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By JOSEPH WHITE
ASHBURN, Va. - Washington Commanders quarterback Jason Campbell stayed up to watch the whole game Sunday night when Tony Romo won as a first-time starter for the Dallas Cowboys.
"He kept his composure, played with a lot of poise," Campbell said Monday. "It's something you have to do when your first time comes."
Campbell did his best not to sound envious, but he is still waiting for his first time. And with the Cowboys coming to town this week, the debate over when that should happen will only intensify.
Romo's performance in the Cowboys' 35-14 victory at Carolina was vindication for Dallas coach Bill Parcells' decision to bench 30-something Drew Bledsoe and give an untested youngster a shot at energizing an inconsistent offense.
There's a case that Joe Gibbs should do the same - by replacing Mark Brunell with Campbell - but the Commanders coach isn't yet ready to copy his longtime nemesis. Gibbs, for that matter, wouldn't offer an opinion on what Parcells' move.
"For me to say something about that is out of place for me," Gibbs said. "What they've got right now is a quarterback who played extremely well last night."
The Commanders traded three draft picks so they could move up and select Campbell in the first round in 2005. He has been the inactive No. 3 quarterback for every game since. No one would question his absence of playing time if Washington were headed toward another playoff season, but Gibbs' team is 2-5 and struggling to establish an offensive identity.
"Right now you've just got to stay patient and stay confident and understand that when your number's called , that you can go in there and do some good things," Campbell said. "It's just another test in your life. You've got to understand it's all going to pay off for you one day. I've seen guys thrown in there who weren't ready, and I've seen guys have to wait."
At least Campbell has been getting some rare work with the starters over the past week. Brunell has a pulled ribcage muscle, so Campbell ran the offense during last week's two practices before the bye, and on Monday he and fellow backup Todd Collins took turns. Brunell is expected to return to practice Wednesday.
"It made me feel like I wasn't an outsider looking in," Campbell said. "It made me feel like I was actually within the group."
The crowd of reporters around Campbell's locker was so large Monday that running back Rock Cartwright yelled repeatedly: "Jason must be playing this week." Still, Gibbs isn't even ready to give Campbell the outright No. 2 job.
In the coach's unusual pecking order, Collins will play if Brunell is hurt during a game, while Campbell will play only if the team knows well in advance that Brunell can't go.
"I've talked to him a lot about patience," Gibbs said, "and how sometimes it's hard to be excited about things knowing there's a chance that you're not going to play."
ASHBURN, Va. - Washington Commanders quarterback Jason Campbell stayed up to watch the whole game Sunday night when Tony Romo won as a first-time starter for the Dallas Cowboys.
"He kept his composure, played with a lot of poise," Campbell said Monday. "It's something you have to do when your first time comes."
Campbell did his best not to sound envious, but he is still waiting for his first time. And with the Cowboys coming to town this week, the debate over when that should happen will only intensify.
Romo's performance in the Cowboys' 35-14 victory at Carolina was vindication for Dallas coach Bill Parcells' decision to bench 30-something Drew Bledsoe and give an untested youngster a shot at energizing an inconsistent offense.
There's a case that Joe Gibbs should do the same - by replacing Mark Brunell with Campbell - but the Commanders coach isn't yet ready to copy his longtime nemesis. Gibbs, for that matter, wouldn't offer an opinion on what Parcells' move.
"For me to say something about that is out of place for me," Gibbs said. "What they've got right now is a quarterback who played extremely well last night."
The Commanders traded three draft picks so they could move up and select Campbell in the first round in 2005. He has been the inactive No. 3 quarterback for every game since. No one would question his absence of playing time if Washington were headed toward another playoff season, but Gibbs' team is 2-5 and struggling to establish an offensive identity.
"Right now you've just got to stay patient and stay confident and understand that when your number's called , that you can go in there and do some good things," Campbell said. "It's just another test in your life. You've got to understand it's all going to pay off for you one day. I've seen guys thrown in there who weren't ready, and I've seen guys have to wait."
At least Campbell has been getting some rare work with the starters over the past week. Brunell has a pulled ribcage muscle, so Campbell ran the offense during last week's two practices before the bye, and on Monday he and fellow backup Todd Collins took turns. Brunell is expected to return to practice Wednesday.
"It made me feel like I wasn't an outsider looking in," Campbell said. "It made me feel like I was actually within the group."
The crowd of reporters around Campbell's locker was so large Monday that running back Rock Cartwright yelled repeatedly: "Jason must be playing this week." Still, Gibbs isn't even ready to give Campbell the outright No. 2 job.
In the coach's unusual pecking order, Collins will play if Brunell is hurt during a game, while Campbell will play only if the team knows well in advance that Brunell can't go.
"I've talked to him a lot about patience," Gibbs said, "and how sometimes it's hard to be excited about things knowing there's a chance that you're not going to play."
