Smoke Signals: Time to trade?
QB Jason Campbell could sign his $3.14 million tender offer as early as today, though he might put it off for a few more days. Campbell wants to be traded rather than play second fiddle to Donovan McNabb and the Redskins need lots of draft picks, so the ideal outcome for both sides would be a trade.
My guess is the trade, if it happens, will occur around the NFL Draft, when one team decides it is not going to get or did not get the young QB it needs and falls back on Campbell as a consolation prize. Don't expect the Redskins to simply release Campbell, as that wouldn't make any sense at all for the team. I have no doubt Campbell could and would easily beat out a scrub like Rex Grossman for the #2 job, so in the unlikely event Campbell isn't traded this offseason, he'll be the team's #1 backup at quarterback. For Campbell's sake, I hope that doesn't happen. He's been a true hard worker for the Redskins and deserves far better than he's gotten from this franchise.
Will the Redskins trade Campbell and disgruntled DT Albert Haynesworth before or during the NFL Draft? It sure seems as if they would like to do that.
Rick Snider thinks the Redskins are looking to trade Haynesworth, Campbell and TB Clinton Portis. Of the three he thinks Portis the most likely to remain, but warns that a major attitude adjustment about playing in the preseason will be necessary to keep Portis in the burgundy and gold. He also goes over various trade scenarios for Haynesworth, so it is well worth a read.
Here's a plan for the Seahawks to get Haynesworth without giving up a first round pick. My own view is that trading Haynesworth for anything less than a first round pick would be daylight robbery on the Redskins. Haynesworth's deal is very reasonable now that the Redskins have paid the $21 million roster bonus he was due this month. Trading one of the best defensive linemen, who now has a very reasonable contract, for less than a first round pick would be one of the worst trades in the history of this franchise.
