EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Rex Grossman did his best Joe Namath impersonation after the Washington Redskins’ 23-10 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday. As he trotted into the tunnel, the first player off the field, he wagged his index finger at the Giants fans who were showering him with pleasantries not suitable for print.
Grossman savored the moment, his fifth victory in 11 games this year as the Redskins’ starter. And why not? After eight NFL seasons, there’s a limited amount remaining in his future.
“I don’t really care about the Giants at all,” Grossman said. “I care about our team and going out and winning a divisional game and working your [tail] off all week and celebrating the fact of all that hard work. You go out, you execute and you win. That’s plenty of gratification.” Grossman did it in typical resilient fashion. He threw an interception on his first and seventh passes of the game. After that, though, he completed 11 of 17 throws for 151 yards and a touchdown - good for a passer rating of 112.6.
Overall, he was 15 of 24 for 185 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. His rating was 65.5.
Regardless of whether he wins or loses, Grossman’s narrative usually involves adversity. It has defined his career and his season with the Redskins.
In the afterglow of Sunday’s victory, though, he wanted little part of it.
The first two questions reporters posed to him centered on rebounding from his early interceptions. He answered by offering considerable insight, as usual. He doesn’t always make the right decisions, but he certainly can explain them.
Then he realized that was no way to celebrate a win.
“I’m not sure what I’ve taken so long talking about those interceptions,” he said.
As many fans and analysts turn their attention to the offseason and wonder about the future for the Redskins’ quarterback position, Grossman is busy living in the present and making the most of his second chance.
“He’s definitely enjoying a lot, but he’s also approaching it in such a professional way,” tight end Logan Paulsen said. “It’s not like he’s just basking in the moment, he’s proactively looking to help this team get better.”
He did that by shaking off his two early picks, neither of which hurt because they were long throws and their defense held.
Grossman underthrew a long-developing flea-flicker on the first play of the game. On the second interception, the Giants’ safety fooled him by running up at first but changing directions and getting back into a deep position.
“It was a bad play on the second one,” Grossman said. “Whatever. We went down and scored a touchdown right afterwards.”
That’s a perfect example of his mindset. No matter the mistake, he keeps slinging it.
He hit Santana Moss for a 20-yard touchdown on the next drive to give the Redskins a 10-0 lead they never relinquished. Coming out of the huddle, he saw Kenny Phillips, the Giants’ only safety, in the deep middle. He knew then he had a touchdown because Phillips would be unable to get over to Moss in time.
Moss ran a corner route, separating from rookie cornerback Prince Amukamara. He turned to find the ball descending into his path.
“He’s just been a guy that, regardless of what he does, he’s going to go out there and give us a chance,” Moss said. “That’s why I’ve been saying from Day 1 that I’ll ride with the guy like that.”
• Rich Campbell can be reached at rcampbell@washingtontimes.com.
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