Jim Turner
Turnersportsdesk.com
April 17, 2010
As I watched a video clip of the Donovan McNabb photo
shoot on Redskins.com sporting
his number five I could not help but remember another number five that inherited the hopes of
Redskin Nation 16 years ago. In 1994 Heath Shuler was going to
be the second coming of Joe Theismann minus the cocky attitude. Shuler was an
ultra nice kid, mobile, had a decent arm and led University of Tennessee to some
success as their Quarterback. What looked like a good pick (at least on paper)
turned into one of the biggest busts in both Redskin and NFL history.
It‘s not how you start but how you finish
McNabb started in Philly by getting booed in the draft. For
the most part the passionate fans of Philly embraced him but there was always
that element that he could never please. McNabb went on to be the best QB in
the history of the franchise before going to the Redskins. Shuler’s career started with a resounding thud
and got worse from there. It turns out he just didn’t have the mental chops to
fully grasp what was going on around him. He was eventually beaten out by Gus Frerotte and his brief
NFL career was over. Shuler’s destiny was to serve in Washington but as a
Congressman for North Carolina and not a NFL Quarterback. Donovan McNabb set
records in Philly but was never really accepted. Now he makes his home in
Washington and he will finally get the cheers he richly deserves.
Both Shuler and McNabb could share stories of dramatic highs
and lows. They both got their shot at redemption right here in Washington.
Perhaps both fives can add to that lure; one in the halls of Congress and the
other at Fed Ex Field on Sundays.