The Redskin Report

This is the last entry of a series of articles ranking the NFC East teams by position. Click here to read the other entries.

At long last we’ve reached the final entry in this series. Quarterback is an interesting position in this division. Every starting quarterback in this division comes with some pretty serious question marks and whichever team gets the most out of their quarterback will have a leg up on the competition in 2006. Let’s get to the rankings.

1. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles

McNabb has his flaws. He’s not the most accurate passer around and there are those nasty rumors that he doesn’t deal with pressure very well, but he’s the best in this lot. Out of these four QBs, he’s the one you’d least like to see opposing you in a must win game. McNabb doesn’t run much anymore, but he’s very good at buying extra time for his receivers to get open. His receiving options this year will be pretty weak, so this season will be a big test for McNabb.

2. Mark Brunell, Washington Redskins

I know, I know. I thought he’d be lower too. But the fact is that Brunell is the guy least likely to cost your team a game on this list. He’s not often going to come up with a 300 yard game or single-handedly win his team a game, but neither are the players below him on this list. Brunell’s ’super-smart’ play is just what this Redskin team needs this year. I don’t think Brunell is a championship caliber QB anymore, but neither were guys like Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson. Today’s Washington Post has an article on Brunell and his expectations for the season. Wilbon also looked at Brunell and the optimism surrounding this team.

3. Drew Bledsoe, Dallas Cowboys

Bledsoe is just your average QB now a days, but every once in a while he pulls out a game or a play that reminds you why he was once so highly regarded. He’s a statue in the pocket and he takes way too many sacks, but he still has a very strong arm. Redskins fans like to mock Cowboy fans over Bledsoe being their QB, but the guy completed over 60% of his passes and had 23 touchdown passes in 2005. He’s still a viable starting QB for a team with playoff aspirations.

4. Eli Manning, New York Giants

Hey look, it’s the most overrated player in the NFL. Don’t believe me? Lets play a little game:

Player A: 24 career starts, 55.7% completion percentage, 34 TD, 29 Int.
Player B: 23 career starts, 51.6% completion percentage, 30 TD, 26 Int.

Now one of these two QBs is heralded as an ‘pro-bowl’ type performer, who is soon to become a future star. The other is a guy who was recently banished from his 1st team and is now battling with a bunch of unheralded passers just to keep a roster spot. Player A has a much better completion percentage, but besides that there really isn’t much between the two players. They are both relatively young players, although Player B is two years younger. Have you guessed it yet? Player A is Patrick Ramsey and Player B is Eli Manning. Don’t believe the hype, Manning is the reason why the Redskins will finish ahead of the Giants in 2006.