Jerry Jones entrusts Quincy Carter with the reins to the team
When the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins faced off on a Monday night game in week five of last year, the Cowboys won 9-7 in a game that probably only Al Michaels, Dan Fouts and I were watching (sorry Dennis). Anthony Wright and Tony Banks, two future NFL Europe quarterbacks, led these two potent offenses. Wright has little NFL experience, while Banks has done nothing but lose in whatever city that has decided to give him a starting job.
Both Redskin and Cowboy fans remained hopeful through this tough year, desperately praying that their mirror-image, big-spending owners would throw some change at a decent quarterback. Dream on. Jerry Jones seems supremely confident in entrusting his multi-million dollar investment with Quincy Carter, who has only proved that braces can be cool at any age. Meanwhile, Dan Snyder of the Redskins has put his faith in Danny Wuerfell and their 32nd overall pick, Patrick Ramsey from Tulane (that famous Cajun football factory). Wuerfell is best known for winning the Heisman trophy and for last throwing a touchdown pass at the University of Florida. Does this mean that both teams are in for a repeat of last year? Maybe.
At first look, it seems as though both organizations have forgotten which one position is most important on a football team. This is hardly the case. The Cowboys and Redskins silently had the fourth and 10th best defenses, respectively, in the league last year. Dallas had significantly improved play from Dat Nguyen, who had 113 tackles in 2001 after an injury-plagued 2000 campaign and added LaRoi Glover and Kevin Hardy to the mix this off season. Washington’s Lavar Arrington looked like the player everyone expected him to be in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl as a starter in only his second season.
Instead of entering the Drew Bledsoe sweepstakes or trading up for a shot at Joey Harrington like everyone expected Snyder and Jones to do, these high rollers went for stingy defenses and “don’t lose the game” quarterbacks. The Redskins made it clear they wanted nothing to do with a quarterback who had NFL experience when they spent most of the salary cap room they had left on Jessie Armstead, Jeremiah Trotter and former Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. Great linebackers, great coordinator, but still no quarterback. Maybe the Redskins should also make it clear that they don’t intend on scoring any points next year.
The Cowboys made a great choice in Roy Williams at the number eight pick in this year’s draft. But, the fact remains that they need a QB. Although, it turned out that Detroit was ultimately dead set on Joey Harrington, surely Jerry Jones could have pulled something out of his sleeve to trade up with Carolina for the second pick.
I understand that Dave Campo saw glimpses of greatness from Quincy Carter last year and immediately declared him as having serious potential. But what I see is a kid who has no proven quarterback to learn from, unless you count Ryan Leaf…HA!
Bottom line is that both the Redskins and the Cowboys need an experienced quarterback. Can they both slip into the playoffs with their stellar defenses and decent running games to save their hides? Sure, but the only way you are going to see either of these teams with the Lomabrdi Trophy at the end of the year is if Nate Newton steals it.
