Jason Campbell remains with the Washington Redskins — even if neither the team nor the player want him to stick around.
Coach Mike Shanahan confirmed Friday the Redskins will tender a contract to Campbell before free agency begins March 5. Barring a miraculous labor agreement, it would cost another team its first- and third-rounders to sign Campbell, too rich a ransom for an average passer.
It’s an odd marriage of inconvenience, one in which neither has a choice. Campbell can’t go anywhere, and the Redskins otherwise would need to draft a rookie and play him right away.
No matter what’s said, not everyone is going to be happy. Campbell still bears the scars of the fans’ boos, teammate Clinton Portis’ sniping and former vice president Vinny Cerrato’s undermining. He absolutely wanted a second chance elsewhere. Frankly, who could blame him?
Campbell understands his biggest adversary — Cerrato — is now unemployed. Owner Dan Snyder is also a nonfactor. It’s what Campbell does for his new coach that matters, not past grudges. So on some levels, Campbell is getting a fresh start.
Shanahan is getting a seasoned quarterback who does some things well when he’s given more than two seconds before getting battered by charging defensive linemen — as he was last season. If Shanahan is the offensive wizard many claim, he can win using Campbell.
Shanahan still may draft quarterback Sam Bradford with the fourth pick overall or Jimmy Clausen if the Notre Dame QB slips to the 36th choice overall. But that wouldn’t mean either rookie would replace Campbell immediately. That would depend on how quickly the newcomer adapts to the NFL and how poorly Campbell plays. Certainly, Campbell would open as the starter. Finishing the season as the No. 1 is the iffy part.
Interestingly, Shanahan said he hadn’t watched any preseason tape of third-stringer Colt Brennan, who was the darling of 2008 training camp before a poor 2009 summer and season-ending injury. Brennan is the odds-on favorite to be the first incumbent quarterback to leave. The Redskins are certain to pick up a rookie quarterback in some round, leaving no room for Brennan.
Campbell’s biggest wish in the first round would be an offensive tackle to provide some blocking rather than a clear successor at quarterback. But either way, there figures to be some tight smiles from both Campbell and Shanahan this season. They may have to live with each other, but they don’t have to like it.
Sounds like last season.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or
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