[sportscurmudgeon]

Let me clarify something here. I don't think Mark Brunell is a very good NFL QB anymore. He was about four or five years ago; he was OK two years ago; he's about average now.

The reason I think the Skins should be cautious in dumping him is that I have no idea if Collins can play at all. Knowing the system and running it in practice and against ham-and-eggers in exhibition games does not mean a damned thing. Collins may be the best back-up QB in the NFL; I don't know that. Collins may be a completely incompetent stumblebum too; I don't know that either.

But if the Skins cut Brunell - - and assuming it really does take time for any QB they might bring in as the third leg on the quarterbacking stool to master the nuances of Al Saunders' vaunted 701 page playbook - - then the Skins are rolling the dice and hoping that Campbell never gets hurt.

That's why they pay a front office staff good money. Those guys are supposed to be able to make those assessments and take sensible risks and have insurance policies in place for unexpected events. And we do know that they pay the front office staff at Redskins' Park top dollar...

Me? I'd keep Brunell just in case... I would not let him play unless Campbell had one of his appendages hanging on by a thread of skin and blood vessels, but I'd keep him around. I DO KNOW that he can play well in short bursts these days and maybe - - just maybe - - I'd catch him in one of those good bursts...