Jason Campbell isn't holding a grudge.
He isn't pouting.
And the Washington Redskins' quarterback is simply trying to focus on the upcoming season following a rocky offseason where the Redskins made a strong push to replace him.
The Redskins engaged in a high-profile pursuit of quarterback Jay Cutler, who was ultimately traded to the Chicago Bears.
Then, the Redskins became enamored of USC quarterback Mark Sanchez and contemplated trading up to land him. Ultimately, Sanchez wound up with the New York Jets.
All of which leaves Campbell pondering the whirlwind events of the past few months while taking the high road as he heads into a contract year that's likely his final season in Washington, according to Thomas George of NFL.com.
"It looked like they were trying to move me up out of here," Campbell said. "I was hearing I would wind up in Tampa in a trade involving us, Tampa and Denver."
As Campbell correctly surmised, the Redskins were ready to move on with or without him in the equation.
If the Redskin had acquired Cutler or maybe even Sanchez, then Campbell's days as the starter would have probably been over.
"You don't just think about bringing in people like that unless you expect those people to play," Campbell said. "I didn't understand it. It didn't make sense. You are down on the wrong person. Other stuff needs to be done and resolved before challenging me. Sure, a lot of quarterbacks have been through this in their careers.
"You have to look at it as sport, a business, a profession and understand there is competition all the time and nothing is in stone. No guarantees. But you still get mad deep inside. And how you handle that helps determine if you are going to make your career successful."
Redskins General Manager Vinny Cerrato didn't exactly offer a strong vote of confidence when asked about Campbell.
Cerrato was forthright about how the Redskins' organization feels about this potentially awkward partnership with the quarterback they nearly discarded.
"As in, yet to be determined," Cerrato replied when asked if the Redskins view Campbell as a franchise quarterback. "Hopefully, he is. We have talked honestly. It's past and we are looking forward. We hope he can play 16 games like he played the first eight last year. Consistency throughout.
"I think he's made a lot of progress. What he has done is take charge and be more vocal with the team. It showed in his offseason and in the camps. We want that. Absolutely. He's more comfortable now in the second year of the offense. That should enable him to provide more leadership."
The pressure cooker is definitely on high boil for Campbell, and he gets that.
This trying offseason was an eye-opening experience for the low-key Mississippi native.
"I have leaned on family, friends and, yes, even fan support," Campbell said. "I'm still a young quarterback, developing, still going through changes. I won't make excuses for myself. You know what you are getting. It's not fake."
With that thought in mind, another reality is accompanying Campbell's situation.
Whether or not 2009 marks his final season in a Redskins uniform, Campbell is auditioning for the entire league. So it's up to him to make this season count as he approaches a career crossroads.
Jason Campbell is extremely classy.
But let's not forget that the guy so far hasn't shown that he's all that amazing at quarterback. He's just okay, and the Redskins are clearly looking for someone better.
Saying all of that, there are plenty of quarterbacks who are worse than Campbell, so Washington better be careful what it wishes for.
The Jason Campbell debacle is absurd. Campbell is a solid qb playing in the toughest division. Any QB playing the Eagles and the Giants twice a year is going to have tough games. Add on top of that the changing of offensive coordinators that has been going on in Washington clearly explains the added difficulty. I think we'll see more strides in the right direction this year but he wont come close to beating the Eagles!
Campbell is on the hot seat, and he knows it, I am glad we didn't land Cutler or Sanchez, nothing against them but you have to give Campbell a 2nd year in the same system, if we didn't everybody would talk about us like we are the Raiders or Lions. (thats 2 wins for us this year) Campbell if you read this "Stop playing to not make a mistake and playing scared. Put the ball down field, make the throw in double coverage, not only the check down receiver, if its 3rd and 20 don't make a 2yard pass. This job is yours to lose or keep, and I hope you keep it and have your best year yet, for all of US" HAIL !
Jason Campbell is a class act, and a heck of a QB. Team injuries and poor play have kept him from huge numbers, and he still completed over 60% of his passes with a horrible pass-blocking line in his first year in the West Coast Offense.
He's a hard worker with good skills and good character. He beat Dallas in Dallas, and Philly in Philly. He's got upside.
But our front office wants that shiny new toy. If they mess up with Campbell and Zorn, I hope they choke on it.
Jason WILL Blow up this year!
[QUOTE="Aaron Wilson"]So, it's up to him to make this season count as he approaches a career crossroads.[/QUOTE]
Sounds like you two are in the same boat...
always liked Campbell...its a shame that he has had to learn a new offensive scheme every single year since his sophomore year in college.
As a Bears fan, I wish nothing but the best for the guy.
Either way, if he ends up developing into a franchise quarterback...the hatchet will be buried rather quickly as money tends to cure all ill will in this game. We all know Snyder will pay him if he has to.
I don't get the Redskins at all. Jason Campell can grow into a hell of a QB. The Redskins are the ones that keep screwing him over with changes in their offense.
Aww, poor Jason Campbell. Hard to believe that this first round draft pick JAG gets a total pass for sucking and not even managing to QB his team to a winning season, much less a playoff appearance, but undrafted Tony Romo is the guy that is vilified for playing golf in the off-season. Well guess who else was playing golf in the AT&T Nationals Pro-Am right alongside Romo? That's right, Jason Campbell. According to Florio, that calls Campbell's competitive fire as it relates to the NFL into question. Campbell's sending the wrong message. Jason Campbell is incapable of showing genuine leadership because he plays golf in the off-season. Campbell doesn't have the same burning passion and desire to win that characterizes a true franchise quarterback. Then again, Florio can understand why Campbell likes golf. The chipshots are never preceded by a 2 yard pass into the dirt on 3rd and 10.
