Quarterbacks Get a Shot at Redemption

Three quarterbacks had a chance Sunday to show teams they once played for that they made a mistake by not keeping them, but only one came away with a victory.

Brad Johnson of Tampa Bay probably made his point to the Redskins when he led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory in January, but he took the opportunity to remind them in person on Sunday.

Johnson completed 22 of 30 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns as the Buccaneers woke up from their Monday night hangover and rolled over Washington, 35-13.

Meanwhile, Tommy Maddox returned to Denver wearing the black and gold of the Steelers.

The Broncos drafted Maddox out of UCLA in 1992, hoping he would be the next John Elway. Unfortunately for them, he wasn’t even the next Norris Weese.

Maddox revived his career with Pittsburgh last season, but he spent much of Sunday looking up at the Colorado sky as the Broncos sacked him seven times in their 17-14 victory.

Maddox managed only 182 yards passing and did not throw for a touchdown for the third game in a row.

Former Raven quarterback Jeff Blake, now of Arizona, faced his old team in the desert and came out on the losing end too.

Blake completed 22 of 36 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, but he was done in by three interceptions in Baltimore’s 26-18 victory.

“That’s the way the game is, you know,” Blake said. “Two plays can make you or break you.”

*

The good news for Blake and the Cardinals was that few people witnessed their defeat.

The paid attendance was 24, 193, at 73,000-seat Sun Devil Stadium, but fewer people than that showed up in the 96-degree heat to see Arizona fall to 1-5.

Raven Coach Brian Billick, who is always impressed by his own wit, said the sparse crowd affected his coaching.

“I had to watch my mouth because everybody could hear me,” Billick said.

*

New York Jet defensive end John Abraham was held out of Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills because of a drunken driving arrest.

Coach Herman Edwards made the decision to deactivate Abraham, a starter, from the roster for the day.

The player was arrested after he drove his sport utility vehicle into a fire hydrant and light pole Oct. 1.

Abraham, a two-time Pro-Bowl selection, started the Jets’ first four games this season, getting 2 1/2 sacks.

*

Tarik Glenn of the Indianapolis Colts missed the first NFL game of his career Sunday with a strained left knee ligament.

The left tackle had started 101 consecutive games since the Colts drafted him in the first round in 1997.

*

Associated Press contributed to this report.