It’s a quarterback race once again for the Washington Commanders.
Sam Howell may be QB1, but coach Ron Rivera now admits Jacoby Brissett is QB1A. Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson haunts this franchise even as a Baltimore Raven. Even Robert Griffin III is a distraction once more after saying he wants to be a part of Josh Harris' group ownership bid.
There’s never any peace among Washington quarterbacks.
Rivera’s quarterback comments have always rung insincere. Talk of quarterback competitions have been a myth. Ryan Fitzpatrick was chosen without merit in 2021 only to last 20 minutes before a season-ending injury. Carson Wentz was anointed over Taylor Heinicke last year and was injured before returning to cost the team a playoff chance at the season’s end. And, starting Howell in the meaningless season-finale seemed a concession to the crowd.
Yet, Rivera said Howell would enter the offseason with the first crack as QB1 if for no other reason than Wentz and Heinicke were gone. Rivera lightly couched it as Howell needing to prove himself, but it felt like a wink-wink situation. That is until Brissett was signed during free agency.
Suddenly, Howell has to win the job or Brissett plays this fall. At face value, there’s nothing wrong with that notion. If Howell stinks, Rivera must switch passers to save his job. The coach doesn’t have time to let a young passer develop. It has felt like that for three years, but especially now with new ownership expected soon.
Just don’t blow smoke over Howell’s going to be a great player only to couch his status. If Howell is truly expected to be a solid player, the franchise needs to let him make his mistakes for the long-term good. The problem is Rivera no longer has long-term security to permit it.
Rivera loves to talk up Howell as he should. All starters should have their coach’s support. But, it can’t be with restrictions. That’s not tough love. It’s passive aggression. Howell won’t play with a chip on his shoulder after dropping to the fifth round last year. He’ll play with his head on a swivel.
Fans also want more transparency over not pursuing Jackson. Rivera has long said the team wasn’t interested in one of the NFL’s top young passers. Why, they didn’t even discuss it as a front office.
How is that possible? Quarterback is the most important player, a good one is up the road and nobody cares enough to at least run some numbers? I think somebody is fibbing.
Most likely, Rivera is covering for owner Dan Snyder once more. The team can’t afford Jackson, who will want top dollar. They can’t handle more distractions that Jackson might bring if unable to get the right contract.
But to say the team isn’t interested sends a signal it’s not really serious about winning. Jackson would make them a real contender rather than just another mediocre team.
The quarterback room is filled with ghosts of a generation past. Better direction is needed or Howell, Brissett and anyone else won’t find success, either.
And then the Commanders will draft a first-round passer in 2024.
Follow Rick Snider on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks
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