All the attention on the Commanders' quarterback room over the last five months has been focused on Sam Howell, but when Washington Times columnist Thom Loverro joined the Sports Junkies on Tuesday, he had a rather hot take about what we'll see at FedEx Field in September:
"I think Jacoby Brissett will be the starter Week 1, unless they really stack the deck against him."
EB was slightly surprised by "that shocking thought," saying he doesn't doubt Brissett is better, but the Commanders want to give Howell every chance to prove himself.
A novel idea, but one Loverro doesn't necessarily see playing out the way everyone else does.
"Howell is still a rookie more or less, and you have to be an awfully impressive young quarterback to turn around and beat out an eight-year veteran who has been passable as a quarterback," Loverro said. "It depends on what kind of work they get in training camp – it's not a 'competition,' but how much work will each get with the first team in practices?"
Part of why Loverro has this thought process? Ron Rivera's own words from last year.
"Remember when he was asked last year what the difference was between Washington and everyone else in the division, and he said quarterback and he got in trouble for it?" Loverro asked. "After that Browns debacle, he said again they have to solidify the position, and you can't say they've done that with a guy who has one NFL start."
And, even if Howell looks impressive in camp, Loverro thinks that the current staff knows they have to put the product on the field that gives them the best chance to win right away, and that ain't Howell.
"I think that when everyone gets a look at both quarterbacks – including the locker room and Eric Bieniemy, whose future is on the line in this job – I think it will be Brissett," Loverro said.
EB was willing to take that bet, and is that, perhaps, the thing that helps Ron Rivera succeed and survive into the Josh Harris era? Maybe, if they meet what Loverro thinks is the minimum improvement they'll need to make.
"It's going to be very difficult for Ron to keep his job; I'd say it'll take 11 wins and a playoff win," Loverro said. "This franchise hasn't done that since 1991, and I don't think that would be good news for Commanders fans – I think it's time for a sweeping out of this organization from top to bottom, and the only thing that's disappointing about Josh Harris not taking over just yet is they can't do that now."
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