The statistics are uglier than your first date to the school dance. Three interceptions and a 66.3 pass rating over two games usually gets quarterbacks booted. Not exactly the second coming of Elway, Montana or Marino.
Jason Campbell is ranked 29th among NFL passers with a rating not even half that of Tom Brady. Only three passers have fewer touchdowns than Campbell’s one. However, one was enough to spark the Redskins past the Philadelphia Eagles20-12 on Monday. It was enough to lead Washington to a 2-0 start and re-awaken Redskins Nation.
Sweet second coming of Doug Williams. The Redskins finally have a young gun.
The Redskins have long looked for a mobile quarterback with a deep arm who forgets his last bad pass faster than Marion Barry overlooks his latest court appearance. Despite only nine starts and a 4-5 mark, Campbell offers hope the second coming of coach Joe Gibbs isn’t a cruel tease.
Cowboys fans, please pick up the white courtesy phone — the heavy breathing is the Redskins coming at you.
Washington faces the New York Giants (0-2) on Sunday at FedEx Field as a sudden frontrunner capable of knocking out their division rival before the new fall TV season. Another loss and the Giants implode with the Eagles not far behind.
Twenty-one quarterbacks over 16 years preceded Campbell since Mark Rypien was the Super Bowl XXVI Most Valuable Player. If anyone can name them all in a bar bet, the first round’s on me. From first-round busts Heath Shuler and Patrick Ramsey to loveable long shots Gus Frerotte and Trent Green, the best was probably Brad Johnson.
Campbell isn’t the team’s best player. He might not make the top 10 list on the roster. And whoever took Campbell for their fantasy team has “idiot” on their forehead.
But, Campbell reminds us the game isn’t about stats as much as fantasy geeks and gamblers wish. It’s about presence. Gaining the trust of 10 men encircling you. Winning close games.
Billy Kilmer did it. So did Doug Williams. They were good players who managed great things. Campbell is next.
Not everyone is blessed with Sonny Jurgensen’s talent. Then again, Jeff George was the golden arm with a tin head. Coach-killer, they called him for generating pink slips before Marty Schottenheimer’s pre-emptive strike after two games in 2001.
It’s not about missing a wide open Santana Moss to seal the game. It’s about finding Chris Cooley in the end zone after three penalties turned a goalline play into a 16-yard touchdown.
“I just try to get better from game to game,” Campbell said. “The more I play the better feel I get for the NFL game.”
It feels good. Like the Redskins finally got it right.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
