After all, his Dad had just led the Bengals to a 28-13 victory over the Colts.
Remember, 6-year-old Gunnar Esiason wasn't born yet during the glory days. And he is now the age his father was when he started remembering his hockey and baseball games.
''The first thing he asked me was why I made that block,'' said Boomer Esiason Friday, referring to the play that sprung Corey Dillon's 46-yard touchdown run. ''He told me, 'Daddy, you shouldn't be blocking like that. You'll get hurt.' He's very bright, much brighter than you or me.''
But it took Gunnar a while to grasp the concept of a backup quarterback. That's OK. Most NFL coaches haven't, either. He wanted to know what the backup quarterback does. When does he play?
''I told him, 'He's the guy who plays in case of emergency, in case something happens to Jeff Blake,'' Esiason said. ''I told him, 'I support Jeff Blake. He's my teammate.'
''And he told me, 'That's good, Daddy. I like Jeff Blake.' ''
Gunnar still remembers when he was three and four years old, and he would sit on Blake's knee, back when his Dad and Blake were teammates in New York on the Jets. When he found out his Dad was a Bengal again this year, Gunnar wanted a Blake jersey.
''I said that's taking it too far,'' said Esiason with a laugh.
Esiason appreciates the way Blake has handled the past week's controversy coach Bruce Coslet couldn't stop despite the immediate pronouncement Blake would start Sunday in Pittsburgh. Esiason remains the talk-show listeners' starter.
''Our backup goes in and helps win a game and our starter is hugging me,'' Esiason said. ''To me, that means more than anything he ever says. I've been there. I supported my backups, but I don't really necessarily think my backups supported me and it makes for a tough deal. Those guys are backstabbers, and I'm not doing that to Jeff.''
Esiason remembers when he was a kid, his second year in the NFL, and Sam Wyche benched him in favor of Ken Anderson during a game in Houston. Esiason responded by taking out the Gatorade table.
''I acted a lot more immaturely than Jeff did. He handled it great,'' Esiason said. ''Of course, it was a different time, a different set of circumstances. I was just in my second year, Jeff is in his sixth. I went off. I'm not proud of it, but whatever happened, it made me a better player.
''Every quarterback goes through this. Jeff is going through it now. I went through it in '85, and in '92 with (David) Klingler,'' Esiason said.
Esiason has no problems with Blake starting because if he said anything else, he knows it would be hypocritical - he knew the situation when he signed. At 36, he is just happy the team clicked with him, the oldest guy on the team bouncing around like a high school sophomore.
''I think they responded to my lust for the game, not so much because I had some success,'' said Esiason, who won't make a decision about retirement until January or February.
So Esiason has a ball every practice, working against the first defense with what he calls the, ''JV squad. I'm taking them out to dinner after the season.''
''Football is serious business,'' said Esiason. ''But it should also be fun. It doesn't have to be pulling teeth.''
Blake plans complete game
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