“In all the quarterback talk not once did anyone mention my name,” Brennan said. “That drove me. This year I’ve got to work to get to the point where I hope one day I get the chance to be out there to say, ‘Look, dude, I’m a guy you people should look at.'”

Brennan showed flashes last summer of what he can do. He makes plays when the pocket collapses; he throws from odd angles; he takes chances. And he wins over fans, who seemed to have clamored for him on the Internet since last summer.

But he’ll still enter the season third on the depth chart, behind Jason Campbell and Todd Collins. One team source said he’s still a bit away from seriously contending for the No. 2 job.

“I couldn’t care less whether I’m No. 2,” he said. “All I care is that if you need me to go in and start I’ll win games and get it done.”

Besides, he’s healthier this season. Brennan underwent hip surgery in April 2008 and he had arthroscopic knee surgery in January. That, coupled with a year’s experience in the offense, should benefit Brennan. Ironically, the injuries helped him in some ways last summer, forcing him to stay in the pocket and make his reads.

“Now I know what’s going on,” he said. “A lot of times [last year] I was dropping back and hoping I was making the right reads or the right throw. Now I drop back and anticipate the read and the throws.”

Others noticed a difference in him.

“Yeah, [he has] a much stronger arm,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. “Everything is repaired. He’s moving better and throwing harder than when he first got here. He has some things to learn.”

Like improving his accuracy and his knowledge of the offense. It’s why, though some at Redskins Park really like him, he probably wouldn’t be ready for an increased role for at least another season.

That gives him time to build on last summer’s success when he posted a 109.9 quarterback passer rating — while facing mostly backups and players who were later cut. But more summers like that will be hard to ignore. And his already-large fan base would multiply.

“I’ve noticed that compared to a lot of kids in my position, I’ve felt a lot of love,” he said. “It’s inspiring. All the talk of [Jay] Cutler and [Mark] Sanchez, I still felt I was the people’s kid — that I could work my way up there at some point.

“I’m really excited for this preseason. I really want to do something where people say, ‘Don’t forget about this kid.'”

[email protected]