Quarterback’s future remains in question
ASHBURN – The reminders of his season are visible, starting with the black eye suffered two weeks ago. Other reminders come in the morning, when one body part after another aches.
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“It has been a long year,” Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell said. “Everyone is looking for a fresh start, to start over.”
The question for Campbell is, where will that fresh start come? It could be in Washington with a new coaching staff. It could be elsewhere. It could happen via trade; it could happen via free agency — and it depends on what sort of free agent he is.
Campbell’s status depends on the collective bargaining agreement. If it’s extended before free agency, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent. If not, and many doubt that it will, then he’ll be restricted.
The market for quarterbacks is thin, with Kyle Orton and Chad Pennington as the other “big names” in free agency. Philadelphia’s Michael Vick is another possibility for teams; he signed a two-year deal, but is due a hefty bonus this offseason and could be cut.
The other option for teams is the draft, where a number of quarterbacks will be considered in the first and second rounds. However, it’s debatable whether any deserve to be picked in the top 10.
That means Campbell could have options. There could be nine other teams in the market for a new starting quarterback.
Campbell said his agent, Joel Segal, told him, “One thing I want you to do is finish the season on a strong note and whichever way it goes, you’ll be a starting quarterback in 2010 … I’ll be ready for any situation whether it’s here or somewhere else. I’ll just prepare myself this offseason to get back healthy.”
It’s hard to know what the Redskins are thinking. Campbell said he has not yet spoken with new executive vice president/general manager Bruce Allen. It also depends on who the next coach is; Mike Shanahan runs the West Coast offense, but NFL sources question whether Campbell fits what Shanahan wants.
Redskins coach Jim Zorn said Campbell has improved when it comes to reading defenses and going through his progressions.
“A lot of people want to label every quarterback, he has to be a franchise player,” Zorn said. “If don’t know if that’s where he’s at; I don’t think it is. But he’s improving as a starting quarterback in this league. … The way he works, his grit and determination he can [get there]. In every instance, the [franchise] quarterbacks all have help from other guys.”
