Nothing Like Getting Your Goose Cooked

The citizens of Washington who care about football probably werethinking, grousing and talking about quarterbacks Sunday evening.Heath or Gus. Boos or more boos.

Gus Frerotte decided to think about barbecue.

A little smoked chicken and pork.

Frerotte is not the sort to pout or take the phone off the hook,even after a demoralizing day in which he was pulled in the Redskins'27-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and lost his starting job to HeathShuler. In fact, after Frerotte walked in the door of his NorthernVirginia home, he picked up the phone and called his next doorneighbors, Sheryl and Doug Jones.

"I asked if they had any leftovers," Frerotte said of the Saturdayevening barbecue that the Joneses, Frerotte and his wife, Ann,shared.

"I know that's one of his favorites," Sheryl said.

"We're really good friends with them, and we do that all thetime," Frerotte said of Sunday supper. "To me, it's good to havefriends that you can go to and get your mind off the game. Ann and Iwent and it was good to have fun, have some laughs after a day thatwasn't so great."

A lot of Redskins had a similar outlook Sunday as the team lostits third straight game. Probably the only one feeling worse thanFrerotte was Shuler, who was booed worse than Frerotte, though boththrew two interceptions. Frerotte was 14 of 32 for 200 yards. Afterthrowing interceptions on two of his first four passes, Shulerfinished the day 10 of 12 for 98 yards and a five-yard touchdown tossto Michael Westbrook.

Coach Norv Turner said the regression he's seen in Frerotte's playprompted him to make the switch yesterday for this week's gameagainst Philadelphia. Frerotte took that at face value.

"It is a frustration that if I had played well, I'd still be inthere," Frerotte said last evening as he and other Redskins gatheredto serve a Thanksgiving dinner to homeless folks at St. Joseph'sChurch in Herndon. "It's up to me to play well to keep my job. Ididn't play well, so he's got to make a change. It's his decision atthis point and Heath deserves a shot to play."

Though Frerotte was booed after his second interception, fansbooed louder when Shuler was sent in and then chanted, "We want Gus."

"Coming from a school as big as Tennessee," Frerotte said ofShuler, "Heath's never had something like that happen to him and it'shard for him. Whereas, I came from Tulsa, where that happens week inand week out. If you're playing well, they leave you alone. If not,then they boo you and want you kicked out of the stadium. It's alittle adversity that Heath will have to fight. The best way to fightit is to play well."

With the team 3-8 and all but eliminated from the playoffs, Shulermight play the rest of the season.

"Whoever starts the rest of the way, it's going to be a battle,but it always has been, but it's a good battle," Frerotte said."There is competition between Heath and I but we're good friends."

Quarterbacks never want out of the lineup, but Frerotte is hopefulhe somehow benefits.

"To keep playing is definitely a good thing. But every once in awhile, you might need that adjustment, to tell yourself that, `I likeplaying football. I like being the guy out there. I like thepressure. I like being the guy that has to make the throw.' I thinksometimes it takes one game sitting on the bench to say again, `Iwant to be out there.' "

One vivid memory of the game for many will be seeing Frerotte hurlhis helmet after learning Turner was replacing him with Shuler.

"We were only down 17-10 and in scoring range," Frerotte said. "IfI don't throw an interception, we're going to kick a field goal orscore a touchdown. It was only second down. That's what made me mad.

"I get to the sideline, we talk about the play, look at the photosand {Turner} said he was going with Heath. It's his decision to makebut at that point, the frustration sets in because I know that if Iplayed better, he's not going to make that decision. I want to winand I want to give my team the best chance to win, so I was highlyupset over that and that's a big part of why I threw the helmet."

But shortly thereafter, amid all that frustration, there was amoment of laughter.

Shuler's first drive stalled and Frerotte had to run on to thefield to hold for Eddie Murray's field goal. Except his helmet wasout of shape from being hurled against the bench and the ground.

"I almost broke my nose putting it on and {long snapper TrevMatich} and Eddie were laughing at me -- it was hilarious," Frerottesaid.

"He came on the field and he said, `Trev, is my helmet screwedup?' " Matich said. "Gus's head in that helmet looked like Abigaile'shead would look in Gus's normal helmet. The cheek pads are supposedto be flush against your face. With his, there was half an inch ofspace. I thought he had lost his helmet and just grabbed one."

Abigaile is Gus and Ann's 3-month-old daughter. Anne brought herto the game Sunday and, of course, to the Jones's for barbecue.

Sheryl Jones is an elementary school teacher. Doug Jones is aprivate contractor, running Job Corps centers for the Department ofLabor. The Frerottes moved into the neighborhood six months afterDoug and Sheryl.

"We treat them like family," said Doug. "I've started becoming aRedskins fan. I'm from southwest Arkansas and grew up a DallasCowboys fan. Since I've been here, those allegiances have changed.When you're inundated by it, you make changes."

