What's new: Will there be a Round 2 Sunday at RFK Stadium in the battle between Washington linebacker Marvcus Patton and New York Giants quarterback Dave Brown? Neither player has ruled out the possibility, although Brown and Patton both said their fourth-quarter altercation Sept. 15 at the Meadowlands was most likely a "one-time thing. I prefer to rattle people with pads and pressure, not talking," said Patton of the brief fight that grew out of some trash talking throughout the first three quarters. "But if it happens again, so be it." Brown said the skirmish with Patton was "a case of being so frustrated. I'm staying away from it this week. I know I'll keep my chin strap buckled from now on." Brown had his helmet off when Patton came after him.
Redskins report
Next game: The 2-4 Giants aren't exactly a fine-tuned machine these days. New York quarterback Dave Brown said yesterday that the team's defense has grown impatient with the offense's inability to move the ball and score. "I feel like we're not holding up our end of the bargain," Brown said of the offense, adding that he has apologized to some of the defensive players "for our not getting the job done." Brown was sacked eight times in Sunday's 19-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and said: "When you get sacked once or twice early in a game, the defense smells blood and starts coming at you. But I'm the quarterback and I have to find a way to get the offense going." Asked what the defense is saying to the offense, he said with a laugh: "Nothing to our face, but I'm sure there is an undercurrent going on."
What Norv Turner said: "I've never been in a game against the Giants that wasn't physical. It [the first game with the Giants, a 31-10 Redskins victory] sure looked physical to me. I wasn't out there playing, but from where I stood on the sidelines, the hitting was very hard."
Injuries: Redskins rookie fullback Larry Bowie was forced out of practice yesterday by an injured left hamstring. Trainer Bubba Tyer said Bowie should recover in time to play Sunday. Tyer said wide receiver Michael Westbrook (torn posterior cruciate ligament) looked good again in practice yesterday, but no decision would be made on his possible return until at least Friday. The Redskins made a change in their practice squad yesterday, signing rookie defensive end Mark Lee and releasing tight end Ed Smith. Lee, 6 feet 4 and 259 pounds, is out of Western State. He spent the 1996 training camp with the Minnesota Vikings, but was released Aug. 17.
Quotable: Third-year wide receiver Leslie Shepherd: "Henry [Ellard] is going to be Henry. If I play 14 years, hopefully I'll be as good as him. He runs great routes and gets a lot of balls thrown to him. Henry's definitely been an inspiration to me the way he works hard all week. But I don't try to be like Henry." Ellard caught eight passes for 152 yards and one touchdown Sunday in Washington's 27-22 victory over the New England Patriots.
Pub Date: 10/17/96
