Friday, September 06, 2002
Frerotte-Westbrook connection
By Mark Curnutte, mcurnutte@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
In 1996, Michael Westbrook's second NFL season, he caught 34 passes from Gus Frerotte.
They hooked up for one touchdown and a 14.9-yard average.
Westbrook would play five more seasons for the Redskins. Frerotte left Washington after the 1998 season and played a season in Detroit and two more in Denver.
They have been re-united as free agents in Cincinnati, and their familiarity could show in spite of the time apart and Westbrook's wrist injury that forced him to miss the preseason.
“I think so,” Frerotte said when asked if his on-field connection with Westbrook still exists. “I missed him at training camp, not knowing if he has changed. I know he's matured a lot, and he's still the same player.”
Before Westbrook broke a bone in his left wrist on July 28, he and Frerotte were showing some of the old magic. Frerotte clearly was more comfortable throwing to him.
“He has a big frame,” Frerotte said. “Your target area is really big with him.”
Westbrook, who will play and might start Sunday in the opener, said he is comfortable with Frerotte.
“We have the whole veteran chemistry there,” he said.
They enjoyed highs and endured lows as teammates.
Westbrook said the best game was the 19-13 overtime victory against Arizona on Sept. 14, 1997. Frerotte and Westbrook connected on two TD passes, including a 40-yarder in overtime for the victory. Westbrook jumped and caught the ball in the end zone.
The low point came later that season, on Nov. 23. That game ended in a 7-7 overtime tie with the Giants. Frerotte scored on a one-yard run right before halftime and celebrated by head-butting a passed wall. He missed the second half with a sprained neck.
And Westbrook, with 43 seconds remaining in overtime, drew a 15-yard penalty for yanking his helmet off after a reception at the New York 30-yard line was ruled out of bounds. The Redskins had to try a 54-yard field goal with two seconds remaining. It was short. And the game ended in a tie.
“The lowest,” Westbrook said. “I threw my helmet, and he rammed his head into the wall. Same game.”
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Frerotte-Westbrook connection
