Players blame themselves, each other for Turner's demise

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) _ Even as Norv Turner was taking the fall for the Washington Redskins' disappointing season, the players were pointing fingers at each other. <br><br>Turner was fired Monday and replaced

Monday, December 4th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) _ Even as Norv Turner was taking the fall for the Washington Redskins' disappointing season, the players were pointing fingers at each other.

Turner was fired Monday and replaced by passing game coordinator Terry Robiskie. While the players agreed Robiskie will provide the motivational fire Turner lacked, they questioned why their teammates couldn't motivate themselves.

``Players make coaches look good, and players make coaches look bad,'' cornerback Deion Sanders said. ``I wish they could show the films publicly to show what I'm stressing. We need different players. It's talent, in certain areas, especially on special teams.''

Sanders said he took responsibility when he had a bad game against Detroit this year, but others aren't willing to do the same.

``I wish other players would come out and say, `It's not Norv's fault. I got my butt kicked,''' Sanders said.

Guard Keith Sims said Turner was the kind of the coach who expected every player to have a professional work ethic _ without having to scream about it. It was an assumption that can't be made in the NFL.

``Norv did not threaten players,'' Sims said. ``Some guys took advantage of him.''

Others players admitted their contribution to Turner's demise in a season that began with Super Bowl aspirations. The Redskins, despite an NFL-record $100 million roster, are 7-6 and have lost four of their last five. They probably need to win their last three to make the playoffs.

``It's a somber moment,'' kicker Eddie Murray said. ``Players feel like they've let a coach down. I feel bad for the coach. I didn't hold my end of it up.''

Kickers were the first thing on Turner's mind when he gave his farewell speech. In each of the last three losses, a kicker has missed a vital field goal in the closing minutes.

``We came up short in each of those situations,'' Turner said. ``The difference between winning and losing is not very big in this league.''

The inability to find a regular kicker has hurt Turner's teams since he cut Chip Lohmiller during the 1995 training camp. Turner has used five kickers this season. The latest, the 44-year-old Murray, didn't have the leg to reach the goalpost from 44 and 49 yards in the last two games.

The loss of three offensive starters to knee injuries was also a setback this year, but the deeper problem was the players' lack of focus. Several veterans admitted last week that the team had been too caught up in its own Super Bowl expectations and was not concentrating on one game at a time.

It showed in unforced errors such as bad snaps, missed blocks and tackles and dropped balls. It seemed to be a different player every week, and the only thing they had in common was the coach.

``We just really needed to make a change,'' owner Dan Snyder said, ``driven with what I call some serious leadership.''

Robiskie can provide that. His motivational speeches are a highlight of the team meetings on Saturday night.

``Terry is a catalyst,'' guard Tre Johnson said. ``Terry's going to get things done. He's not going to take any trash from anybody. He's going to be a lot more aggressive with how he coaches each individual on the team. He's a motivational guy.''

A running back at LSU in the mid-1970s, Robiskie played three seasons with Oakland and two with Miami. He was an assistant with the Raiders from 1982-93 and was one of Turner's first hires with the Redskins in 1994.

``I don't want to compare my motivational skills to Norv Turner's, but I think depending on what the event is, I could motivate you if I had to,'' Robiskie said. ``Everything I've ever done, I've done it through motivation.''

Robiskie, 46, said he will call the plays on game day, as Turner did, and will shuffle the coaching staff so he won't have to spend as much time with the receivers. In his first move, he fired special teams coach LeCharls McDaniel. He also said Jeff George will start as quarterback in Sunday's game at Dallas.

``Everybody is going to be under the microscope,'' Robiskie said. ``My receivers know there are some things Terry Robiskie won't stand for. That won't change.''

Turner leaves with a 49-59-1 record and only one playoff appearance in seven seasons.

``I've obviously been put in a good position to have an opportunity to win,'' Turner said. ``This team has a chance to be 10-6. That's a disappointment to me. There's part of me that would like to be a part of it. There's part of me that understands why it's necessary to make a change right now.''