I thought I would share this with everyone.
--Steve
UF football: Wuerffel traded to Redskins
By ROBBIE ANDREU
Sun sports writer
One of Danny Wuerffel's prayers has been answered.
He's Steve Spurrier's quarterback again.
Wuerffel, the Heisman winner at UF under Spurrier in 1996, learned Monday he had been traded from the expansion Houston Texans to the Washington Redskins, where he'll be reunited with Spurrier.
Spurrier confirmed the trade for Wuerffel on Monday night and said the Redskins also are in the process of trying to obtain another former UF quarterback great - Shane Matthews - from the Chicago Bears.
"Danny is a done deal and we're trying to get Shane, too. It's close to happening," Spurrier said. "It would be very comfortable to have both of them. It would allow us to coach all the other guys (on offense) knowing that the quarterbacks know what's going on.
"Those two guys have been SEC Player of the Year twice each and they've won six SEC (titles) and a national (title) between them. They know how to win. We hope to have both of them."
Matthews was Spurrier's first quarterback at UF and led the Gators to three SEC titles. He was followed by Wuerffel, who led the Gators to the national title in 1996 and won the Heisman Trophy. They are two of Spurrier's all-time favorite quarterbacks, guys who learned his system and efficiently executed it.
"He's very excited," said Wuerffel's agent, Mike Moye. "This is something he's thought about since well before Coach Spurrier had taken the job with the Washington Redskins. He was always hoping to have another chance to play for coach Spurrier and in his system in the NFL.
"No one knows better than coach Spurrier how well Danny can play the position. This is a great opportunity for Danny. Playing quarterback in the NFL is about survival and Danny has survived to get to this point."
Wuerffel has been mostly a backup in the NFL since getting drafted in the fourth round by the New Orleans Saints after the 1996 national championship season. After spending three seasons with the Saints, Wuerffel was the No. 3 quarterback for a season at both Green Bay and Chicago the past two years.
Wuerffel, who started six games for the Saints (completed 126 of 258 attempts for 1,404 yards, nine touchdowns and 16 interceptions over 17 games in his NFL career), had his best days as a pro when he quarterbacked the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe, where he was coached by former UF coach Galen Hall.
Although he threw for 10,875 yards and 114 touchdowns in his UF career, Wuerffel's arm strength has always been a huge question mark in the NFL. But Spurrier's intricate passing offense relies more on a quarterback's knowledge and timing than sheer arm strength.
At UF, Wuerffel was a master at finding open receivers and reading defenses and making the right checks at the line of scrimmage.
Wuerffel also will be reunited in Washington with his favorite UF receiver - Chris Doering, who signed with the Redskins last Thursday. The two were one of the most potent pass-catching combinations in SEC history.
"That's awesome," said Doering when he learned Wuerffel was heading to the Redskins. "Obviously, we had a great connection in college and it's exciting to have the opportunity to play again with a guy who is a great player and a great friend.
"Coach Spurrier said he puts guys out on the field he has faith in and go play. Danny definitely can play in the NFL. In Coach Spurrier's offense, it's about being smart and being able to throw to the right spot and get to the right play.
"Danny's got all those abilities, as well as being a great competitor. And he's got a lot stronger arm than people think. He can zip it in there."
--Steve
UF football: Wuerffel traded to Redskins
By ROBBIE ANDREU
Sun sports writer
One of Danny Wuerffel's prayers has been answered.
He's Steve Spurrier's quarterback again.
Wuerffel, the Heisman winner at UF under Spurrier in 1996, learned Monday he had been traded from the expansion Houston Texans to the Washington Redskins, where he'll be reunited with Spurrier.
Spurrier confirmed the trade for Wuerffel on Monday night and said the Redskins also are in the process of trying to obtain another former UF quarterback great - Shane Matthews - from the Chicago Bears.
"Danny is a done deal and we're trying to get Shane, too. It's close to happening," Spurrier said. "It would be very comfortable to have both of them. It would allow us to coach all the other guys (on offense) knowing that the quarterbacks know what's going on.
"Those two guys have been SEC Player of the Year twice each and they've won six SEC (titles) and a national (title) between them. They know how to win. We hope to have both of them."
Matthews was Spurrier's first quarterback at UF and led the Gators to three SEC titles. He was followed by Wuerffel, who led the Gators to the national title in 1996 and won the Heisman Trophy. They are two of Spurrier's all-time favorite quarterbacks, guys who learned his system and efficiently executed it.
"He's very excited," said Wuerffel's agent, Mike Moye. "This is something he's thought about since well before Coach Spurrier had taken the job with the Washington Redskins. He was always hoping to have another chance to play for coach Spurrier and in his system in the NFL.
"No one knows better than coach Spurrier how well Danny can play the position. This is a great opportunity for Danny. Playing quarterback in the NFL is about survival and Danny has survived to get to this point."
Wuerffel has been mostly a backup in the NFL since getting drafted in the fourth round by the New Orleans Saints after the 1996 national championship season. After spending three seasons with the Saints, Wuerffel was the No. 3 quarterback for a season at both Green Bay and Chicago the past two years.
Wuerffel, who started six games for the Saints (completed 126 of 258 attempts for 1,404 yards, nine touchdowns and 16 interceptions over 17 games in his NFL career), had his best days as a pro when he quarterbacked the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe, where he was coached by former UF coach Galen Hall.
Although he threw for 10,875 yards and 114 touchdowns in his UF career, Wuerffel's arm strength has always been a huge question mark in the NFL. But Spurrier's intricate passing offense relies more on a quarterback's knowledge and timing than sheer arm strength.
At UF, Wuerffel was a master at finding open receivers and reading defenses and making the right checks at the line of scrimmage.
Wuerffel also will be reunited in Washington with his favorite UF receiver - Chris Doering, who signed with the Redskins last Thursday. The two were one of the most potent pass-catching combinations in SEC history.
"That's awesome," said Doering when he learned Wuerffel was heading to the Redskins. "Obviously, we had a great connection in college and it's exciting to have the opportunity to play again with a guy who is a great player and a great friend.
"Coach Spurrier said he puts guys out on the field he has faith in and go play. Danny definitely can play in the NFL. In Coach Spurrier's offense, it's about being smart and being able to throw to the right spot and get to the right play.
"Danny's got all those abilities, as well as being a great competitor. And he's got a lot stronger arm than people think. He can zip it in there."
