Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Burgundy 'n' Try black 'n' blue Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 15:07:56 EST Message-ID: \SE D;SPORTS \HD Burgundy 'n' gold? Try black 'n' blue \BY John Hawkins \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Mark Rypien walked to the line of scrimmage during the final seconds Sunday, surveyed the Kansas City defense one last time, signaled a play to his wide receivers and stepped behind Raleigh McKenzie for the snap, which was fine, except that McKenzie was no longer playing center. The beefy guard kicked his quarterback one stride to the right, where rookie Matt Elliott, finishing up his first NFL game, awaited the count. A season of Hogs du jour had struck a comical note. Set those musical chairs to the strains of "Hello, Raleigh." Ryp chuckled about his boner yesterday, saying, "I hadn't been [knocked woozy] or anything - I'd just gotten so used to looking at that beautiful [backside] all day." The laughter dies quickly at Casualy Central. Eighteen key members of the Washington Redskins have been shelved at one time or another by injuries during this vicious season, including 10 starters. Of the 18, only five are healthy enough that they'll definitely play Monday night against New Orleans. Seven are definitely out, meaning six - including all-pro cornerback Darrell Green - will range from doubtful to probable or, as the week progresses, either be included in the game plan or not. "I can't remember it being this bad," coach Joe Gibbs said, speaking of all his years in the league. "It's part of what you've got to do up here. . . . Maybe out of this, we'll learn about some of the young guys and the free agents we signed. "You can't whine or worry about it. It's a fact." Gibbs seems remarkably calm for a man whose players are dropping like inhibitions at a bachelor party, although few things render coaches more powerless than a sellout crowd in the trainer's room. The latest crucial loss involves cornerback Martin Mayhew, who broke his lower arm in the first quarter against the Chiefs - and still played the rest of the way. Mayhew fractured the same bone as did Green and will be sent to injured reserve this week. David Gulledge - who was placed on the 47-man roster Oct. 8, declared inactive against the Broncos, then returned to the practice squad Oct. 17 - probably will dress against the Saints, regardless of what happens with Green. The NFL's fastest man could bless the Redskins with a sweet stroke of timing. Green has recovered nicely from his broken arm but was banned from Redskin Park last week with a case of the flu. He had been cleared to start practicing, meaning the sickness probably pushed him back a game, although Gibbs doubted yesterday that Green could be of any help Monday in New Orleans. Trainer Bubba Tyer, who knows better about such things, didn't sound as pessimistic. "He thinks he's ready to practice," Tyer said. "He's got a lot of guts - he's done everything we've asked him to do and more. He's done more in the weight room with [strength coach] Dan Riley than he's ever done before." But Bubba, can he play? "I don't know yet." Otherwise, the Week 11 injury report was more voluminous than serious. Offensive tackle/guard Joe Jacoby sprained his back but could actually be in better shape for New Orleans than he was for Kansas City, mainly because his neck had been the problem in recent weeks. Tyer didn't disagree that playing Monday night instead of Sunday afternoon would improve the conditions of Jacoby and several others. Linebacker Andre Collins, held out against K.C., worked out briefly on a practice field with an assistant trainer and should be ready. Ditto for linebacker Monte Coleman, who dressed against the Chiefs but didn't play. Safety Danny Copeland aggravated his sprained neck and will be evaluated this week. The new list? Defensive end Fred Stokes sprained his knee but should be all right. Cornerback AJ Johnson received three needles to drain fluid from a cyst on his knee before the Kansas City game - the Redskins will be watching him closely. Defensive back Sidney Johnson got mangled on special teams, suffering a sprained hip and a sprained knee. He's day-to-day. It was not a good day for the Johnsons, although Tim checked in relatively unscathed. The nicked-but-OK docket includes Rypien (shin), Wilber Marshall (shoulder), Eric Williams (groin) and Earnest Byner. The key with everybody who is even remotely injured is practice time. Faced with such a long list of ailing bodies, Gibbs faces a dilemma. Does he count on some starters being ready for the Saints and not practice them? Or does he make decisions on these guys by the middle of the week, separate those who can go from those who can't and work the reserves into the mix? Continuity has become a major problem with this team - any eyewitness to the Chiefs debacle can testify to that. So many players are out of position, and so many others are new to things that assignments are being blown, game plans are heading to the dumper before halftime and games are being lost. "The fact that we had to move three different guys because of the injury situation [was why] we miscommunicated on some things," said Gibbs, who was referring to the offensive line but could have been talking about the secondary, too. "Then we just didn't execute on some things. "What also happens is you have some running plays - you want to see if you can pound it. You run one of them, you come back and run another one, and you're down 21-0, and you're not going to run wedge and gut and things like that. What it does is cause a disruption of everything. . . . It costs you almost everything you worked on all week." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM