Redskins Quarterback 2012: Peyton Manning, RG3, or Rex Grossman?

Less than 10 days into the NFL offseason, we have a quarterback controversy in the nation’s capital. At least this time around, John Beck is not the front-runner for the job.

We hope.

In recent years—and more specifically the Dan Snyder era—Washington’s most beloved franchise has developed a reputation across the National Football League for two things: false expectations and underachievement.

Seemingly every season, a different high profile acquisition sparks false optimism into a loyal fan base. Then, they underperform and get pushed out of town taking millions of Snyder’s dollars with them.

It’s a recurring theme that made Albert Haynesworth more recognizable than the city’s mayor. It’s one so old that the team has become slowly connected with the undesirable nickname: The Deadskins.

21 different players have started a game at quarterback for the Skins in the last 20 years. And in a continuously evolving quarterback-dependent league, the franchise does not need another subpar talent (not named Tim Tebow) playing the most important position.

This time around, we need to get it right.

Here is a breakdown of the three guys most likely to start Week 1.

The Risk

Twenty years have passed since the Redskins last won more than 10 games in the regular season. Before the 2010 campaign, the Indianapolis Colts did it seven years consecutively.

The difference?

Quarterback play. And the guy responsible for almost a decade of success in Indianapolis could be under center for the Burgundy and Gold come training camp.

Rumors swirling around Washington suggest the four-time NFL MVP, Peyton Manning, could be the next target of a front office so active and unpredictable it should be checked for a gambling addiction.

At the end of the day, that is exactly what Manning is—just another roll of the dice. With recent news of an undisclosed fourth medical procedure on his neck, the 35-year-old seasoned veteran is the furthest thing from a sure thing.

In fact, he would be closer to a nightmare. With limited neck mobility, and a slower 40 time than most linemen, Manning would be a sitting duck behind an inexperienced Redskins offensive line.

Barring a Brett Favre type miracle, the decision to unload on Peyton would give Washington roughly a three-year window to win and it would be a major hit to the payroll.

While I am not one to complain about spending Dan Snyder’s money, a lofty investment in an aging player with serious injury concerns is exactly what it sounds like: another gamble.

Let’s look at a more promising option.

The Future

Only Andrew Luck and his reputation as being the most promising pro prospect since John Elway stand between Robert Griffin III and the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

The Heisman Trophy winner out of Baylor boasts a set of skills that have made him one of the most sought-after college quarterbacks in recent memory. A unique combination of speed and throwing accuracy has led many to suggest that he is a faster and more accurate Michael Vick (a former top overall selection himself).

The only knock on the 2011 Consensus All-American is his potential vulnerability to injury. At 6 feet 2 inches tall and 220 pounds, he is considered slightly undersized for a mobile quarterback at the professional level. 

But a smaller frame should not (and cannot) scare the Redskins away from mortgaging the house for the Rams’ second overall pick come April. Yes, it will take a king’s ransom (and then some) to acquire the selection from St. Louis, but it’s worth it.

Guys with talent like Griffin III may come around only once in a lifetime. And in the NFL today, when you have a chance to lock down a franchise quarterback with an immeasurable ceiling, you have to take it.  

RG3 is likely the most promising pick of the three, but here is the more probable.

The Safe Bet

Though certainly not the sexiest pick, a guy nicknamed "Sexy Rexy" might be the smartest and most probable choice for Washington’s starting quarterback spot in 2012.

He is nothing more than a strong-armed turnover machine, but Rex Grossman provides the Redskins with something the other candidates cannot.

Predictability.

At least with him, you know what you are going to get: a valiant effort and two interceptions a game 

All jokes aside, it is clear that Grossman is not the long-term solution in D.C. But one more season of painful Sunday afternoons may be the best scenario looking forward.

A decision to pass on moving up for RG3 would leave the Redskins with the sixth overall pick to bolster the offensive line or address a need at cornerback. At the same time, staying away from Manning would spare cash that could be used on a free-agent playmaker like Vincent Jackson or DeSean Jackson.

A decision to stick it out with "Sexy Rexy" just one more year opens up the door for a wide range of possibilities, which includes a pretty good quarterback from USC named Matt Barkley.

In the end, it is a choice that will not only define Mike Shanahan’s tenure with the Redskins, but also determine the future of the franchise for years to come.

Let’s just hope that, this time, the right call is made in Washington.