Jason Campbell’s Rude Introduction to the Real Dan Snyder

By: Nathan Archambault

Redskins starting QB Jason Campbell

“It definitely was a shock,” Campbell said, “when I started hearing Sanchez talk.” This talk coming only a few weeks after the Skins lost out on the Jay Cutler sweepstakes to the Bears.

Really? This chocked Campbell? He’s not exactly Peyton Manning. Or Tom Brady. Or Drew Brees. Last time I checked, he wasn’t even close to being in the same league as these franchise quarterbacks. Not even close.

Last time I checked, Jason Campbell was not a Pro Bowl quarterback. Last time I checked, Jason Campbell threw only 13 touchdowns last year: 19 QBs threw more than that. Last time I checked, Jason Campbell was a pretty average quarterback: Last year, in his best season, he ranked 19th of 32 with a QB rating of 84.3 as the Skins went 2-6 down the stretch to miss the playoffs. Last time I checked, Campbell is a former 1st round pick with 36 NFL starts, little to show for it, and a rookie contract that expires after this season with no talks of an extension.

Sure, Campbell can run a little. Got a decent arm. OK completion rate. And he definitely improved from a very blah 2007.

But none of these things a franchise quarterback make.

So how can Jason Campbell feign shock when his team goes out and tries to land a better quarterback? Does he think he wouldn’t be able to win the starting job anyway? Or does he think he’s the one of the few quarterbacks in the league who doesn’t have to compete for his playing time?

The Dictator Dan Snyder wanted to bring in Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez. Big deal. If either one of them had come into Skins camp and outperformed Campbell, they would have been named the starter. That’s the way it should be.

Redskins owner Dan Snyder

Football is a business. Mostly about winning, but that’s only because winning makes money. And that’s what sports are really about: Raking in cash. It’s no secret. The NFL is a well-greased money-making machine. Redskins owner Dan Snyder knows this.

And he knows a household name calling signals would appeal to a broader fan base.

He knows his crowds would have a field day watching gunslinger Jay Cutler heave the ball to Santana Moss.

He knows more people in this country know the name Mark Sanchez than Jason Campbell.

He knows a big name quarterback would be a constant presence in local media, something the mild-mannered Campbell is not.

He knows all this. Here’s something Campbell doesn’t know: there’s no loyalty in football. There’s no more hometown discounts. Management doesn’t care about fan favorites and there’s no more keeping popular aging vets past their prime. No more handing the ball to an average quarterback without trying to bring in a Brand Name Signal Caller® who would give the local media something to talk about and sell a bunch of jerseys at the same time.

Of all people, Dan Snyder loves big name players. He’s gone after and lured in Deion Sanders, Brandon Lloyd, Adam Archuleta, Jason Taylor, and most recently Albert Hayneworth adn D’Angelo Hall. Mark Sanchez, despite being unproven, and Jay Cutler, are big names. Names a casual football fan would recognize.

Jason Campbell? Not exactly a name that draws people to the stadium. No offense. He’s solid, just not flashy. And it’s no secret Dan Snyder prefers flashy.

Jason Campbell is good and he’s getting better. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he deserves to be replaced. His 2008 season was remarkably better than his 2007 campaign. But he’s quiet good. Boring good. No off-field issues. No post-game rants. No drama. He just does his job and does it well. Snyder wants an on-field general who draws attention.

So Snyder points to that “P” word that’s still following Campbell around. Potential. Despite throwing to speedsters Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El and ball-catching machine Chris Cooley, Campbell only managed 13 TDs last year, leading the Skins to a paltry 8-8 record. That’s not enough in today’s NFL. A whole season with only 6 INTs? It’s impressive, but overlooked.

While he may not have the results to show for it, he does have a great attitude. Talking abou the the near-trade, he said : “If I had acted rebellious or anything, that would have made the situation a lot worse. It would have affected a lot more people than myself, and I feel that’s not right. Those guys I work with every day, lifting weights and sweating, and then the fans that still support me.”

He seems like a smart guy, he’s a team player, and he plays an active role in the DC community. Sadly, the team he spearheads is owned by Dan Snyder, who cares about none of these things. The problem is, Campbell chose the life of an NFL quarterback, so there’s not much he can complain about.

Unless he wants to complain about having never been given a real chance to succeed. The Redskins are now on their sixth head coach in the 10 years since Dan Snyder bought the team. Last year, under first-time head coach Jim Zorn and his west-coast offense, Campbell had to learn his fifth offensive system in seven years. No quarterback is going to be successful under those conditions.

All this adds up to one thing and one thing only. Dan Snyder doesn’t want Campbell as his quarterback. He wants a Brett Favre. He wants a Peyton Manning. He wants little kids asking their parents for a Mark Sanchez jersey with his olive skin and celebrity smile.

While Snyder missed out on Sanchez, don’t doubt for a minute he won’t be drooling expect over some other top prospect next year. Teams, especially Snyder’s,  don’t care about loyalty. They care about making money, and they’re going to bring in the players that make the team the most money.

Next year, Jason Campbell better be ready to fight for his job again. Even if his 2009 numbers are better than last years. The NFL is a business. And in business, you don’t bitch and complain about competition. You go out and prove that you’re better than your competition in anyway you can.

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