Brunell a Redskin

[jayC]

Saturday, February 7, 2004


By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

The Redskins are closing in on a trade to acquire Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell, several team and NFL sources told ESPN.com.


A deal for Brunell could be completed in the coming week if all the components fall into line.


Parties to the negotiations were working this weekend to arrange a Monday meeting between Brunell and new Redskins coach Joe Gibbs.


Sources said that many of the principal parameters of the trade, which would officially end Brunell's very productive nine-year tenure with the Jaguars, have been completed. They cautioned, however, there are some details on which the teams are still working. One league source termed the swap "an almost-done deal" but one "that's still in the oven."


None of the sources would say what Jacksonville will receive as the compensation for parting with a player who defined the quick success of the one-time expansion franchise. Jaguars officials acknowleged privately last week that they have been offered a second-round draft pick for Brunell by an unspecified team.


If the deal is completed, it would leave in question the future of Redskins incumbent starter Patrick Ramsey, the two-year veteran who finished the 2003 season on injured reserve with a broken foot.


That the 33-year-old Brunell would not return to the Jaguars in 2004 has been essentially known for more than a year. The 11-year veteran, who led Jacksonville to a pair of AFC championship game appearances, sports a salary cap charge of $10.5 million for 2004. That includes a base salary of $6.5 million but, more important, a $2 million roster bonus due on March 1.


It has long been a given that the Jaguars would either trade or release Brunell before that signing bonus was due. By dealing Brunell, the team will absorb just a $2 million salary cap charge, for a prorated signing bonus share, and will recoup $8.5 million of cap room.


If the deal is completed, Brunell almost certainly will sign a new, multi-year contract with the Redskins. Trade negotiations between the Redskins and Jaguars were accelerated in recent days. It will be left for agent Leigh Steinberg, who represents Brunell, to strike a contract accord with Redskins officials.


There were reports during Super Bowl week that the Dolphins would ardently pursue Brunell, either via trade or after he was released, but Redskins officials have been working with great stealth to complete his acquisition.


Brunell originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round choice of the Packers in the 1993 draft. After two seasons in Green Bay, where he appeared in just two games and logged only 27 pass attempts, Brunell was traded to Jacksonville in 1995 for third- and fifth-round draft choices. He assumed the Jaguars' starting job shortly into his tenure in Jacksonville and held that spot for eight seasons.


In the third game of the 2003 campaign, Brunell suffered an elbow injury, opening the door for rookie Byon Leftwich, the club's first-round draft pick, to supplant him. Brunell never played another snap in a Jags uniform.


For his NFL career, he has completed 2,196 of 3,643 passes for 25,793 yards, with 144 touchdown passes, 86 interceptions and an 85.2 efficiency rating. In his three starts last season, he threw for 484 yards and had two touchdown passes and no interceptions.


He has started in 117 of his 122 appearances and was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team on three occasions. The former University of Washington standout, of course, holds all of the Jacksonville franchise passing records. Under his stewardship, the Jaguars advanced to the conference title game in 1996 and 1999 but lost both times.


Washington had not been mentioned as a potential suitor for Brunell's services but Gibbs might be seeking a more veteran quarterback.


Should the Redskins land Brunell, it will be interesting to see what the team does with Ramsey, its first-round choice in the 2002 draft. The former Tulane standout started 11 games in 2003, completing 179 of 337 passes for 2,166 yards. He had 14 touchdown throws, nine interceptions and a passer rating of 75.8. Among the league's most sacked quarterbacks last season, Ramsey earned respect around the NFL for his toughness and grit and his potential is highly-regarded.


Ramsey, 24, is under contract through the 2006 season and his salaries and cap charges are not exorbitant, meaning Washington could retain him and allow Brunell, in part, to serve as his mentor.


It is difficult to imagine Brunell agreeing to any deal to a team where he did not have assurances of at least competing for the starting job. Steinberg reiterated last week at the Super Bowl that Brunell still believes he can be a starter for several more seasons.


Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

[dirno2000]

Very suprising. I can't beleive they could be giving up an early second round pick for a 33 year old quarterback. Joe Gibbs must have been pretty unimpressed with what he saw of Patrick Ramsey on film.

[mavsfanforever]

Give us Ramsey. This guy is good and a leader and can throw the pass like it is supposed to. Does not turn over the ball often and can make critical plays when needed. He was knocked and hit by the cowboy defense and still managed to almost make a comeback. With the pressure cowboys put on Ramsey, you would imagine he would turnover the ball but he did not.

All the qualities above are the things missing from our QB.

However, I do not think the skins will give up on Ramsey.

[Jamisonite]

Hell...lets send em Galloway and our 2nd round pick for Ramsey

[DNNF]

I would highly doubt that Gibb would send Ramsey anywhere. He just see that Ramsey did not have proper tutoring when Spurrier was there. This is just the move to make sure that Ramsey can have a mentor and a quality "backup". There is no way that Brunell will be a starter if he goes to the Skins.

[Chicago JK]

MOnday Wash. Post article
**********************
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.

[ddh33]

The Cowboys sound like they are very much still in the thick of things...

Brunnell could really help.

[dirno2000]

Excerpt from an ESPN article on the Brunell Derby

--------------------------------------------------

While there have been various reports that there are four teams interested in Brunell -- San Diego, Dallas and Miami, in addition to the Redskins -- that might be a bit inflated. Team sources said Miami, which doesn't own the second-round choice the Jags seem to want in return for Brunell, are not a major player in the bidding. And Dallas only is interested in Brunell if he is released.

---------------------------------------------------

Good to hear that Bill is thinking long term. We have too many holes to give a number two for a QB on the downside of his career.