Redskins need to find out now if Campbell is 'the guy'

July 19, 2009 3:42 am

JASON CAMPBELL and the Washington Red-skins would've been the perfect guest couple on an episode of "Jerry Springer" at some point over the past couple of months.

The Redskins were not-so-subtly flirting with other signal-callers all season long, with Campbell quietly going about his business.

Washington wanted to go in a different direction with its quarterback. The team tried to keep its feelings under wraps, but the word got out and it spread around the league quickly.

Jay Cutler--whom the Redskins tried to trade for--ended up getting dealt from Denver to Chicago. Mark Sanchez--whom the Redskins considered trading up to draft--was selected by the New York Jets.

As a result, the guy whom the Redskins have seemed determined to replace, Campbell, is still Washington's starting quarterback.

The 27-year-old has handled himself with class and said all the right things. He has spent hours in the weight room and even more time in the film room.

This season is the last that Campbell is contracted to spend in Washington. He'll be available to talk with other teams next spring. That's assuming that the Auburn product doesn't register a career year, garnering a monster contract offer from the very team that was looking to replace him.

The chance of Campbell having a big season isn't unrealistic. He's a candidate to record a breakout campaign for a lot of reasons.

The Mississippi native has made just 36 NFL starts. In that time, he has proved himself to be immensely durable, capable of protecting the football, competent at picking up yardage with his feet, and exceptional at dodging pass-rushers.

What Campbell has yet to prove is whether or not he can carry a team on his back. But that's as much the fault of his coaches and coordinators as it is the sixth-year veteran's.

The knock on Campbell is that he doesn't make enough big plays or lead Washington on enough big drives. He has been "a guy" in an offensive huddle for the past three seasons, but people want to see him become "the guy."

The problem is that he can't do that if head coach Jim Zorn doesn't allow him to. He needs to be let off the leash. Enough with the dinking-and-dunking and game management.

Campbell has way too much talent to be treated like Trent Dilfer. Lets see what he's able to do at the helm of a wide-open offense, with a full playbook at his disposal.

In 36 starts, Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning completed 59 percent of his pass attempts. Campbell has been more accurate than that. He has also thrown half as many interceptions as Manning did to start his career.

But Manning threw 121 more passes in those first 36 games and chucked the ball down the field more. Campbell's going to have to do that this season, and Zorn's going to have to let him do that.

I've got no problem with the Redskins deciding that Campbell isn't their guy. If they think there's another quarterback out there who is a better fit in D.C., that is their prerogative.

But why not give the guy who has been working hard for you a chance to prove his worth before you decide that he's not capable?

Grant Paulsen can be reached at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401 or by fax at 540/373-8455.