It wasn’t exactly a vote of confidence.
Running his own two-minute drill despite a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-17 in overtime on Sunday, Redskins coach Mike Shanahan nearly bolted the podium after two answers. A Rex Grossman question then arose, and Shanahan was cornered.
“Main thing, we won the football game. … I was happy with the win,” he said.
Wow, Shanahan couldn’t even fake an answer. Not a half-hearted “Grossman played well.” Instead, there was nothing. Crickets chirping quiet.
What was that?
Grossman was fair at best. He completed 19 of 39 passes for 182 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the end zone for a 60.0 rating that would have been better if the Redskins hadn’t dropped five balls. The interception was a questionable call by officials.
Grossman was his usual inconsistent self, though it certainly wasn’t an awful game in mediocre weather. He wasn’t the one throwing the game-deciding interception; that was the Jaguars’ David Garrard. It wasn’t a four-touchdown outing like his previous effort vs. Dallas, but remember Grossman also produced three turnovers that resulted in 14 Cowboys points in that loss.
Instead, Grossman didn’t get in the way of a victory. Frankly, Grossman probably did more than Donovan McNabb would have done. After two games, it’s clear McNabb was having a mediocre season and the Redskins won’t miss him next year.
This isn’t a “Grossman in 2011” campaign. The Redskins probably will find a starting quarterback in the draft or maybe free agency. They have to peddle season ticket renewals during a looming lockout, and a franchise that has been sold out since 1966 is suddenly staring at potential red ink for admissions revenues. Rookie quarterbacks are more sexy than Rexy, and the Redskins will want a new model in the draft. Too bad this victory cost them a real chance at a top-five pick and the second-best passer on the board.
Grossman is a backup. But he has proved he’s a good backup in these two games — good enough for the Redskins to re-sign him but mediocre enough that no one else bids up the price.
Staying medium is Grossman’s strength. After Chris Cooley dropped his first of four first-half passes in the end zone, Grossman found Fred Davis on the next play for the score. Way to shake off a bad play by another player instead of sulking.
Shanahan’s presser ended when he was asked about an ESPN report on McNabb seeking his release. Emotion rushed to Shanahan’s face, then he dismissed the question rather than answering it.
Guess none of the Redskins’ passers are getting a vote of confidence.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
