Assuming he is injury free how long will Brunell play here

[jasonskin]

I ask this because, i wonder how many seasons Ramsey will be content to sit on the bench.If Mark beats him out in camp this season,and that is a big IF.Then i would assume going into next season and the next season after that Mark would have the jod unless he F'S up.I don't think Ramsey will mind being beaten by the better man,THIS SEASON but i also find it very unrealistic for Ramsey to be a 2nd string QB for the next 2 or 3 years.So what do you all think.

[RedskinRat]

Ramsey should start regardless of the investment in Brunell. Ramsey is the future and the better QB (Although that has yet to be seen).

[Skins fan 44]

The best QB should play. I think if Ramsey dont win out in 2 or 3 years then he was not good enough (which I know he can play and he will win out) to be a starting QB. If for some unforesaken reason Brunell is healthy and is the starter for 2 or 3 years Ramsey is gone-due to not wanting to be a back up. So better hope Hamden is good enough to step up when Ramsey leaves or draft or sign via free agent QB in the next couple of years.
But back to your question as long as we can afford Brunell he should stay. I see in 3 years if he will not rework his contract he will be waived.

[Drift Reality]

Brunell was brought in to start for 1-2 years, back-up for 1-2 years, and then be cut.

Best case scenario is he plays this year, backs up for 2 years, and then is cut.

[sportscurmudgeon]

I know it is impolite to answer a question with another question, but I'm afraid I have to do that:


1. How big a signing bonus did Brunell get?

2. How long is the contract?


That will tell you when it matters least in terms of salary cap to cut him. As long as he is here and is not soiling the bed linens every Sunday Brunell will start.

Here's a potential problem:

Brunell does really well the next two years and the Skins make the playoffs and Ramsey only gets into 3-5 games in two years. Then, Ramsey's contract is up. Does Ramsey sign here where he has been shunned for two years and has missed out on his incentives or does he leave? If he leaves, you have a 35 year old Brunell and "whomever". Interesting...

[SkinsRock]

I think Brunell will start this year, and then he will back up Patrick for 2-3 years.
Really, I think it will be a pretty even competition in training camp, which Brunell will win mainly due to his experience, but will get injured some time during the season. Then Ramsey will take over and never look back. :headbange

[MTK]

I think Ramsey will push Brunell very hard for the starting job next season, regardless of Brunell's contract. Gibbs will start the guy who gives the team the best shot at winning.

This year that guy is Brunell, next year could be a different story though. I guess alot also depends on what happens this year. Let's say Brunell leads the team back to the playoffs and has a great year. Gibbs would probably have a hard time handing the job over to Ramsey next year.

On the other hand if the team stumbles this year with Brunell, the door will be wide open for Ramsey to take the job.

We'll see, should be interesting to see how things play out.

[PSUskinsfan11]

I agree with Brunell for a year or two and then Ramsey for a looooonnng time!!

[CrazyCanuck]

Here's a look at Brunell's cap hits and "release fees" over the length of his contract. The release fee is the amount of prorated signing bonus remaining at the time.

So for instance, in 2008 the Skins can keep Brunell for a cap hit of $7.833M, or dump him and take a cap hit of $2.867M.

Of course the release fee changes if the player is cut/traded after June 1st, but for simplicity's sake let's assume Brunell would be cut/traded prior to June 1st. Also, I'm obviously assuming Brunell does not rework his contract.

Cap Hit Release Fee
2004 $2,193 $8,600
2005 $3,433 $7,167
2006 $5,433 $5,733
2007 $6,633 $4,300
2008 $7,833 $2,867
2009 $9,033 $1,433
2010 $8,800 $0

Based on the above I would think Brunell is here thru 2006, gone in 2008, with 2007 being a "decision year" based on his play and the team's situation.

[SKINSnCANES]

I think Brunell should start this year and this year only. Technically we have a chance to make a run and hes the most experienced guy to do that. After thsi year though I say you have to start Ramsey to see how he does to see if hes worth giving a contract to when his runs outs. We cant justify giving him big money because he was a good sport and clipboard holder for a few years and had a few sign of stardum in one season.

[jdlea]

Personally, I don't think Brunell should even start this season. He doesn't have it anymore. Patrick Ramsey is the better quarterback right now and he's the future of the team. I believe the signing of Brunell was totally unnecessary and a total waste of money. He will probably start and see some success this year, but I hope not. I almost hope that if Patrick Ramsey isn't the starter they don't play that well. I'm not a fan of Mark Brunell and I don't think he can start in this league anymore, especially not in front of Patrick Ramsey. This is a stupid move, you don't see David Carr or Joey Harrington being benched, do you? No and he's better than both of them. W/E I just hope Pat beats him out this year.

[Daseal]

I'm with jdlea. I think we need to let our young guys get experience. That's like saying we should have Trung Candidate start over Portis, because Trung has more experience.

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by CrazyCanuck

Here's a look at Brunell's cap hits and "release fees" over the length of his contract. The release fee is the amount of prorated signing bonus remaining at the time.

So for instance, in 2008 the Skins can keep Brunell for a cap hit of $7.833M, or dump him and take a cap hit of $2.867M.

Of course the release fee changes if the player is cut/traded after June 1st, but for simplicity's sake let's assume Brunell would be cut/traded prior to June 1st. Also, I'm obviously assuming Brunell does not rework his contract.

Cap Hit Release Fee
2004 $2,193 $8,600
2005 $3,433 $7,167
2006 $5,433 $5,733
2007 $6,633 $4,300
2008 $7,833 $2,867
2009 $9,033 $1,433
2010 $8,800 $0

Based on the above I would think Brunell is here thru 2006, gone in 2008, with 2007 being a "decision year" based on his play and the team's situation.

Great work, Canuck!

Looks like you're right about 2007 being the decisive year in Brunell's contract. It seems like Brunell's contract was designed like that specifically because Ramsey's current contract expires after 2006. At that point, if Ramsey hasn't proven himself to Gibbs, the Redskins will likely have begun grooming another young QB behind him, and they could let Ramsey leave, keep Brunell on for 2007 (assuming he's still playing well), while preparing the other young QB to step in for 2008 and beyond.

On the other hand, if Gibbs feels comfortable with Ramsey after 2006, they would release Brunell, re-sign Ramsey to a long-term, starting QB contract, and go from there.

It looks to me like Ramsey is going to push Brunell extremely hard for the starting job this year, and it's possible Ramsey will get some significant playing time this year-- probably due to a Brunell injury. I do believe that Brunell was brought in here to start this season, and possibly next season, but that Gibbs anticipates that Ramsey will start within the next two years.

If Ramsey is the quarterback most of us believe he is, Brunell will be leaving after 2006, at which point his "release fee" will be less than what his cap hit would be if he were still on the roster. I think he'll probably be a post-June 1st cap cut in 2007, which will spread out his "release fee" even more.

[JWsleep]

I agree, Crisp and Canuck (and again, great cap work, Canuck!).

Of course, it's possible that Brunell can restructure, depending on how things are going. But that 2007 contract is too big for a vet backup.

[SKINSnCANES]

Snyder basically doesnt give contract, he gives signing bonuses with minimum payments. The players get all their money up front and are happy, then he pays them the minimum then cuts them or makes them resign. It will be a big statement if he pays Samuels all the money this year.