Source: Jets maintain interest in Campbell

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The Washington Times

Friday, April 24, 2009

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If the Washington Redskins succeed in trading up from the 13th pick to take Southern Cal quarterback Mark Sanchez in the first round of this weekend's NFL Draft, they might be able to trade their current starter, Jason Campbell, to the New York Jets.

The Jets, who are also pursuing Sanchez, have the 17th choice. A Jets source said Thursday that the team would be interested in acquiring Campbell if it loses out in the Sanchez sweepstakes. Brett Favre retired after last season, leaving the Jets with an inexperienced quarterback trio of Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge.

The Redskins tried to replace Campbell with Jay Cutler earlier this month before Denver traded him to Chicago instead. Campbell, who has an 80.4 passer rating in 36 career starts, is in the final year of his contract; having the Redskins trade up to draft his heir apparent could make for an uncomfortable situation. Dealing Campbell to the Jets also would let the Redskins get something for him rather than have him leave as a free agent.

Neither Campbell nor his agent, Joel Segal, returned messages. Redskins executive vice president Vinny Cerrato denied that he has talked to the Jets about Campbell.

Meanwhile, the Redskins agreed to a one-year deal with former Indianapolis punter Hunter Smith. The 31-year-old averaged 43.4 yards gross and 35.5 net during his decade with the Colts while playing all his home games indoors.

The addition of Smith, who averaged 44.2 gross and 38.8 net in 2008, should make veteran Dirk Johnson or the untested Zac Atterberry, each of whom signed earlier this offseason, expendable. The Redskins ranked last in the NFL in punting in 2008.

Smith also visited Green Bay before making his decision.

"It took a while to get it done, but we knew the Redskins had an interest in Hunter because of what happened last year," said Tom Mills, Smith's agent.

Also, Drew Rosenhaus, Rocky McIntosh's new agent, is working on an extension for the weakside linebacker, whose contract expires after the season. Rosenhaus met with Cerrato and vice president of football administration Eric Schaffer on Thursday in Ashburn, Va. McIntosh ranked second on the team in tackles in 2007 and 2008, his first two years as a starter.

About the Author

David Elfin

David Elfin has been following Washington-area sports teams since the late 1960s. David began his journalism career at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, the University of Pennsylvania (B.A., history) and Syracuse University (M.S., telecommunications). He wrote for the Bulletin (Philadelphia), the Post-Standard (Syracuse) and The Washington Post before coming to The Washington Times in 1986. He has covered colleges, the Orioles ...