Quarterback Mark Brunell, after evaluating at least four other teams without making official contact, has settled on Washington as his likely home. NFL and team sources said the sides have intensified negotiations with hopes of completing an agreement in coming days. Although there is no guarantee a deal will be reached, Brunell's desire to become a Redskin and owner Dan Snyder's history of landing targeted free agents makes a union very likely. "Mark's enthusiasm towards the situation in Washington has grown enormously in the last week," agent Leigh Steinberg said by phone last night. Brunell had been weighing clubs like the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Although his current team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, was reluctant to grant contact, Brunell probably could have leveraged meetings with the $2 million roster bonus he will waive to facilitate a trade. But Brunell didn't need official contact to get a good sense of what playing in Miami or Tampa would be like. After weighing the plusses and minuses of his possible destinations, he is focused on a pairing with Redskins coach Joe Gibbs and hopes for a legitimate Super Bowl run in the next two seasons. Assuming contract parameters can be worked out, the Jaguars will swap Brunell for a third-round draft pick. The deal would be executed when the signing and trading period begins March 3. Meanwhile, Washington yesterday placed the franchise tag on cornerback Champ Bailey, NFL sources said. The deadline isn't until Tuesday, but the Redskins hope using the tag early will clear up any uncertainty as they seek to set up a trade for the market's opening March 3. Many teams are believed interested in talking to Bailey's agent, Jack Reale, starting today at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The Detroit Lions, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals all have reported interest, while the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans are believed to be in the hunt. Trading Bailey would replenish the Redskins' dwindling stock of draft picks. After acquiring Brunell, Washington would be left with selections in the first, second and fifth rounds. The club's asking price for Bailey is believed to be first- and second-round picks. Bailey's departure also would open up cap space to sign Brunell and pursue other big-name free agents. NFL sources said Snyder intends to have another aggressive start to the signing period, using his private jet to fly across the nation to pick up coveted veterans. Defensive end Jevon Kearse and defensive tackle Warren Sapp are believed to be on Washington's wish list. The first pickup, though, likely will be Brunell. The quarterback himself acknowledged the high probability of a deal in an Internet report late Tuesday. "Things have really picked up," Brunell told CBS Sportsline. "I'm excited about the chance to play for the Redskins. To have this work out this way, if the deal does get done, would be a great thing for me and my career." One tricky element remains in the Brunell acquisition: the presence of young incumbent Patrick Ramsey. Brunell, according to a source, is not concerned about the possibility of a quarterback controversy. Still, it remains to be seen whether his logic is correct. Gibbs has stressed that Ramsey won't be traded and that he will have a chance to compete for the starting job. With Ramsey on hand, fans and media could call for a switch if Brunell struggles early next season. Ramsey's camp has indicated to Gibbs that he would want a trade if Brunell were acquired, but the young quarterback has no leverage to force such a move. Ramsey is relatively inexpensive and Gibbs, according to team sources, is determined to have two starting quality passers on his roster.
Can't agree LAN. Brunell adds depth and experience that Hasselbeck doesn't give us. Some may feel this is a foolish move now, but I don't think that will be the prevailing sentiment in December.
I'm with PigSkin on this one! Brunell will bring a wealth of experiene. Although Brunell has never won a Super Bowl before, he never played under Joe Gibbs either. I think it would be a good marriage.
If we get Brunell, Ramsey becomes a backup. I don't care what anyone says, you aren't going to bench a guy (Brunell), who you are paying double the person he is competing with (Ramsey.)...
Hence Ramsey will get unhappy (rightfully so) sitting behind a 34 yr old with bad knees, in the prime of his career at the age of 24, not to mention that he is better than. You wan't a quallity veteran backup, as do I , and so does Gibbs. Get Trent Dilfer, or Jeff Blake.. Someone, who is bright, but won't crave playing time. Not a guy leaving his current team to be a starter...
RS56 you are wrong. Brunell still has a few good years even with his bad legs. Ramsey is not in the prime of his career the guy has a tremendous amount promise but has much to learn. He has just as much to gain as the Redskins do by being tutored by a veteran like Brunell. Brunell at this point is a better QB than Patrick. Ramsey is our future and people (and he) need to realize this but he and the team will benefit with him riding the pine for a season or two.
Ramsey needs to realize that playing behind Brunell could be the best thing that could ever happen to his career. In his past, who has he played behind? Wuerfel? Matthews? Even if Brunell starts, it won't be for more than two years. After that, Ramsey will be 26 years old, and ready to show his true potential. I think we have to be realistic about the whole thing. Ramsey is a tough guy, with good potential, but he has yet to achieve it. Ramsey has to realize that the starting job was never guaranteed to be his. If he's as good as we all think he is, he'll be the starter some day. Up to now, he has shown to be an average YOUNG QB with lots of potential. Let's not rush things!
I believe Ramsey's contract right now is loaded with playing time incentives - is he money-hungry or is it the genius Sexton who has no regard for Ramsey's development and is only concerned with his (Sexton's) no play/no pay status?
skins75 wrote:RS56 you are wrong. Brunell still has a few good years even with his bad legs. Ramsey is not in the prime of his career the guy has a tremendous amount promise but has much to learn. He has just as much to gain as the Redskins do by being tutored by a veteran like Brunell. Brunell at this point is a better QB than Patrick. Ramsey is our future and people (and he) need to realize this but he and the team will benefit with him riding the pine for a season or two.
very well put.and i say again and again that do what you have to do to get better not just for the short term but for the long term as well.i,m all for change ,heck i,ve been saying that the past 11 years now since joe was here last.
brunell does have a few left in him and patrick can certainly learn if he doesn,t start. they are just waiting on march 3rd and so am i.
