From: un032221@wvnvms.wvnet.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Skins QB debate Williams' injuries (Was Re:Gibbs/Skins win SBXXIX)
Date: 9 Nov 92 20:28:47 GMT
Organization: West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing

I said:
>>	Agreed.  This is part of the reason, but I think moreso it's an
>>individual thing.  I think the 83 near miss was due to the Raiders being the
>>better team, and Gibbs' lack of experience.  In 88 I think it was Williams'
>>injury (back) problem, and Timmy Smith's (the RB) arrogance, as you mentioned. 
>>Also, injuries, and holdouts.  This year, it looks like Injuries and holdouts
>>are going to be two contributing factors again, and Ryp's idiocy the major
>>factor.  I think you are wrong though to think that Cary Conklin will win it
>>all next.  I think Ryp won't be replaced, since unlike Theismann, and Williams,
>>he isn't old and decrepit, yet got the SB MVP thing.  I would LIKE to see
> 
Ronnie said:
> Don't get me started on this Doug Williams thing. The main argument Doug made
> against Gibbs is that he violated his own rule back when he used to maintain 
> that a starter could not lose his job due to injury. Williams was the starter 
> the year after the SB victory, got hurt, and his job was handed to the blonde 
> bomber. Williams was hurt in the offseason, WHILE TRAINING FOR THE UPCOMING 
> SEASON!!! something I believe athletes are encouraged to do. His beef was 
> first because the Skins didn't want to pay him that year and then because they
> did not want to allow him the opportunity to compete for his job back when he
> recovered. Then because they basically blackballed him out of the league for 
> having the nerve to voice his feelings. Though I attribute most of that to 
> Beathard moreso than the Skins organization.  Maybe he was washed up, maybe 
> not. A lot idiots thought he was washed up when Tampa Bay refused to sign him. 
> He only went on to win a Super Bowl MVP four years later. Sure his knees were 
> shot but they were shot in '87 as well. It didn't stop him from playing great 
> most of that year. The thing is, if Doug had gone north to Canada like all 
> little black QB's were supposed to do in those days he probably would be 
> enjoying the kind of renaissance Warren Moon has now.  Moon went away while 
> America got used to the idea that a black man could play QB in the NFL. James 
> Harris and Doug Williams paid a heavy price to get that message across. One 
> other interesting note is that as a result of guys like Williams, black QB's 
> aren't routinely asked to move to WR or DB coming out of college.   As for 
> where Williams had his best days. I'd wager heavily that 7 or 8 of his 10 best
> days as a pro took place under the guidance of some run-oriented old fart named
> McKay... in the "other" city by the bay. Of course, the offensive coordinator 
> on that team was a guy named Gibbs as I recall.

	I don't blame Williams for anything.  All I was trying to explain was
why Williams couldn't continue to do the SB thing for the Redskins.  He injured
his back as I recall, and that made him, even AFTER surgery, unnable to step
into his throws without pain.  He started overthrowing his targets, and before
long, Gibbs realised that Williams was finished.  Had he  not been hampered by
injury, I would have LOVED to have had Doug continue leading the Redskins.  Had
he been injury free, he probably could have led the Skins to more SB glory in
the late 80s, and We would've been the dynasty, and not SF.  Well, probably
not, but hey, I can dream can't I?  :)
	-Skins fan that thinks Ryp is scum, the antichrist, and all around bad.