Jason Campbell lauds change in D.C.

Jason Campbell is singing the praises of the new coaching staff in Washington and the Redskins are only five days into their (voluntary) offseason workout program.

The veteran is trying to get acquainted with the new program as quickly as he can with the quarterback situation the No. 1 debate in Washington. The Redskins signed former Chicago Bears’ first-round draft pick Rex Grossman earlier this week and they’ve been widely reported to be interested in both Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame. With the fourth pick in the draft, Washington would almost surely have to deal up for a chance at Bradford.

Then there is Campbell, who was supposed to be the quarterback of the future when the Redskins made him a first-round selection. He’s been good at times, he’s been downright bad at times and there’s been a whole lot of mediocre. But until someone says differently, Campbell is the starter in Washington and he’s making the best of the situation according to Jason Reid of the Washington Post.

"It's just totally different than it used to be," Campbell said. "Yeah, they've changed a lot of stuff around in the weight room, painted and moved some other stuff, but that's not what I'm talking about. It's really the feeling you get now just being (in the building).

"You just see how professional it is and guys are doing things the right way. Usually in the past, guys wouldn't be focused like this right now. A lot of guys who showed up (for the voluntary offseason conditioning program) wouldn't be here in the past. And even in the weight room, a lot of guys just used to do their own thing. But it's all structured now. There's a plan for everything we're doing."

The reason those guys who didn’t show up in the past are showing up now is because they want to keep their jobs. That’s typical when a new staff takes over, and quite frankly the Redskins need to upgrade the roster under Shanahan. The line is getting a makeover but until the quarterback position is better defined, it’s going to be the No. 1 topic. Campbell got a one-year tender as a restricted free agent for $3.14 million, but that is not guaranteed and he knows anything could happen.

"I don't listen to all the stuff out there," Campbell said. "None of that is in my control. All I know for sure is Coach Shanahan believes in competition.

"I like what Coach Shanahan has brought to the organization. It's like nothing I've seen, and I'm happy to be part of it. I'm just going to keep working hard everyday to put myself in position to take advantage of whatever opportunities I get. That's all I can do, but I feel good about what's going on. I'm excited about the season."

One other quarterback who hasn’t gotten a lot of publicity is still potentially in the mix. Colt Brennan generated a buzz last summer during training camp before landing on injured reserve. He’s hoping to catch someone’s eye too.

"I'm looking for a coach to look at me, see something in me, and give me that opportunity,” he told the team’s Web site. “And that's exactly what I'm gonna do: I'm gonna take it and run with it. This is the same way I had to enter college. The same way I had to enter high school ball. It isn't hard for me to have to work for it."

Stay tuned.

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