RELAAAAAXXXXXXXXXX, Guys!!!

[Shane]

I'm not panicking myself - though the loss of Jon Jansen is a very sad development. We still have a chance to make the playoffs and I am hopeful we can do that, one way or another.

The blindside protection is not an issue of extreme importance perhaps, but it is a factor. The bigger factor is that our offensive line is very likely going to be less efficient. We will run and pass block less well. Clinton Portis' impact will be diminished. We are going to need a quarterback to be mobile more so than before Jansen's injury. And I am concerned that Brunell may not be able to run around as much as he may be forced to.

That is part of the reason why I think Tim Hasselbeck may be our best bet for this season.

Would Joe Gibbs have gone to Jacksonville to sign Mark Brunell if he knew that Jansen would be gone this year with no time to replace him through the draft, trades, or free agency?

Is Brunell built at this point to be running around all the time, or did Gibbs envision a comfortable situation with Jansen taking away the left defensive end?

It's not panicking to say that Hasselbeck may be our best bet. As I said, I think he has excellent skills and provides an intangible spark and fire that seems to energize our team.