Campbell - 80.4 passer rating, 16-20 as a starter
Romo - 94.7 passer rating, 27-15 as a starter (including playoffs)
I'm a die hard Chargers fan from Hawaii and I feel for Campbell. He plays for one of the hardest divisions in the league, but yet the front office doesn't even give him a chance. He's got great up side, but I must agree, he needs to be vocal and be more of a leader in the locker room and on the field. Redskins are probably looking at all the new "toys" @ QB coming out in next years draft. Campbell better play his heart out this season if he hopes to stay a red skin or start for another team.
Why not try Colt Brennen at QB?? He's got great accurasy and can throw the ball. He did great for us out here in Hawaii. Broke every record and took is to an undefeated season. Too bad we got stomped by Georgia. Colt can play, they should take a closer look at the kid. He knows the west coast offense like the back of his hand. Just my 2 cents.
This is his make or break year, IMO.
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Good ol' Dan Snyder never lets me down, first off he can't hold on to draft picks because he's always just so eager to trade them off. Now that the skins have a good QB, (thats had to learn a new playbook each year mind you) they try thier damnedest to get rid of the guy, and fail. He still takes the high road, but you know he just can't wait to get the hell out there, I hope campbell does leave, and lights up the league with a new team. Dan Snyder is an idiot, plain and simple.
With a solid O-line the guy has a really good season. Last year we started off 6-2 and then the wheels fell off due to the o-line. Jason IS a class act and a Gibbs pick all the way. As usual, we expect nothing short of a deep run in the playoffs and another Super Bowl title, I don't care who's playing. Hail!
collins is better. campbell had healthy backs for a 6-2 run in early 08. other than that, lets face it.
he blows. and it isnt close.
Campbell, better man up and get out there and play like its contract year. No excuses or he can go join the UFL.
I have to hand it to Campbell. I have been impressed by him this whole offseason. The guy is a class act surrounded by receivers that need to be upgraded and cannot go vertical, a typical prima donna from the "U" running back, a really good tight end, a shit box "run for your life" line that is truly offensive, and a dot com schmuck of an owner who turns the whole thing into a circus.
Jason Campbell, I hope you keep on keeping on. I hope you get the wins and good team situation you deserve. In a good system you can be special in this league.
Boo Hoo
DCSNIPA202-
Straight Up!
I am not a Jason Campbell fan...But he is a class act. You should not run your mouth to the media. Because he did not act like an fool even thou it pissed him off. Now in the end he will still be the starting QB for Washington.
eagle1 said - "I think we'll see more strides in the right direction this year but he wont come close to beating the Eagles!"
Ah he was the starting QB for the Skins last year and the Skins swept the Eagles. So he didn't come close to beating the Eagles. He actually beat them.........twice. lol
As for Campbell, Sonny Jurgensen said it best today on ESPN980. Sonny said he was disappointed that Campbell wasn't basically pissed off when the Cutler and Sanchez buisness went on. Sonny said in his day he would of welcomed the challenge and made it a point to beat out any QB brought in to challenge him, and he would of told any reporter who wanted to listen to him talk just that. And good old Sonny did that a time or two. But Sonny's comments are one from an actuall Hall of Famer. Probably sums up Campbell right there.
I hope Campbell puts up HOF numbers this year and then tells Snyder to go shit in his hat.
Jason Campbell basically sucks. The only time the Skins have amounted to anything the past few years was when Todd Collins was their quarterback. Washington had every right to try to upgrade that position. They will never win a thing with Campbell.
The problem with the Redskins isn't Campbell. He hasn't developed like he could have but that isn't entirely his fault. He's in one of the worst franchises in the league. Good owners make good franchises and Danny Snyder isn't a good owner. Jay Cutler wouldn't have made a difference and neither would Mark Sanchez.
Campbell deserves this season. I am a Skins fan, and I am doing my best not to make defensive statements. But the kid needs a chance to grasp an offense and show what he can do given a reasonable chance. I am an optimist, and I am glad to hear he is stepping up with the leadership role and being more vocal. I have belief in my heart that he will come through. However, I would still believe we were going to the super bowl if Heath Shuler came back into the league as our starter (hopefully an obvious joke). If Jason can find the right combination of calm under pressure and fire to motivate his teammates, I believe Redskin nation is in for a very exciting season.
i personally think cambell is byron leftwitch with more excuses
"but undrafted Tony Romo is the guy that is vilified for playing golf in the off-season."
Romo is the QB of the Crackboys and he is banging Jessica Simpson. The spotlight is on him and by all accounts he seaks it out. As for Campbell, the guy is low key and when he wears a hat he has enough sense to wear it correctly, unlike Romo. That is why Campbell gets a pass.
As for Romo's stats, sure they are impressive but on the flip side Romo has developed a nice reputation as a late season/playoff choker. Stats can't help him loss that Rep. Only taking the Crackboys deep into the playoffs can.
Campbell said it best:
"It didn't make sense. You are down on the wrong person. Other stuff needs to be done and resolved before challenging me."
The reason the O struggled last year was our O-line was hurt, and we hand no #1 WR. So instead of REALLY fixing the O-Line or getting a WR, Snyder wants a new QB instead. Ridiculous. Was willing to give up two #1's for Chad last year, but won't give a #1 for Boldin this year?? C'mon!!! Go get Marshall and some reinforcements for the line and Campbell should flourish finally being in the same system for a second season.
This is the year that Cambell needs to prove himself. Last year was his first full year under one system and now this being his second year with Zorn and under the same system he needs to do well, Which I think he'll do. Don't forget that he didn't throw an Int. until the middle of the season when his OL fell apart and gave him no protection! So if our OL can stay healthy and give him protection & the Def. playing like it did! They should go an easy 10-6, if not better! Go Skin's Go!