@DCGoldPants Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24283-2004Feb8.html Redskins May Have Most to Offer for Brunell By Nunyo Demasio Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, February 9, 2004; Page D01 Coach Joe Gibbs will meet with Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell tonight in Orlando to see if the 33-year-old can fit in with the Washington Redskins for the remainder of his NFL career, according to a team source. Brunell hopes to be a starter on a playoff-caliber team. Thus, a major aspect of the discussion will center on his role on a Redskins team with incumbent starter Patrick Ramsey, the source said. Gibbs is expected to give Brunell assurances that he will at least get an opportunity to compete for the starting job. Brunell has said he doesn't want to be embroiled in a quarterback controversy and has other suitors, including his preference: the Miami Dolphins. However, the Redskins are expected to acquire Brunell if tonight's meeting goes well, according to sources. The Redskins' advantage appears to be a markedly better offer than that of Miami. The Jaguars have told teams that they will not accept anything less than a second-round pick for Brunell. The Redskins -- whose specific offer isn't known -- have only four draft picks, including one in the second round. Also, the Redskins could use wide receiver Rod Gardner -- a Jacksonville native -- as trade bait because the Jaguars plan to upgrade their wide receiver corps. According to two sources, an agreement involving the Redskins has been delayed as the Jaguars have raised the price. The San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys reportedly have also expressed interest in Brunell in order to upgrade at quarterback. Brunell has some control in his destination because of his contract situation. He is set to earn $8.5 million in 2004 with a roster bonus of $2 million due March 1. The Jaguars were planning to release Brunell before then, if they couldn't trade him. (Brunell brings a salary cap hit of $10.5 million for 2004.) According to a source, the acquisition of Brunell is contingent upon him signing a new contract and spreading out the signing bonus in the early years, making it salary cap friendly. This way, the Redskins could cut Brunell after a few years without a significant financial impact. Brunell's agent, Leigh Steinberg, recently said that the Dolphins were Brunell's top choice. And Miami reportedly has been trying to acquire Brunell to replace Jay Fiedler as the starter. However, the Dolphins don't have a second-round pick and choose 20th overall in the first round. Miami doesn't have another pick again until late in the third round. The Cowboys have only five picks, and appear reluctant to part with any of them. If the Redskins are willing to give up a second-round pick for Brunell, it doesn't bode well for Ramsey's immediate future as a starter. One NFL team official who requested anonymity said yesterday that a second-round pick is too steep for merely a backup quarterback. After Gibbs announced his return on Jan. 7, he revealed his intention to sign a veteran reserve quarterback. It's the same approach the Redskins took last season, when they acquired Rob Johnson. And the club would probably describe Brunell's acquisition in a similar vein. However, Brunell wouldn't be an ordinary backup. His 85.2 rating is the ninth highest in NFL history and despite a 19-30 record over the past four seasons, Brunell has led the Jaguars to the AFC title game twice -- following the 1996 and 1999 seasons. Brunell has suffered two concussions since 2001. "The key with Brunell is that Joe likes veterans," said Rick (Doc) Walker, an NFL analyst who played tight end for Gibbs from 1981 to 1985. "He wants the security of a veteran who helps in a number of ways, whether he starts or not. "If he's healthy, he can help you immediately. It also keeps him out of Dallas. He's a good guy. Whether Brunell starts still has to be proven in camp. But clearly why wouldn't he start? He's a Pro Bowler. When he's healthy, he has tremendous skill. I think it's a step in the right direction, and it'll be interesting." Ramsey is the consummate team player, and is characteristically diplomatic in his public remarks. However, he is ultra-competitive, and after being labeled the franchise quarterback before last season, the move would almost certainly affect Ramsey's psyche. Ramsey, who had 14 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in 11 starts last season, is rehabilitating from a late December foot surgery. The pursuit of Brunell has already spurred trade rumors involving Ramsey. On last night's pregame show for the NFL Pro Bowl, ESPN's Chris Mortensen speculated that the Redskins could entertain offers for Ramsey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dblsldyllwlne Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 i don't understand how washington has more to offer then a team like miami...there will b no qb controversy for brunell...he can stay in florida...top 3 running back in the league...and probably a better chance then the skins to get into the playoffs..it seems liek the only thing shnyder can