Let's see.The Redskins traded some draft picks, including first rounders to move up in the draft to select Auburn QB Jason Campbell. He joined a roster with Mark Brunell who had just signed a serious contract though people felt he was washed up after losing his job to a new guy named Byron Leftwich. Competing for the starting position with Brunell was supposed to be the future in Patrick Ramsey, another first round QB waiting patiently for his chance to shine.
And then Brunell began his decline last year after the Giants game (when Ramsey came in and secured the win), and Brunell is continuing his deterioration through last week. Yet Campbell still rides the pine. And Campbell's not slated as Brunell's backup (sorta). If Brunell goes down in a game, Todd Collins hands the clipboard to Campbell and gets to play a little football (and essentially prove why he's a career backup).
Ummm, this is confusing.
I believe in Joe Gibbs. If he decided to coach DC United (the soccer team), I'd put money that they'd win the championship within three years and Freddy Adu would be MVP of the league and the championship. If Gibbs says he's resting Portis for the long season instead of risking any aggravation to his sore shoulder, well, I'll zip my lip and take his word on it. If Gibbs says let LaVar Arrington, Fred Smoot, Antonio Pierce, Laveranues Coles, Ryan Clark and even Patrick Ramsey go that we'll be okay, I'll suck it up and invest some faith in the decision.
But trading away the draft picks and future QB of Washington for someone just to give him a front row seat to the implosion of potentially the NFL's most explosive offense is just a decision that's hard for me to understand.
Now I'm not suggesting Campbell should absolutely be starting next week in Houston. But is he having a hard time learning Al Saunders' playbook (like Mark Brunell)? I'll buy that. Is he having a hard time figuring out the difference between cover two and eight in the box (like Mark Brunell)? I'll take my chances. Is Jason Campbell simply not the QB we thought we were getting (like Mark Brunell)? I'll tolerate the mistakes.
If anything, quit sounding so confident Mark Brunell will lead us to the Super Bowl! If he does, I won't complain, but right about now, hearing how good he performed under pressure in a 27-10 beating to Dallas of all teams makes me start questioning the decision-making process that once brought three Lombardi Trophies to Redskins Park.
If Mark Brunell can't convince anyone that he should still be the starting QB, someone else please educate me before I start assuming that Jason Campbell is riding the pine because he plays like Mark Brunell.
