Brunell will start for Redskins in Week 2

ASHBURN, Va. (Sept. 12, 2005) -- Mark Brunell will start for the Washington Redskins on Sept. 19 against the Dallas Cowboys, retaking the quarterback job from Patrick Ramsey.

Brunell came in to lead a season-opening victory against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 11.

Coach Joe Gibbs had prepared for nearly a year for Ramsey to be the 2005 starter, but the coach changed his mind after Ramsey was intercepted once and fumbled twice against the Bears before leaving with a mild neck injury. - NFL Football -

"This is something that is extremely hard," Gibbs said. "You don't like doing this. I don't. Sometimes you don't chart the circumstances or what happens -- it just happens. Certainly it wasn't the plan I had going in, but sometimes plans change, and I think you do the best you can in dealing with it." - NFL Football -

Brunell was the opening-day starter last year after winning a training camp competition over Ramsey, but he had the worst season of his career with stats that ranked near the bottom of the league. Brunell, who signed a seven-year contract after being traded from Jacksonville, was booed heartily and replaced with Ramsey in the ninth game. A few weeks later, Gibbs said Ramsey would be the 2005 starter.

But the 35-year-old Brunell appeared rejuvenated during training camp this year, outperforming Ramsey in all four preseason games and giving Gibbs confidence to make the switch.

"I know a lot of people would disagree with this, and I understand that," Gibbs said. "For me, personally, I felt like it was a decision that I had to make. I think we've got a situation where two quarterbacks can win ball games for us. ... I know this is something that Patrick doesn't agree with -- he's a very competitive guy -- but it's something we're going to have to work through."

Ramsey left the 9-7 victory with a sprained neck when he was hit by linebacker Lance Briggs on a blitz in the second quarter. Ramsey was well enough to return at halftime, but Gibbs stuck with Brunell for the rest of the game. - NFL Football -

Ramsey and Brunell had similar stats for the game -- with one huge exception: Brunell led three scoring drives, while Ramsey led three drives that stalled with either a fumble or an interception. Gibbs has shown little tolerance for turnovers this season, something he backed up Sept. 11 by yanking Antonio Brown as the kickoff returner after Brown fumbled the opening kick of the second half.

Ramsey completed 6 of 11 passes for 105 yards, but his first drive ended with an overthrow that was picked off by Nathan Vasher. Ramsey fumbled on third down on his second drive, but teammate Jon Jansen recovered to turn a potential turnover into a punting situation. On his third series, Ramsey understandably lost the ball when Briggs popped him. Still, Ramsey's 52-yard completion to Santana Moss was longer than any pass play the team had all of last season. - NFL Football -

Brunell was 8-for-14 for 70 yards, more methodical and mistake-free. His biggest play was a 36-yard pass-interference penalty that negated an interception. He led drives of 43, 47 and 63 yards, but they ended in field goals instead of touchdowns.

A quarterback controversy always seems inevitable on a team that produced Sonny Jurgensen vs. Billy Kilmer, Jay Schroeder vs. Doug Williams and Heath Shuler vs. Gus Frerotte. But no one expected the issue to come to a head after only one game. - NFL Football -

It turns out Ramsey was injured just enough to open the door for Brunell's return.

"Mark did the thing that a backup is supposed to do -- go in and play well and keep himself on the coach's mind," guard Ray Brown said.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2005, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved