Life on NFL’s Merry-Go-Round

Jeff George. So much talent, so much promise, so many first names.

So little to show for it all.

He’s on the road again, out of work again. But for how long?

Given the state of quarterbacking in the NFL in 2001--Ty Detmer throws seven interceptions against Cleveland and remains No. 1 on Detroit’s depth chart--some desperate sucker is sure to give George a tryout, watch those beautiful 70-yard spirals crease the sky and be reeled in once again, the same way the Colts, the Falcons, the Raiders, the Vikings and the Redskins were.

Consider this a public service then: how George came, saw and confounded in five previous stopovers. And for a little reading music, try: “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1990-1993)

Pre-George: As basic as it gets: Jack Trudeau hands off to Eric Dickerson. Dickerson rushes for 1,311 yards in 1989, Colts finish 8-8.

With George: Colts make George the top pick in the 1990 draft, ahead of Blair Thomas, Cortez Kennedy, Junior Seau, Mark Carrier and Emmitt Smith. George loses the starting job midway through his rookie season, regains it, Colts finish 7-9. In 1991, the template for a career is set: George passes for 2,910 yards, completes more than 60% of his passes, Colts finish 1-15. George lasts two more seasons in Indianapolis, Colts go 9-7 and 4-12. Colts then trade George to Atlanta for three draft choices. One of them lands Marvin Harrison.

Post-George: Jim Harbaugh comes in, doubles Colts’ victory totals from ’93 to ‘94, then doubles George’s career postseason victory total (one) by taking the team to the 1995 AFC championship game.

ATLANTA FALCONS (1994-1996)

Pre-George: With Deion Sanders hurt, Falcons lose their first five games of the 1993 season before Bobby Hebert revives the team by passing for 2,978 yards and 24 touchdowns. Three receivers have 70 or more catches. Falcons go 6-5 the rest of the way, finish 6-10.

With George: In his two full seasons in Atlanta, George passes for 47 touchdowns and nearly 8,000 yards. Falcons miss the playoffs in ’94 at 7-9, then grab the last NFC wild-card spot in ’95 at 9-7. In his playoff debut, George outpasses Green Bay’s Brett Favre, 366 yards to 199, but loses, 37-20. Three games into the ’96 season, George is suspended after arguing heatedly in the middle of a game with Coach June Jones. Falcons try to trade George, find no takers. Finally, laying down a blueprint the Redskins will follow five years later, Falcons decide to cut their starting quarterback in midseason.

Post-George: Hebert finishes out the ’96 season at 3-13. Atlanta trades for Chris Chandler in the off-season. Chandler makes the Pro Bowl in ’97 and ‘98, Falcons reach the Super Bowl in ’98.

OAKLAND RAIDERS (1997-1998)

Pre-George: Maybe Mike White--reputed quarterback guru, University of Illinois pedigree--would have been the one to flick on the switch. We’ll never know; Raiders go 7-9 in ’96 with Jeff Hostetler and Billy Joe Hobert, Al Davis fires White at season’s end.

With George: George leads the league with 3,917 passing yards in ‘97, the Raiders slump to 4-12. George injures groin in off-season, hobbles through seven starts in ’98 before giving way to Donald Hollas. After an 8-8 season, Raiders release George and sign Rich Gannon.

Post-George: Gannon passes for 3,840 yards and 24 touchdowns in 1999, makes the Pro Bowl, then follows it up by leading Raiders to the AFC championship game in 2000.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1999)

Pre-George: With Randall Cunningham heading an offense that scores a league-record 556 points, Vikings finish 15-1 and reach the 1998 NFC championship game.

With George: When Cunningham opens the 1999 season 2-4, Coach Dennis Green summons George, who salvages the Vikings’ season: 2,816 passing yards, 23 touchdown passes, a 10-6 finish and a wild card. George gains his first and only postseason victory in the wild-card round, 27-10 over Dallas. In the divisional playoff against St. Louis, three late touchdown passes from George rally the Vikings--from a 49-17 deficit to 49-37.

Post-George: Having outpassed Daunte Culpepper, 2,816 yards to zero, in ‘99, George loses his job and spot on the roster when Green announces he’s turning the offense over to the untested Culpepper. George heads to Washington, Culpepper heads to the 2000 NFC Central title, the conference championship game and the Pro Bowl.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (2000-2001)

Pre-George: With Brad Johnson passing for more than 4,000 yards, Redskins go 10-6 to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years and win the NFC East title for the first time since ’91.

With George: Redskin owner Dan Snyder gets all excited, thinks he’s playing fantasy football against Jerry Jones and spends $18.25 million to make George his backup quarterback. Johnson starts the first 10 games of 2000, wins only six of them. Snyder lobbies hard for George, who starts a Monday night game in St. Louis and beats the defending Super Bowl champions in prime time, 33-20. George starts the next four games, loses them all. He finishes 1-4, the Redskins 8-8. Johnson leaves for Tampa Bay, George becomes the uncontested 2001 starter--for 21/2 quarters. Benched midway through the third quarter of a 30-3 opening-day loss to San Diego, George spends the next nine days not talking to the media, finally declares the leadership thing to be “overrated.” Given another Monday night start at Green Bay, George loses it, 37-0, then loses his job two days later.

Post-George: It can’t get any worse.

THE BANKS OF THE POTOMAC

Or can it?

The Redskins’ new No. 1 quarterback is Tony Banks, playing for his fourth NFL team since 1999 and his third since January. When Banks joined George in Washington last month, one NFL scout said the Redskins had cornered the market on the two biggest underachievers in the league.

To quote Pete Townshend one more time: Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

ST. LOUIS RAMS (1996-1998)

Pre-Banks: Rams move to St. Louis in 1995, bring Chris Miller with them. More concussions for the team and the quarterback, who wind up 7-9.

With Banks: The Rams’ second-round draft choice in ‘96, Banks leads the league in fumbles (21) as a rookie, Rams finish 6-10. In ‘97, Banks leads the NFC in fumbles (15), Rams go 5-11. In ‘98, Banks fumbles 10 more times, throws twice as many interceptions (14) as touchdown passes, Rams go 4-12.

Post-Banks: Banks heads to Baltimore, fumbling his boarding pass. Rams trade for Trent Green, who blows out his knee, have no choice but to turn to Arena League refugee Kurt Warner. Rams win Super Bowl.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (1999-2000)

Pre-Banks: Harbaugh plays some, Eric Zeier plays some. Translation, circa 1998: Ravens go 6-10.

With Banks: Banks has career bests in touchdown passes (17), interceptions (8) and quarterback rating (81.2) in ’99. Ravens finish 8-8. Banks opens 2000 as the Ravens’ No. 1 quarterback, then goes 21 consecutive quarters without producing a touchdown. Ravens send in Trent Dilfer.

Post-Banks: With Banks on the bench, Ravens win Super Bowl.

DALLAS COWBOYS (2001)

Pre-Banks: Twelve years with Troy Aikman, three Super Bowl rings.

With Banks: If you winced, you missed it. Cowboys cut Banks after two exhibitions, decide second-round draftee Quincy Carter is their man.

Post-Banks: Just in case Carter isn’t, and Anthony Wright isn’t either, Jerry Jones will grow restless again. And some time in October, the wire story will read: “The Dallas Cowboys, desperate for help at their troubled quarterback position, will bring in Jeff George for a tryout....”