What the Shanahan - Part Three

It has been roughly six months since the last installment of the popular 'What the Shanahan?' posts here on the ol' blog. Part of this is due to the NFL lockout, where things such as trades and free agency cannot happen. Thankfully, Mike Shanahan is not stopped from talking during this lockout, making this third installment possible.

Apparently, Shanahan, in his infinite wisdom and knowledge of the quarterback position, is ok with the idea of having John Beck as his starting quarterback. Yes, the same John Beck that was the main quarterback during the Miami Dolphins' 1-15 season. The same John Beck that has not seen an NFL field, except from the sidelines, since 2007, when he was a 26 year old rookie. The John Beck that has a total of 559 passing yards and one touchdown. Yup.

Now, it would be one thing if the Redskins did not have better options. They did neglect the position during the draft, focusing on attempting to upgrade the defense and the receiving position. However, they do have a Pro-Bowl caliber quarterback on the roster in Donovan McNabb. While McNabb may not have played overly well in 2010, the only way that Beck would be an upgrade would be in McNabb turned into Helen Keller. Even then, it may be a tie.

It bears repeating that the Redskins gave up a second round draft choice last year and an additional draft pick in 2011. Also, for all the claiming that Shanahan is a genius as a coach, he has won exactly ONE playoff game since John Elway retired. Maybe it was Elway that made him look good.

Now, there is speculation that Shanahan is talking up Beck in an attempt to not seem desperate to get a starting caliber quarterback, and is trying to appear as though he is in a position of strength. News flash - saying that John Beck or Rex Grossman (who also claims that he is the starting quarterback, although he is not on the Redskins roster) is going to be your quarterback going forward is NOT a position of strength. Saying so is roughly akin to denying the existence of gravity and jumping off of Mount Thor on Banfin Island.

Actually, let's see Shanahan go out there with John Beck as his quarterback. When this fails in epic fashion, maybe we can finally put to rest the 'Shanahan is a Genius' rhetoric that has been spewed forth for years.