offer is big $$ and why we would spend big money on a possition we already have baffles me...that and i have a biased opinion cause i really wanna see ramsey back behind center next yr....i can really see him as a future pro bowler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins11 Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 A key point being: "Chris Mortensen speculated that the Redskins could entertain offers for Ramsey. " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Brunell hopes to be a starter on a playoff-caliber team. Thus, a major aspect of the discussion will center on his role on a Redskins team with incumbent starter Patrick Ramsey, the source said. Gibbs is expected to give Brunell assurances that he will at least get an opportunity to compete for the starting job. Brunell has said he doesn't want to be embroiled in a quarterback controversy and has other suitors, including his preference: the Miami Dolphins. However, the Redskins are expected to acquire Brunell if tonight's meeting goes well, according to sources. The Redskins' advantage appears to be a markedly better offer than that of Miami. The Jaguars have told teams that they will not accept anything less than a second-round pick for Brunell. The Redskins -- whose specific offer isn't known -- have only four draft picks, including one in the second round. Also, the Redskins could use wide receiver Rod Gardner -- a Jacksonville native -- as trade bait because the Jaguars plan to upgrade their wide receiver corps. According to two sources, an agreement involving the Redskins has been delayed as the Jaguars have raised the price. The San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys reportedly have also expressed interest in Brunell in order to upgrade at quarterback. Brunell has some control in his destination because of his contract situation. He is set to earn $8.5 million in 2004 with a roster bonus of $2 million due March 1. The Jaguars were planning to release Brunell before then, if they couldn't trade him. (Brunell brings a salary cap hit of $10.5 million for 2004.) According to a source, the acquisition of Brunell is contingent upon him signing a new contract and spreading out the signing bonus in the early years, making it salary cap friendly. This way, the Redskins could cut Brunell after a few years without a significant financial impact. Brunell's agent, Leigh Steinberg, recently said that the Dolphins were Brunell's top choice. And Miami reportedly has been trying to acquire Brunell to replace Jay Fiedler as the starter. However, the Dolphins don't have a second-round pick and choose 20th overall in the first round. Miami doesn't have another pick again until late in the third round. Boy doesn't sound like the slam dunk it was reported by another network and sports news source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Originally posted by bubba9497 Boy doesn't sound like the slam dunk it was reported by another network and sports news source Bubba not many people have been able to tell Gibbs no Gibbs is expected to give Brunell assurances that he will at least get an opportunity to compete for the starting job. Brunell has said he doesn't want to be embroiled in a quarterback controversy and has other suitors, including his preference: the Miami Dolphins. However, the Redskins are expected to acquire Brunell if tonight's meeting goes well, according to sources. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Originally posted by jbooma Bubba not many people have been able to tell Gibbs no :laugh: not the point, ESPN's dynamic duo had Brunell in Washington and Ramsey out as soon as Tuesday. Bet the Farm on it slam dunk lead pipe lock. Now it's a 1 in 4 chance at best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Originally posted by bubba9497 :laugh: not the point, ESPN's dynamic duo had Brunell in Washington and Ramsey out as soon as Tuesday. Bet the Farm on it slam dunk lead pipe lock. Now it's a 1 in 4 chance at best. Like I said not many can tell Gibbs now and that is tonight so yes it looks like it will be a done deal Tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSF Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Originally posted by jbooma Bubba not many people have been able to tell Gibbs no Read what it says: "Gibbs is expected to give Brunell assurances that he will at least get an opportunity to compete for the starting job." If Brunell has to be guarenteed the starting job than he won't come. If he decides to come and compete with Ramsey, it's a win - win situation. I don't buy this crap for a second about screwing up Pat's psyche. He's a man, he can handle it, and besides these guys are used to competing. Ramsey seems like the kind of guy that could really thrive on it. Even if Brunell beats out Ramsey, which I doubt, Pat will just be a better player for it in the long run, when he eventually becomes the permanant starter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC4 Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Originally posted by ramseyskins A key point being: "Chris Mortensen speculated that the Redskins could entertain offers for Ramsey. " I think