http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/jason-campbell/redskins-in-trade-talks-involv.htmlRedskins trade Jason Campbell to Oakland (updated)
Updated 2:08 p.m.
The Jason Campbell era in Washington is over.
The Redskins traded the five-year veteran quarterback to Oakland this afternoon in exchange for the Raiders' fourth-round pick in the 2012 draft.
"I'm just glad the situation is over and I'm moving forward," Campbell said this afternoon. "Sometimes change comes in your life, change comes in your career, and you've just got to be ready to adapt. I'm going to go out to Oakland and give 110 percent and do everything I can to help that organization become a winning team.
"Obviously, that was my goal here. Of course, a lot of things happened and we weren't able to accomplish that goal. But hopefully this time around it'll happen. I just wish the best of luck to the Redskins, and I'm moving forward in my career and my life. This is a great opportunity for me, and that's the way I'm looking at it."
A career in Washington that began five years ago with so much promise now moves westward. Campbell's future here was immediately cast in doubt when the team acquired Donovan McNabb from Philadelphia earlier this month. He skipped the team's first minicamp this month and received permission from Washington Coach Mike Shanahan to pursue a trade.
"I talked to [Raiders owner] Al Davis, and he said he wants me there. That means a lot to me," Campbell said. "I'm ready to get to work."
Shanahan called Campbell shortly after the deal was completed. "He just told me he appreciated how I handled myself throughout the whole situation," Campbell said. "He told me he respected me for just being professional, and that he would do anything for me if he could. I appreciated that, because that's how I've tried to be my whole career."
Shanahan said he planned to bring back Campbell as a backup if the five-year veteran did not find a better situation, but the Redskins were not willing to guarantee Campbell a portion of his $3.14 million contract for this season, according to two people familiar with the situation. Campbell's contract would have become guaranteed if he were on Washington's opening-game roster, but the team would have owed Campbell nothing if he were cut before the opener.
Campbell never fulfilled the high expectations of owner Daniel Snyder. The Redskins twice changed offensive philosophies during Campbell's three-plus seasons as a starter, and failed to address the offensive line - their weakest unit since the middle of the 2008 season.
"I guess that's just the hand I was dealt, but the bottom line is winning and we just didn't win enough," Campbell said. "It wasn't because of not wanting to win or not giving the effort; everyone there knows how hard I worked and how much I care about winning. Of course, I wish things could have been better here. I was looking forward to working with Coach Shanahan, and I definitely feel like I could have won a lot finally having someone like him to work with in Washington.
"There were a lot of things that we needed to do to be that type of organization, but there are a lot of things you can't control as a player. I think Washington is going to do a lot of great things under Coach Shanahan, but I have to just learn from this and put it all behind me. You just learn from everything you experience and it just makes you stronger. That's the way I've always looked at things. I'm a Raider now, so I'm going to take all my experiences here and I'll be an even better quarterbacks for the Raiders."
Campbell is eager to begin working with Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. "I think I'll work really well with him," Campbell said. "He has run similar type of offenses that I've been in, both a numbers system and a West Coast system. I don't think it'll be a problem for me to pick up on the offense quickly. I've heard a lot about him, and I'm look forward to getting to know him and helping the Raiders as soon as possible. That's my focus now."
The Redskins had previously acquired Rex Grossman as a free agent to serve as the team's backup this season.
Campbell, who earned $2.857 million during his final year in Washington, was a restricted free agent and signed his tender earlier this month with the Redskins for $3.14 million. He earned nearly $11 million in salary and bonuses in his five seasons with the Redskins.
According to a source familiar with the situation, Campbell has agreed to a contract that will pay him $3.14 million in 2010, plus a $100,000 workout bonus, and $4.5 million in 2011.
In Oakland, Campbell should have a chance to start, as he joins an unimpressive group of quarterbacks that includes JaMarcus Russell, Charlie Frye, Kyle Boller and Bruce Gradkowski.
Campbell was a first-round pick by Joe Gibbs in 2005 - the draft's 29th overall selection. The Redskins traded up to get him, giving away three picks, including their 2006 first-round selection. He was almost immediately anointed the team's quarterback of the future and after holding the clipboard for a year, he took over the starting job midway
through 2006 season.
He's been the team's top quarterback since then and has started its last 32 games. No quarterback has started more games for the Redskins since Mark Rypien led the huddle from 1989 to '93.
Even as the Redskins rotated offensive coordinators, Campbell saw his offensive numbers steadily rise each of the past three seasons, even as the offensive line in front of him struggled.
Last year, Campbell finished the season with career highs in completions (327), completion percentage (64.5), yards (3,618), yards per completion (7.1), touchdowns (20) and quarterback rating (86.4).
He also threw a career-high 15 interceptions and was sacked 43 times, more than all but two other NFL quarterbacks.
During his 52-game career in Washington, Campbell threw for 10,860 yards and 55 touchdowns. He is the team's sixth all-time in yardage, fifth in completions, second in completion percentage.
The team reached the playoffs twice while Campbell was a Redskin, though Mark Brunell was the quarterback in 2005 and Todd Collins played in place of an injured Campbell in 2007.
25 Replies
3317 Views