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May 16, 2002
ASHBURN, Va. -- The way Shane Matthews figures it, he has joined the most unpopular team in the NFL. He couldn't be happier.
"Everybody in America's going to be watching the Redskins, and they're hoping we're going to fail," Matthews said Wednesday. "But we're going to prove them wrong.
"It's basically because of our head coach. People don't believe he can get it done, and people don't want to see him succeed. I lived up in Chicago for eight years, and the people up there hate him. Either you love him or you hate him."
Matthews was reunited this week with his former Florida coach, Steve Spurrier, as the Redskins began a series of voluntary spring practices. Matthews and another ex-Gator quarterback, Danny Wuerffel, will compete with Sage Rosenfels for the starting job at training camp in July and August.
But will the whole country be rooting against them?
"Not the whole country," Spurrier said. "Washington. Florida. We've got a lot of Gators down there pulling. We may even have some other SEC teams pulling for us. I think Shane's overreacting a little bit."
The Redskins also have first-round pick Patrick Ramsey, but he is not expected to be ready to start as a rookie.
(Shane) looks pretty good," Spurrier said. "He needs a little coaching, though. They all do."