that is Chris Mortensen's problem, he speculates too much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WM_Marylander Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Still makes me worried that Gibbs is down visiting with Brunell. Maybe he's trying to make sure Brunell would know that the competition for starting would be a open competition... Or at least that he'd be here to be a mentor of sorts. I'm sure raising a question is borderline heresy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 The intersting part about this is that they state that Jacksonville has raised the the ante for Brunell. Could that be the main purpose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinker Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Finally a reporter got part of the story right - "Brunell has some control in his destination because of his contract situation. He is set to earn $8.5 million in 2004 with a roster bonus of $2 million due March 1. The Jaguars were planning to release Brunell before then, if they couldn't trade him. (Brunell brings a salary cap hit of $10.5 million for 2004.) According to a source, the acquisition of Brunell is contingent upon him signing a new contract and spreading out the signing bonus in the early years, making it salary cap friendly." The article goes on to point out the phins don't have a good pick to trade and the pukes don't really want to trade any pick. The Chargers can have Eli Manning - do you think Chargers fans have forgotten they gave up Vick for some picks? So who's going to pay a huge price to jax assuming they had to pay a high price to get him? Jax simply can't dictate a price for Brunell. If he doesn't want to go to Miami, he just doesn't have to agree to a new deal with them and they wouldn't pay a very high price for him. The same for us. If he doesn't want to come here, we're not going to trade Gardner or a 2nd rounder, if we aren't sure he'll sign a new contract. No one will trade much for him without a new contract because NO ONE will be willing to pay him $6.5 million in salary (and cap) for this year and if anyone is willing, it won't be the Skins. It would be different if Brunell had a contract someone could take on. $6.5 million is only a little less than the franchise cost we'll have to pay if Champ doesn't resign. It would be hard to trade Champ if the new team was getting him at that cap price. Trung may have had better trade value because he had a cheap contract with several years left, has great speed and potential, and was extremely motiviated to go to whichever team offered him a chance to play. Once Brunell chooses a team he wants to go to he'll say I will only sign a new deal with that team, then that team doesn't really have to pay a very high price for him because HE'S GOING TO BE RELEASED ANYWAY in the next 3 weeks and is virtually untradable to any other team. If he really wants to play somewhere specific, some other team can trade for him, but will have to pay through the nose to keep him on the roster or end up cutting him anyway when he refuses to renegotiate. I just don't think anyone will take the chance to trade for him if he wants to be elsewhere. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if Brunell just says scr*w jax, I won't sign a new deal with ANY TEAM, cut me and let me negotiate with whoever I want. This is jax trying to talk up the price. This is not a Champ situation. Jax CANNOT keep Brunell nor did they ever intend to. Anything they get for him is really "found money" because they were expecting to get nothing for him. Remember how Denver was going to break us on a Dalton deal? In the end we got him for a 7th rounder (became a 6th because we gave our 7th rounder for Chase). Obviously I've been a lone voice on this over numerous threads. I may be wrong but I just don't see Brunell getting traded for a 2nd rounder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvoSkins Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 This way, the Redskins could cut Brunell after a few years without a significant financial impact. Ramsey is the future of this franchise at QB. A QB controversy is something we don't need here. It would be great to know that the Skins have two capable Qbs to run the offense, but not at the expense of losing one. Brunell is 33 and Ramsey is 24. Brunell will only be useful for a few more years where Ramsey is at the beginning of his career. If getting Brunell means we lose Ramsey, then what are we left with. Brunell, Hasselback and Hamden are not the set of QBs I want going into season. I do like perhaps Ramsey, Blake, and Hasselback. If Gibbs does convince Brunell to come to DC with the notion of he can compete for the job and at the same time, convinces Ramsey to stay, I can deal with that. Brunell is a veteran starter where the Skins need a veteran backup. I don't like giving up a second or Gardner for a guy who will be cut anyway. JAX has already said that Leftwich will be their starter with Garrard as his backup. Hopefully, things will work out and Ramsey will continue to be our starter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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