Ok - I have a couple of names that people need to consider - we have always been envious of the QB farm that the 49ers have been - Montana to Young to Garcia - Young and Garcia had bench stints before they ever became stars... and it aided them
Let's look at Pennington and his short time to get comfortable on the field after two years on the bench learning...
I realize that competitive spirit drives these guys to want to start but they need to realize the good of the team before running their mouths...
Rich in Roanoke
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Let others hail the rising sun:
I bow to that whose course is run
I agree. Ramsey is a good young QB, but he has never had that experience of training with another older, more experienced QB. What did he have? One year of mentoring with Shane Matthews?
This will benefit Ramsey in the long run if he can hang in there. His time will come.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You can't do epic **** with basic people." - DJax "We're on the rise, man, whether you're on the train or not." - Josh Norman
"If we get Brunell, Ramsey becomes a backup. I don't care what anyone says, you aren't going to bench a guy (Brunell), who you are paying double the person he is competing with (Ramsey.)..."
Please. Gibbs says there will be an open competition for the job, and I see no reason not to believe him. Salary won't mean anything. Even Norv played Gus over Shuler despite Heath making five times as much.
You can't have too many good quarterbacks if you use them correctly. I don't know about everyone else, but I expect to be competing for a playoff spot, and if Gibbs thinks Brunell gives us a better shot at acheiving that, then that's who I want out there...
I would prefer not to sound like an echo, but Brunell heading this way could only be beneficial. If Pat still has a problem with that, he need only ask himself one question: How many games did Tim Hasselbeck start/play in last season?
It's a rare QB in today's NFL that can start and play all 16 games of a season, unless he has a monstrous O-Line. McNair was Co-MVP and he didn't, neither did Culpepper, Plummer, Gannon, Boller or even himself. Pat just needs to remember that and focus on his game. I'll be rooting for him in training camp, his stock will only rise if he wins out over a Brunell in camp. I'd most definitely rather have someone like Mark come in to relieve than a guy like Rob Johnson...
Two formation shifts, one man in motion, and a counter trey...those were the days...
I agree - while we have all been football fans for some time - some longer than others... we still don't have the knowledge of football to fill Gibbs pinkie finger. This man knows football and he may see that Ramsey needs pushing and/or development... but if he says that there is a competition, I believe the man.
I can't believe anyone watching that press conference and hearing about the prayer breakfast and how the man has handled himself as well as his rep could begin to believe that Gibbs would be telling a falsehood here...
PRam will have to work for it, but if he earns it he will not only feel way better than he did at the end of last year about himself, but he will be built up. If he loses, he will learn from a very good QB who can teach him a lot.
Let's not be shortsighted here folks
Hey - if there are any vets that come on here and lurk without posting that played for Gibbs - get a hold of Ramsey and let him know better...
Damn... I hate agents...
Rich in Roanoke
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Let others hail the rising sun:
I bow to that whose course is run
I didn't have to be convinced - he has been successful even with injuries a plenty to his starting support cast, gone to the playoffs twice in less time than it took the Redskins to go once, has very strong career numbers and from all reports is a good man on the inside as well.
Think about it - he didn't want to have a QB controversy - it never said he wanted to start... he didn't want to have problems on the team he was going to and he didn't want to cause them himself - that is the mark of a good leader and a good person.
I don't know that we could ask for much more than that.
Rich in Roanoke
_______________________________________
Let others hail the rising sun:
I bow to that whose course is run
I have to agree with pigskin...Brunell will bring much needed experience(and not just experience playing, but veteran experience playing "good") at the QB position..Ramsey Is not a proven QB just yet, and i don't think he and his agent really see the upside to having Brunell there.
2005: Skins make the playoffs...Redskins fan in OAKLAND...yup, Anything Can Happen..
i'm all for it...AS LONG AS it doesn't mean that this is the end of PR's redskin career. i have no problem with ramsey on the bench if he get's beat out. i just hope this doesn't cause any bad blood between ramsey and the organization. i can deal with stephen davis gone, or even champ leaving to have a great finish to his career, but as rare as good qb's are to come buy, it'll really sting if ramsey is tearing it up somewhere else in a few years, and we are back to where we were for the last ten years. otherwise, i think it was a very solid move to sure up the biggest skill position. even if it makes ramsey unhappy, as long as he stays, that which does not kill us, will only make us stronger.
THN's resident jerk.
Glock .40 Model 22 - First* line of home defense.... 'ADT' is for liberals.
The reason there was so much backlash when the news first broke was because we were supposedly giving up a second round pick. For me, the difference between a second round pick and a third round pick is the deal going from a questionable move to a great move...
No matter what happens, I just hope the fans treat the starting QB with respect and don't boo him if the person they wanted doesn't win the starting job initially.
I agree owa - though I hope PRam does win the starting job from Brunell. I like the guy, I really do. I really respect his arm strength and think he is hyper smart and can be the future. I think adding Brunell is great as a backup or starter if PRam can't get his head together.
Not too long ago most of the people on the board were agreeing that he thought too much and waited too long to throw the ball. I think that besides the point that Spurrier's system sucked for the NFL, Ramsey wasn't confident nor comfortable - that comes with experience. I think he can watch Brunell, who is as calm as a beautiful day in the tropics when he is playing and realize his potential. If he learns it quick enough - he can whoop Brunell's butt in camp and be the starter that we ALL want him to be.
Rich in Roanoke
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Let others hail the rising sun:
I bow to that whose course is run
