The Redskins should absolutely sign quarterback Jeff Garcia. He could step in and after less than two weeks, be better than any of the Redskins’ quarterbacks. Garcia is a winner and would provide a spark to the offense, and he’s good at avoiding the rush, which would be important with the offensive line the way it is right now. Critics will say he’s 39 so he’s obviously not the future, but Jason Campbell most likely won’t be here after next season.
Assuming the Redskins draft a quarterback in the first round such as Colt McCoy or Sam Bradford, he probably won’t be able to start right away despite the success of players like Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. So Garcia could start next year, at least the first part of the season. There have been a lot of great quarterbacks who have struggled in their first seasons — Peyton Manning, John Elway, Troy Aikman, etc., and others whose time on the bench early on — Carson Palmer, Tom Brady, and Steve McNair — benefitted them. Garcia knows the west coast offense and he used to play for Jon Gruden. Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren each run the west coast offense.
You need to try to win as may games as possible. You never know what might happen. What if the Skins ride their defense to a 9-7 record and make the playoffs? When you try to be bad on purpose to get high draft picks or to play too many young players, you create a losing atmosphere. Like a couple of years ago when the Miami Heat tried to get a high draft pick. Where did it get them? They finished a little bit over .500, just like the Wizards will this year after going in the tank last year. You can’t turn it on and off like that. The Skins need to go all out now and play every play like it is their last. When your boss doesn’t support you and doesn’t want you to succeed, it can get ugly as it has with Daniel Snyder and Jim Zorn. Taking away Zorn’s play-calling duties — that’s just insulting.
So the Skins should sign Garcia. It also is too bad they put Colt Brennan on injured reserve. If I were Colt I’d want to go to another team next year that would give me a fair chance to compete for the job. But the season can still be salvaged and even if it isn’t, I’d rather be 8-8 than 4-12.
Tags: Daniel Snyder, Jason Campbell, Jeff Garcia, Jim Zorn, Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan, west coast offense
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