Newz Forum: FOOTBALL: Brunell close to deal with Redskins

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

The Washington Redskins are closing in on a trade to acquire Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell, several team and NFL sources told ESPN.com.


Parties to the negotiations were working this weekend to arrange a Monday meeting between Brunell and new Redskins coach Joe Gibbs. Because the NFL is under its annual trade moratorium, a deal can't be officially completed until March, but there is nothing to preclude the two sides from agreeing to details before that.


Sources said that many of the principal parameters of the trade, which would officially end Brunell's very productive nine-year tenure with the Jaguars, have been completed. They cautioned, however, there are some details on which the teams are still working.


None of the sources would say what Jacksonville will receive as the compensation for parting with a player who defined the quick success of the one-time expansion franchise. Jaguars officials acknowledged privately last week that they have been offered a second-round draft pick for Brunell by an unspecified team.


If the deal is completed, it would leave in question the future of Redskins incumbent starter Patrick Ramsey, the two-year veteran who finished the 2003 season on injured reserve with a broken foot.


That 33-year-old Brunell would not return to the Jaguars in 2004 has been essentially known for more than a year. The 11-year veteran, who led Jacksonville to a pair of AFC championship game appearances, sports a salary cap charge of $10.5 million for 2004. That includes a base salary of $6.5 million but, more important, a $2 million roster bonus due March 1.


It had been anticipated that Brunell would have to delay or forfeit the roster bonus because the moratorium on trades is not lifted until March 4.



[Edited on 2/11/2004 by crayon]

Great, that is all Washington needs, more salary. They need to start from scratch. Try and trade off some of that high priced talent. Get some draft picks, get some young guys onto the team.

Snyder has not done a good job of running the Skins. When will owners learn that you cannot just buy an entire team of talent? Well outside of baseball.

It doesn't work in hockey, it doesn't work in football. When will they learn?