Rick Snider: Brunell’s the man ... for now

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Young quarterbacks are the seductive sirens of fans and bane of coaches. The most enticing thing on the field aside cheerleaders.

Washington fans will look to Dallas’ sideline on Sunday with envy. The Cowboys are brave enough to start a young passer — Tony Romo — over a veteran. Tennessee rookie quarterback Vince Young recently earned his first victory in Washington.

Still, the Redskins need to give Mark Brunell one more chance against Dallas before turning to Jason Campbell. As bad as 2-5 appears, the Redskins could return to the NFC East race by beating Dallas and Philadelphia over the next nine days. Washington’s only chance to make the playoffs is the division title because it might take fewer victories to win the NFC East than secure a wild card berth.

But ... lose to Dallas and the season is essentially done. It would then probably take eight straight wins to have a chance of advancing and we all know that’s not going to happen. The Redskins are essentially in a playoff situation right now.

Winning, though, keeps hope alive. A glimmer is a glimmer and as long as Washington has a reasonable chance, Brunell needs to play.

Does that mean Campbell will start in Philadelphia if the Redskins lose to the Cowboys? Not a chance. Coach Joe Gibbs won’t play Campbell any time soon because his definition of eliminated is the statistical one while everyone else takes the realistic approach. It’s two widely different views, which is why Brunell probably starts every game.

Gibbs doesn’t coach by polls, which is fair enough. Do the job your way, Joe. If it falls flat, someone else will follow. No sense giving Campbell some token start at year’s end. It will take at least eight games to determine if the Redskins have a real prospect in Campbell or the need to go out and get another passer in the offseason.

For now, Brunell should start. He hasn’t played that badly this season. The offensive line has been spotty at best and running back Clinton Portis is now playing through his third injury. Wide receiver Santana Moss is hurt. These things don’t help.

Brunell hasn’t been the answer, either. He’s playing like a 36-year-old quarterback with minor injuries in a new system. Offensive guru Al Saunders hopefully spent the bye week tailoring the offense more to the passer he has, not the one left behind in Kansas City.

Brunell gives what he has. He’s an aging veteran who doesn’t make too many mistakes and leads teammates. That wouldn’t be so bad if his surrounding cast and the defense weren’t underperforming.

This is the last chance for Brunell to fairly have the job, though. Beat Dallas and live to play Philadelphia. Lose and Campbell should be playing for 2007.

Sunday certainly promises to be a last stand before a divided house. You think there won’t be 15,000 Cowboys fans inside FedEx Field? Just wait for the Eagles and Giants games when even more visiting fans get tickets from disgruntled Redskins ticket holders via E-Bay.

The booing could be intense for Brunell after every bad pass. The chanting for Campbell will increase. There’s only one way to solve this — just win, baby.

Something tells me the Redskins will.

Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at rsnider@dcexaminer.com.

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