KLMNO
SPORTS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6 , 2019. WASHINGTONPOST.COM/SPORTS M2 D
BY LES CARPENTERrichmond — Two weeks into a
three-man quarterback battle,
the Washington Redskins are
learning there really is no good
way to run a three-man quarter-
back battle. There are never
enough plays at training camp,
never enough passes to throw,
defenses to recognize or minutes
in the morning. Someone is
bound to get something less than
the others.
The other day, Coach Jay
Gruden announced he will prob-
ably sit one quarterback in each
of the team’s preseason games in
the hope of giving proper time to
the two others fighting for the
starting spot — as well as thefourth quarterback, Josh Wood-
rum, whom the team needs to
prepare in case something hap-
pens to the first three.
“We’ll just figure it out,”
Gruden said with a chuckle. “Hey,
you got the first quarter, you got
the second quarter, you got the
third, fourth quarter. You aren’t
playing.”
He didn’t seem pleased with
this plan, but he didn’t seem
dismayed, either. What else can
he do?
The Redskins play their first
preseason game Thursday night
in Cleveland, and there doesn’t
seem to be a clear leader. Gruden
said he keeps hoping everything
“will pan out” and “the cream
SEE REDSKINS ON D5This, too, shall pass
Once the preseason begins, the Redskins’ three-way quarterback battle could gain clarity at last
At the Rio
Olympics three
years ago, Jerry
Colangelo beamed
at the sight of gold
medals dangling
from the necks of
players on a
supposedly
underwhelming U.S. men’s
basketball team. Then the USA
Basketball managing director
used the moment to admonish
critics who had considered the
squad too green in international
competition and too full of
secondary stars.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity that might not
otherwise have been there for
them, so I’m happy for them,”
Colangelo said that day. “It
bothers me when some of our
players are called ‘B’ players or ‘C’
players. That’s ludicrous. They’re
all great players.”
Funny how time and
circumstances distort
perspective. Back then, these
were some of the names on that
SEE BREWER ON D10NBA’s stars
lost motivation
to compete for
Team USA
Jerry
BrewerNationals at Giants
Today, 9:45 p.m., MASN 2
Inside: To boost their infield depth,
the Nats sign Asdrúbal Cabrera. D3Preseason opener: Redskins at Browns
Thursday, 7:30 p.m., NBCSW, WRC-4BY JESSE DOUGHERTYsan francisco — When the
Washington Nationals got what
they needed out of Erick Fedde —
and then some — the young
starter no longer looked like the
root of a problem.
He actually looked a lot more
like a solution. Fedde, 26 years
old, still evolving, still figuring it
out, found something in a 4-0
win over the San Francisco Gi-
ants at Oracle Park on Monday
night. He gave up six hits across
six scoreless innings. He threw
just 75 pitches to complete them.
And for Washington, still search-
ing for a fifth starter, and stillstuck in a slight slide, even a
small step for Fedde is a big one.
He followed the worst outing of
his career with one of his best.
The Nationals had lost seven
of 10 games coming into this
series against the Giants. Now,
they are six games back of the
Atlanta Braves in the National
League East. They have some
balance atop the NL wild-card
standings. Their offense patched
it together — scoring on a balk,
and a misplayed flyball, and adouble steal, and walking eight
times — and the bullpen record-
ed the final nine outs without a
hitch.
The Nationals began Monday
by signing Asdrúbal Cabrera, a
veteran infielder who was re-
cently released by the Texas
Rangers. That meant that, in the
past week, they have made four
moves to address obvious weak-
nesses. They improved their bull-
pen by trading for Daniel Hud-
SEE NATIONALS ON D3Nats get what they need out of Fedde
NATIONALS 4,
GIANTS 0THEARON W. HENDERSON/GETTY IMAGESErick Fedde gave up six hits across six scoreless innings Monday
night in San Francisco, striking out two and issuing no walks.
PHOTOS BY JOHN MCDONNELL/THE WASHINGTON POSTBY STEVEN GOFFD.C. United superstar Wayne
Rooney might leave the MLS club
after this season and return to
England, two years before his con-
tract expires, people close to the
organization said Monday.
The primary suitor is second-
tier Derby County, which sent
chief executive Stephen Pearce to
Washington in recent days to meet
with United executives about a
possible transfer this winter or
after the 2020 season, said one
person, who was not authorized to
discuss the matter publicly. Eng-
lish Premier League club Burnley
is also interested, that person said.
Rooney will meet with Derby
officials Tuesday in England and
return to Washington on Wednes-
day to begin preparing for Sun-
day’s match against the LA Galaxy.
The London Telegraph report-
ed Derby and Rooney’s agent, Paul
Stretford, have conducted prelim-
inary talks about Rooney becom-
ing a player-coach as early as this
winter.
Stretford did not return a mes-
sage seeking comment. Mark
Whittle, managing director of
SEE ROONEY ON D3Rooney
may exit
after this
season
United star could return
to his native England,
join club as player-coachPRO BASKETBALL
In a game that began in early July
and was halted by an earthquake,
the Mystics rout Las Vegas, 99-70,
behind Elena Delle Donne. D2
SOCCER
MLS won’t punish Alejandro Bedoya
after he grabbed a microphone at
Audi Field and implored Congress
to address gun violence. D3PRO FOOTBALL
After a tumultuous 2018 season,
the Steelers are hoping to discover
that addition by subtraction
can actually help them improve. D6Jay Gruden must decide among quarterbacks
Colt McCoy, Case Keenum and Dwayne Haskins.Galaxy at D.C. United
Sunday, 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1J50 Year Full Replacement Value Warranty
J (^) Awarded Select ShingleMaster Certification
Earned by Only 1% of the Nation’s Roofers
FREE Estimates JFinancing Available
844-553-LONG
LongRoofing.com
Licensed, Bonded, Insured. MHIC 51346, VA 2705048183A, DC 67006785
EXP. Valid initial visit only. Minimum purchase required. Cannot be combined with
- PAYMENTS AS LOW AS $99/MO. other offers. OAC. Not valid on Restoration Division sales.
SAVE 20% NOW!