The Case for Campbell

Interesting article from the SI Fanhouse making a case for the Redskins passing on taking a QB with the #4 pick in this year's draft. Here is a snippet:

Jason Campbell knows this. The Redskins' current, beleaguered signal-caller was sacked 43 times in 2009. Only Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger took more sacks. Washington's offensive line ranked among the very worst in the league, and protecting its quarterback was one of the things at which it was least effective.

Yet, Campbell managed a better-than-average statistical season. He passed for more yards than Joe Flacco, Donovan McNabb and Matt Cassel. He had a better completion percentage than Tony Romo, Eli Manning and Kyle Orton. His quarterback rating was higher than those of Carson Palmer, Matt Ryan and Cutler. Campbell was no Pro Bowler, but he was no dud either. And considering what was going on in front of him on every play, his numbers look fine.

Campbell also showed, in 2009, a previously undiscovered toughness. In a lost season, behind a cheesecloth line and playing for a lame-duck coaching staff, Campbell kept getting knocked down and kept getting back up. In Washington's embarrassing Dec. 21 Monday night loss to the Giants -- a game in which nearly the entire team clearly and shamefully quit on national TV and in front of newly minted GM Bruce Allen -- Campbell was knocked out with an injury but talked his way back into the game. When no one else was trying, he remained determined to finish the game, even at risk of his own personal safety.

Something to think about, Mr. Allen...