Rex Grossman Comments: 5 Reasons Why the Washington Redskins QB Is out of Line

With the Philadelphia Eagles more jacked than Chris Evans in Captain America, poised to take control of the NFC East in 2011, Washington Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman had no choice but to remind everyone of who the team to beat really is.

The Redskins?

Really, the team that went 6-10 last season and parted with its starting quarterback this offseason, that team?

The same team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2007; the team that is just 12-28 over its last 40 games?

It goes without saying that Grossman's comments represent the feeling of almost every player on a mediocre ball club in preseason.

He isn't the only Redskins quarterback, or player for that matter , ho expects to contend in 2011. Football players are confident men who don't hope to win, but expect to.

But after Grossman delivered this gem in an interview with Comcast SportsNet on Tuesday at Redskins training camp, we have little choice but to put Rex and the 'Skins back in their place:

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“Nobody's talking about us. That's right where we want to be. You look at us from top to bottom out here, there's a bunch of great players. And we don't need people saying we're the best right now, but when it's all said and done, I really feel like this team's gonna win the East.”

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Here are five reasons why Grossman is way out of line when he says the Redskins are going to win the NFC East in 2011.

No Significant Free Agent Additions

While the reigning NFC East champion Eagles made waves in free agency following the lockout, the Redskins were content to sign decent veteran pieces at every position except quarterback.

Washington picked up wide receivers Dont'e Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney, but how much can we really expect to see from two 30-year-old wideouts who have bounced around the league as of late.

The Redskins attempted to improve one of the NFL's worst defenses from a season ago, signing defensive back Josh Wilson and selecting defensive end Ryan Kerrigan in the first round of April's draft.

Still the 'Skins have work to do if they're going to contain Michael Vick twice this season, Washington's defense ranked 31st against the pass and 26th versus the run in 2010. Need I say more?

No More Clinton Portis and No More Running Game

Much of the rushing responsibility will lay on the shoulders of third-year back Ryan Torain in 2011 after the departure of Clinton Portis this offseason.

Torain was Washington's leading rusher in 2010, carrying the ball 164 times for 742 yards and four touchdowns, but the Redskins' ground attack still ranked 30th in the league last season.

Washington's backfield ran for 91.3 yards per game last season and only nine touchdowns all year long.

Grossman, or whoever is playing under center for Washington this season, will have a hard time alleviating pass rush pressure from opposing defenses.

John Who?

If the confident Grossman isn't the starter come Week 1, then 29-year-old BYU graduate John Beck will most likely be.

Beck has only a handful of experience at quarterback in the NFL, playing sparingly with the Miami Dolphins, who have had their own quarterback questions.

Beck's career numbers in the league: five games played, 60 completions on 107 attempts (56.1 percent), 559 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions, five fumbles and a quarterback rating of 62.0.

Grossman has at least quarterbacked a team to the Super Bowl, albeit with the defensive juggernaut Bears in 2006.

Mike Shanahan

Mike Shanahan hasn't had a winning season as a head coach since 2006, when the Denver Broncos went 9-7 and missed the playoffs.

Shanahan is headed into his second season with the Redskins, but will somehow have to improve on 6-10 in a division that got a whole lot better with a team that got a lot worse.

Shanahan was a genius in Denver, but he has never proven to be the guy who could turn franchises around quickly, or at all.

Last season was Shanahan's worst year as a head coach since 1999, when the Broncos went 6-10 and finished last in the AFC West.

Don't expect Shanahan to bounce back in 2011; he will likely be on chopping block in early 2012 or even sooner.

NFC East Is Just Too Good

In a division that sports the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, the NFC East is one of the most competitive divisions in football.

The Redskins went just 2-4 against NFC East opponents in 2010, beating the Cowboys and Eagles early in the year before fading into irrelevancy.

Dallas will be better in 2011 with a healthy Tony Romo at quarterback, New York will be back after barely missing the playoffs last season and the Eagles will contend for the conference's best record with its new super roster led by Michael Vick.

How can any realistic fan expect Washington to compete with any of those teams?

Six losses in six division games would come as a surprise to no one given the strength of the NFC East, except Rex Grossman.

Patrick Clarke is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow on Twitter @_Pat_Clarke