Nothing Like Getting Your Goose Cooked

The citizens of Washington who care about football probably werethinking, grousing and talking about quarterbacks Sunday evening.Heath or Gus. Boos or more boos.

Gus Frerotte decided to think about barbecue.

A little smoked chicken and pork.

Frerotte is not the sort to pout or take the phone off the hook,even after a demoralizing day in which he was pulled in the Redskins'27-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and lost his starting job to HeathShuler. In fact, after Frerotte walked in the door of his NorthernVirginia home, he picked up the phone and called his next doorneighbors, Sheryl and Doug Jones.

"I asked if they had any leftovers," Frerotte said of the Saturdayevening barbecue that the Joneses, Frerotte and his wife, Ann,shared.

"I know that's one of his favorites," Sheryl said.

"We're really good friends with them, and we do that all thetime," Frerotte said of Sunday supper. "To me, it's good to havefriends that you can go to and get your mind off the game. Ann and Iwent and it was good to have fun, have some laughs after a day thatwasn't so great."

A lot of Redskins had a similar outlook Sunday as the team lostits third straight game. Probably the only one feeling worse thanFrerotte was Shuler, who was booed worse than Frerotte, though boththrew two interceptions. Frerotte was 14 of 32 for 200 yards. Afterthrowing interceptions on two of his first four passes, Shulerfinished the day 10 of 12 for 98 yards and a five-yard touchdown tossto Michael Westbrook.

Coach Norv Turner said the regression he's seen in Frerotte's playprompted him to make the switch yesterday for this week's gameagainst Philadelphia. Frerotte took that at face value.

"It is a frustration that if I had played well, I'd still be inthere," Frerotte said last evening as he and other Redskins gatheredto serve a Thanksgiving dinner to homeless folks at St. Joseph'sChurch in Herndon. "It's up to me to play well to keep my job. Ididn't play well, so he's got to make a change. It's his decision atthis point and Heath deserves a shot to play."

Though Frerotte was booed after his second interception, fansbooed louder when Shuler was sent in and then chanted, "We want Gus."

"Coming from a school as big as Tennessee," Frerotte said ofShuler, "Heath's never had something like that happen to him and it'shard for him. Whereas, I came from Tulsa, where that happens week inand week out. If you're playing well, they leave you alone. If not,then they boo you and want you kicked out of the stadium. It's alittle adversity that Heath will have to fight. The best way to fightit is to play well."

With the team 3-8 and all but eliminated from the playoffs, Shulermight play the rest of the season.

"Whoever starts the rest of the way, it's going to be a battle,but it always has been, but it's a good battle," Frerotte said."There is competition between Heath and I but we're good friends."

Quarterbacks never want out of the lineup, but Frerotte is hopefulhe somehow benefits.

"To keep playing is definitely a good thing. But every once in awhile, you might need that adjustment, to tell yourself that, `I likeplaying football. I like being the guy out there. I like thepressure. I like being the guy that has to make the throw.' I thinksometimes it takes one game sitting on the bench to say again, `Iwant to be out there.' "

One vivid memory of the game for many will be seeing Frerotte hurlhis helmet after learning Turner was replacing him with Shuler.

"We were only down 17-10 and in scoring range," Frerotte said. "IfI don't throw an interception, we're going to kick a field goal orscore a touchdown. It was only second down. That's what made me mad.

"I get to the sideline, we talk about the play, look at the photosand {Turner} said he was going with Heath. It's his decision to makebut at that point, the frustration sets in because I know that if Iplayed better, he's not going to make that decision. I want to winand I want to give my team the best chance to win, so I was highlyupset over that and that's a big part of why I threw the helmet."

But shortly thereafter, amid all that frustration, there was amoment of laughter.

Shuler's first drive stalled and Frerotte had to run on to thefield to hold for Eddie Murray's field goal. Except his helmet wasout of shape from being hurled against the bench and the ground.

"I almost broke my nose putting it on and {long snapper TrevMatich} and Eddie were laughing at me -- it was hilarious," Frerottesaid.

"He came on the field and he said, `Trev, is my helmet screwedup?' " Matich said. "Gus's head in that helmet looked like Abigaile'shead would look in Gus's normal helmet. The cheek pads are supposedto be flush against your face. With his, there was half an inch ofspace. I thought he had lost his helmet and just grabbed one."

Abigaile is Gus and Ann's 3-month-old daughter. Anne brought herto the game Sunday and, of course, to the Jones's for barbecue.

Sheryl Jones is an elementary school teacher. Doug Jones is aprivate contractor, running Job Corps centers for the Department ofLabor. The Frerottes moved into the neighborhood six months afterDoug and Sheryl.

"We treat them like family," said Doug. "I've started becoming aRedskins fan. I'm from southwest Arkansas and grew up a DallasCowboys fan. Since I've been here, those allegiances have changed.When you're inundated by it, you make changes."

