4B
Wednesday, September 28, 1994
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Miami feels the heat; trade talk gets mixed reactions
The Associated Press
MIAMI — Ascender Rony Seikali blasted the Miami Heat for off-season inaction, a report surfaced yesterday that the team was considering a trade for Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Clyde Drexler.
The deal, which would send guard Harold Miner to Portland, has received a mixed reaction within the Heat organization, according to the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale. Neither team would confirm the trade talks.
The 32-year-old Drexler said he heard about the negotiations from "a good source" and added that he wouldn't oppose such a deal.
Seikaly, meanwhile, was angered by the Heat's failure to retain free agent guard Brian Shaw, who signed last week with the Orlando Magic.
Selkely joined a chorus of critics complaining about the Heat's failure to make any off-season deals.
While Drexler would give Miami a bona fide superstar, his scoring average and shooting percentages have dropped precipitously in the past three years, from 25 points on 47 percent shooting in 1991-92 to 19.2 and 43 percent last season. He has also been injury-prone during that span.
Drexler is scheduled to make $1.8 million next season, but has an $8.75 million balloon payment due for the 1995-1996 season. The balloon payment had been cited as a reason Drexler probably would stay in Portland.
Miner, a first-round draft pick in 1992, averaged 10.5 points per game last season and has had problems with Heat coach Kevin Loughery. Miner's agent reaffirmed his client's dissatisfaction with the Heat.
ASHBURN, Va. — Norv Turner never made it a secret that Heath Shuler was going to be his quarterback. Yesterday, Turner made it official.
The Associated Press
Shuler, the Washington Redskins first-round draft pick this year, will replace veteran John Friesz as the starter against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Turrer said that he based the decision on a combination of Friesz's recent performances and his feeling that Shuler was ready to play.
Redskins change quarterbacks
"Even though we've been very productive in the passing game and gotten a lot of positives out of it (with
Fries); we're still making the errors that are keeping us from getting done what we want to get done," Turner said.
"And if we're going to have those errors, I'd just as soon be having those errors with Heath and making progress that way."
Shuler said he was glad finally to get the chance to start.
"I'm just glad to get the opportunity to play and step in and get on the winning side again," he said.
The Redskins are 1-3 after four games with Friesz as the starter. Friesz's strong showing in the team's second game at New Orleans caused Turner to postpone plans to start Shuler in the third game.
Shuler remained on the bench as Friesz threw for 476 yards and had six touchdowns in two games, against the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants.
Turner replaced him with Shuler for the final two possessions of the game.
"I'm disappointed for John, because I think John Friesz has played awfully well and given us a lot of positive things, gotten our offense off to a good start." Turner said. "I just felt at this time it was the right thing to do."
Turner said the luxury of having Friesz kept pressure off Shuler while he learned the Redskins' offensive scheme.
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