Commentary : Redskins’ Best Move? Not Making a Move

Rumors of Jay Schroeder’s getting traded are swirling in the wind like kites on a blustery afternoon. The Raiders and San Diego Chargers are frequently mentioned as teams interested in acquiring Schroeder. Sometimes it’s a straight swap; other times it’s a complicated multi-team package.

Trade rumors are the underground drumbeat of sports. How, where and why they originate varies. Some start on radio talk shows, with a bozo repeating a conversation he’s had with an imaginary rabbit. Some start in newspapers, where they’re floated in search of a headline. Some start in the general manager’s office, and are leaked to light a fire under a non-achiever.

They’re easily scuttled. In this case all it would take is Bobby Beathard saying, “We have not made a decision whether we’re willing to trade (Schroeder), but I think we’ve gotten to the point where we’re willing to listen.”

Which implies Schroeder is available.

“It’s what we call tap dancing,” explained one GM. “Bobby’ll make a deal if the deal is right.”

You might say, well, anybody’s available for the right price. But Lawrence Taylor and Dan Marino aren’t available for any price.

Schroeder as trade bait suggests two things: Either the Redskins aren’t discomforted by the prospect of Mark Rypien as their backup quarterback, or Schroeder has become a liability in the clubhouse. Or both.

“Quarterback is the most critical position on the field. You don’t just rid yourself of someone at that position unless you have real reasons,” offered one GM. “There are good reasons, and then there are real reasons. Anytime a team is ready to trade a quarterback who should be going into his prime, and their only other proven quarterback is a descending quarterback, the red flag goes up. The big question for me is: What don’t I know about Jay Schroeder?”

You know that 14 months ago he was in the Pro Bowl. You know he can throw a football as hard and as long as anybody in the NFL. You know he sulked after he lost his job to Doug Williams. And you know he’s no longer in the restaurant business. Beyond that, it’s guesswork.

“Maybe he’s not a team guy,” one GM said. “The Rams didn’t want to get rid of Eric Dickerson, but there comes a point where you become the issue. This is still a team game, and the Redskins’ main strength has always been to play as a team.”

“Maybe the Redskins feel that sitting another year will blow his mind, that he can’t go another season watching Williams,” said another GM.

Maybe I’m dancing in the dark, but unless I got a quarterback in return--a quarterback I liked, not Marc Wilson, a house plant--I wouldn’t trade Schroeder. I’m inclined not to trade Schroeder at all. After all these years I’ve fallen for the line that you can never have too many good quarterbacks. A running back and or a No. 1 draft pick is attractive, but somewhere in the mix there’d have to be a worthy quarterback, a jewel.

Here’s why: Doug Williams will be 33 years old by the start of the season, and he’s coming off knee surgery. He was spectacular in the Super Bowl, and he was heroic all season long in relief of Schroeder. There’s no reason to think Williams shouldn’t be as good this season. But years of playing behind spotty offensive lines in Tampa and Tulsa caused wear and tear to his body. A bad back shelved him for one game last season, he hurt his shoulder in the playoffs, and there were anxious moments in the Super Bowl when it appeared he might not be able to get up from a knee injury. The lingering image from the joyous Disney World commercial is Williams jogging off gingerly, like Walter Brennan. Behind him is the phantom of the injured reserve list, Rypien, who has yet to throw an NFL pass. We hear so much about Rypien, but all we see is a sweater carrying a clipboard. Which is great if you’re Lana Turner. Beathard may have uncovered a jewel for the draft in Louisiana--he’s done it before--but rookie quarterbacks don’t get much time on Super Bowl champions.

Last September, shopping Schroeder was unthinkable. But his stock plunged toward the end of the regular season. Fans became disdainful of his inaccurate passing. He could never throw short; the Redskins lived with that because he threw for 4,000 yards in 1986. But when he couldn’t throw long either, that was intolerable. Joe Gibbs finally turned to Williams, and Schroeder turned away, pouting.

Schroeder was aloof from the media as a starter, and withdrew further while on the pine. He’s still no-commenting. In contrast, Williams always had a twinkle in his eye. Here was a genuine rags-to-riches story, a man of admirable character and courage, a man of large emotional range who didn’t mind sharing those emotions publicly. In every comparison with Williams, Schroeder suffered. The coup de grace was Schroeder’s absence from Washington’s Super Bowl victory parade. Schroeder received permission to remain in California with his family. Others did, too. But nobody was as conspicuous in his absence as Schroeder. At his huge salary he could’ve easily afforded to fly back to California after the parade. Being a no-show made him look like a sore loser.

A change might do Schroeder good. But his best interests aren’t necessarily the Redskins’ best interests. Beathard played this same tune a year ago, listening to offers for a backup named Williams, yet never letting him go. It was the best trade Beathard never made. In that light it’s wise to recall that a year ago everyone in town praised Schroeder as a terrific, raw quarterback. Has that all changed? Granted, he’s no Dale Carnegie lately, but if he isn’t agitating for it, it’s precipitous to trade him now.