CBS Sports' Will Brinson jumped on with the Junkies on Monday morning, now 10 days away from the new Commanders ownership and 17 from the beginning of training camp – and he's got a list about NFL quarterbacks on CBSSports.com where Sam Howell ranked in "Tier 6: The No Clue Guys."
There's a reason for that, though, as Brinson told the Sports Junkies Monday: we really have no idea how good he is, or can be.
"My buddy Zeke, who went to NC State, lives in perpetual fear as a lifelong Washington football fan that Sam Howell is going to become the biggest star in DC sports – and I don't think it's that crazy a take," Brinson said. "He's the perfect kind of blue-collar, 'our 'Skins are back' quarterback. The way he runs for his size and his aggressiveness are amazing to me. If he had been drafted in the second round – and remember, he was considered a possible Top 5 pick – people would be talking about Washington as an obvious sleeper to win the division."
He wasn't, though, which is why Brinson thinks the perception is "Ron Rivera has lost his marbles" – but the proof is in the pudding.
"He starts over Carson Wentz last year if he's a second-round pick," Brinson said. "The Panthers could've taken him instead of trading up for Matt Corral! But I don't think what Rivera is doing is crazy, and I'm in the minority on that."
Brinson thinks the Washington defense can be really good, so if the O-line can get it going and Howell can be "a Top 20 QB," things could go well – but with Rivera maybe feeling the heat on his seat, will Howell get the leash to be able to blossom?
"Week 1 vs. Arizona is a must-win game, but I think that short leash is probably correct," Brinson said. "But, Ron Rivera has been there when an owner was forced to sell a team, and understands the nuances. If you pay several billion dollars for a football team, you can hire and fire whoever you want. This is the resume for Ron to make his case to keep his job after the team sells, so it probably is a short leash, because if the Commanders make the playoffs, Ron you would think would at least get one more year – but if they go 4-13, he has no shot."
Jacoby Brissett isn't going to save Rivera's job is the prevailing take of the Junkies, and Brinson had some interesting comments about Brissett's abilities – and even though he 'loves' Brissett, he agrees with the guys.
"If you're Ron Rivera, and you know you're going to have a good defense but won't be the best or even second-best team in your division, you need something to give you an edge," Brinson said. "You need a lottery ticket, and that's what Sam Howell is."
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