Nothing Like Getting Your Goose Cooked

The citizens of Washington who care about football probably werethinking, grousing and talking about quarterbacks Sunday evening.Heath or Gus. Boos or more boos.

Gus Frerotte decided to think about barbecue.

A little smoked chicken and pork.

Frerotte is not the sort to pout or take the phone off the hook,even after a demoralizing day in which he was pulled in the Redskins'27-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and lost his starting job to HeathShuler. In fact, after Frerotte walked in the door of his NorthernVirginia home, he picked up the phone and called his next doorneighbors, Sheryl and Doug Jones.

"I asked if they had any leftovers," Frerotte said of the Saturdayevening barbecue that the Joneses, Frerotte and his wife, Ann,shared.

"I know that's one of his favorites," Sheryl said.

"We're really good friends with them, and we do that all thetime," Frerotte said of Sunday supper. "To me, it's good to havefriends that you can go to and get your mind off the game. Ann and Iwent and it was good to have fun, have some laughs after a day thatwasn't so great."

A lot of Redskins had a similar outlook Sunday as the team lostits third straight game. Probably the only one feeling worse thanFrerotte was Shuler, who was booed worse than Frerotte, though boththrew two interceptions. Frerotte was 14 of 32 for 200 yards. Afterthrowing interceptions on two of his first four passes, Shulerfinished the day 10 of 12 for 98 yards and a five-yard touchdown tossto Michael Westbrook.

Coach Norv Turner said the regression he's seen in Frerotte's playprompted him to make the switch yesterday for this week's gameagainst Philadelphia. Frerotte took that at face value.

"It is a frustration that if I had played well, I'd still be inthere," Frerotte said last evening as he and other Redskins gatheredto serve a Thanksgiving dinner to homeless folks at St. Joseph'sChurch in Herndon. "It's up to me to play well to keep my job. Ididn't play well, so he's got to make a change. It's his decision atthis point and Heath deserves a shot to play."

Though Frerotte was booed after his second interception, fansbooed louder when Shuler was sent in and then chanted, "We want Gus."

"Coming from a school as big as Tennessee," Frerotte said ofShuler, "Heath's never had something like that happen to him and it'shard for him. Whereas, I came from Tulsa, where that happens week inand week out. If you're playing well, they leave you alone. If not,then they boo you and want you kicked out of the stadium. It's alittle adversity that Heath will have to fight. The best way to fightit is to play well."

With the team 3-8 and all but eliminated from the playoffs, Shulermight play the rest of the season.

"Whoever starts the rest of the way, it's going to be a battle,but it always has been, but it's a good battle," Frerotte said."There is competition between Heath and I but we're good friends."

Quarterbacks never want out of the lineup, but Frerotte is hopefulhe somehow benefits.

"To keep playing is definitely a good thing. But every once in awhile, you might need that adjustment, to tell yourself that, `I likeplaying football. I like being the guy out there. I like thepressure. I like being the guy that has to make the throw.' I thinksometimes it takes one game sitting on the bench to say again, `Iwant to be out there.' "

One vivid memory of the game for many will be seeing Frerotte hurlhis helmet after learning Turner was replacing him with Shuler.

"We were only down 17-10 and in scoring range," Frerotte said. "IfI don't throw an interception, we're going to kick a field goal orscore a touchdown. It was only second down. That's what made me mad.

"I get to the sideline, we talk about the play, look at the photosand {Turner} said he was going with Heath. It's his decision to makebut at that point, the frustration sets in because I know that if Iplayed better, he's not going to make that decision. I want to winand I want to give my team the best chance to win, so I was highlyupset over that and that's a big part of why I threw the helmet."

But shortly thereafter, amid all that frustration, there was amoment of laughter.

Shuler's first drive stalled and Frerotte had to run on to thefield to hold for Eddie Murray's field goal. Except his helmet wasout of shape from being hurled against the bench and the ground.

"I almost broke my nose putting it on and {long snapper TrevMatich} and Eddie were laughing at me -- it was hilarious," Frerottesaid.

"He came on the field and he said, `Trev, is my helmet screwedup?' " Matich said. "Gus's head in that helmet looked like Abigaile'shead would look in Gus's normal helmet. The cheek pads are supposedto be flush against your face. With his, there was half an inch ofspace. I thought he had lost his helmet and just grabbed one."

Abigaile is Gus and Ann's 3-month-old daughter. Anne brought herto the game Sunday and, of course, to the Jones's for barbecue.

Sheryl Jones is an elementary school teacher. Doug Jones is aprivate contractor, running Job Corps centers for the Department ofLabor. The Frerottes moved into the neighborhood six months afterDoug and Sheryl.

"We treat them like family," said Doug. "I've started becoming aRedskins fan. I'm from southwest Arkansas and grew up a DallasCowboys fan. Since I've been here, those allegiances have changed.When you're inundated by it, you make changes."