions.

All Redskins fans should hope for a Christmas miracle, that George can’t play Sunday and Brad Johnson sparkles in a victory over the Cardinals. Then maybe Dan Snyder and Johnson can fix whatever happened between them, trade George for a ham sandwich and sign Johnson to the contract he’s earned. If this team goes with George as the quarterback of the future, I’m afraid they’re doomed, much like they were once the Steelers made one big play Saturday. Redskins

Notes: The team cut safety Matt Stevens Sunday. Stevens missed a tackle on the Steelers punt return and has been a liability in pass defense all season. I think Robiskie was trying to make a statement that nobody is safe. If he really wanted it to work, he should have cut a name player, like Mark Carrier. A "Peak" at This

Week’s Game: I don’t think I’ll be peeking at it. I’ve had too many disappointments over the past four weeks. Injuries and collective team depression included, the Redskins are still a much better team than the Cardinals. They also have revenge on their minds, payback for a loss that started them on this downhill spiral six weeks ago. And maybe they can save Robiskie’s job. If they don’t win, he’ll be fired for sure. Redskins 17, Cardinals 10.