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Sports: Redskins

Top Five: Previous debuts by rookie Redskins QBs

September 9, 2012 | 8:00 pm | Modified: September 9, 2012 at 11:50 pm
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Photo - Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Robert Griffin III completed 19 of 26 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns as the Redskins upset the Saints on Sunday.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Robert Griffin III completed 19 of 26 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns as the Redskins upset the Saints on Sunday.

How good was Robert Griffin III's sensational debut? Compare it to the debuts of these Redskins rookie quarterbacks, ranked from worst to best:

5. Norm Snead (1961) » The No.?2 overall pick started every game as a rookie. In a 35-3 opening-game loss at the 49ers, Snead went 8-for-34 for 140 yards and three interceptions, one of four games in which he had a single-digit rating.

4. Heath Shuler (1994) » In his first start at home against Dallas in October, the No. 3 overall pick went 11-for-30 for 96 yards (43.2 rating) in a 34-7 loss. The Redskins went 1-7 in his starts that season.

3. Gus Frerotte (1994) » Disgusted with the play of Shuler, Norv Turner tried his rookie seventh-rounder, who delivered a 41-27 win at Atlanta, completing 17 of 32 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns. Frerotte struggled in his next three starts, all losses.

2. Ed Rubbert (1987) » As a replacement during the NFL players strike, he went 14-for-24 for 334 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-21 win over the Cardinals' replacements. All three scoring passes went to Anthony Allen (seven receptions, 255 yards). He won all three of his starts, then never appeared in the NFL again.

1. Patrick Ramsey (2002) » Drafted 32nd overall out of Tulane, Ramsey came on in relief of Danny Wuerffel and completed 20 of 34 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-14 win at Tennessee. In his first start the following week, Ramsey threw four interceptions in a loss to the Saints.

- Kevin Dunleavy

kdunleavy@washingtonexaminer.com

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