The Pride of Walpole - Part Three

One more Saturday night

Please join me in congratulating Redskins quarterback Todd Collins for capturing the NFC Player of the Month award for December. Today Todd Collins leads the 9-7 Redskins against the 10-7 Seahawks in a first round playoff game in Seattle. Today The Curly R concludes a three part series on the career of elevated backup and new Washington ambassador Todd Collins.

Part One: Where did Todd Come from?
Part Two: Michigan J. Quarterback
Part Three: Playing with House Money

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The best part of the Todd Collins Experience as a Redskins fan is that it is risk free. The Redskins were 5-7 and still made the playoffs. The best player on the team was shot and killed in a botched burglary and the team still made the playoffs. The franchise quarterback, no longer simmering on the inactive list, went from the frying pan to the John Deere with four games left and the team still made the playoffs. The aging rusty ball sniffing and unheralded backup with but a lone supporter in Washington came off the bench and shined and the team is going to the playoffs.

There is no question about whose team this is, it is Jason Campbell's team. I did not need Al Saunders to tell me this but he went ahead and affirmed it to Jason Campbell yesterday anyway. Todd is a free agent after this season and I would guess he and his agent will test the waters, see who needs a quarterback to come in and hold the fort in transition to the next player. It is the right thing to do, to see what is out there.

But they would be wise to sign Todd back up with the Redskins. If Al Saunders is right then Todd knows this offense and that has as much to do with his success as anything. And after this season no one on this coaching staff is going anywhere. Todd's best chance at a longer career is staying with the Redskins, mentoring Jason Campbell to be the next Todd Collins, at least in terms of depth of knowledge of the offense, and there will be some playing time along the way, there always is for backups in today's league.

There will be no Redskins fans calling for Todd to take the starting job next season, Todd is not Jeff Garcia, seeking a career resurgence in Tampa Bay after losing starting jobs in the past and surging the Eagles into the playoffs as an elevated backup. He is not Brett Favre, seasoned into taking hits and still starting after all these years, these are just two quarterbacks in Todd's age group.

If the Redskins lose tomorrow, it's no big deal to me. They did their good, they impressed me, they went through an incredible journey this season and it has made me forget wretched 2006 except for those 168 pieces I posted to Curly R during or about that season.

But if they win? We get Dallas for the rubber match with a shot at the NFC Championship game on the line. Sean Taylor may have inspired this team, there is no question the players have him on their mind. Clinton Portis may have regained his role as the workhorse with a twist, running and catching and passing. Chris Cooley may be having his best year, Chris Samuels may be holding the line, London Fletcher, Fred Smoot yada yada yada they are all contributing at a high level.

But it's Todd Collins that's making it happen under center. Without that right here right now the Redskins are already home for the holidays.



Todd Collins: Chris McGrath / Getty Images from here.