"[Gibbs] showed me his offense on the board and I was really surprised by the similarities they had with Auburn's offense we ran this year," Campbell said in a conference call. "The only difference at Auburn is we use words and they use a number system, and a number system is a lot easier for a quarterback."
Two NFL personnel executives contacted before the draft believed Campbell was at least two years away from being ready to play; both he and Gibbs declined to estimate a timetable yesterday. Gibbs spoke to Ramsey about the potential pick, reiterating to Ramsey that he is the starter and "the guy we're counting on taking us to the playoffs."
The Redskins select Auburn cornerback Carlos Rogers with the ninth overall pick, hoping he can replace Fred Smoot on defense.
(AP)
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_____Redskins' Draft Picks_____
Redskins' Draft Picks
FIRST ROUND -- NO. 9
Carlos Rogers
Cornerback, Auburn
Height: 6 feet. Weight: 199 pounds
Home town: Augusta, Ga.
College Highlights: Won Jim Thorpe Award this past season as the country's top defensive back and limited opponents to 18 receptions on 65 passes thrown his way. Holds Auburn record for 40 passes deflected.
FIRST ROUND -- NO. 25
Jason Campbell
Quarterback, Auburn
Height: 6-4 Weight: 223 pounds.
Home town: Taylorsville, Miss.
College Highlights: Completed 188 of 270 passes for 2,700 yards and 20 touchdowns with seven interceptions last season. Holds school record for best career completion percentage (64.6) and is second in school history with 7,299 passing yards.
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Gibbs said Campbell's selection should not impede Ramsey's development.
"My impression of quarterbacks has always been that if something like that is bothering them," Gibbs said, "then they're probably not the person mentally that's going to be able to handle that. A lot of tough things get thrown a quarterback's way."
When approached Thursday about the possibility of the Redskins taking a quarterback in the first round, Ramsey said: "I'm the starter here, and I plan to go out there and start and play and win games. It doesn't matter to me [if they draft a quarterback]. Absolutely not."
Redskins Notes: Gibbs said he does not expect to trade wide receiver Rod Gardner this weekend and will speak with him tomorrow to assess his future with the club. Gibbs said he has spoken to Gardner's agent recently, and, after requesting a trade at the end of the season and spending months of being available on the trading block, the former first-round pick could be back in Washington. Gardner has one year left on his contract and has not been training with the team. . . .
Safety Sean Taylor has switched numbers, ending a long, strange process. Taylor wore No. 36 in his rookie season, and last month team officials believed he had changed to No. 21, the number previously worn by Smoot. Although the Redskins began selling those jerseys, Taylor had not changed his number, and the team offered refunds to those who had purchased a No. 21 jersey. Rogers said today that he hoped to wear that number but was informed Taylor will be wearing it. Taylor has not been at Redskins Park this spring and is not taking part in voluntary offseason workouts. His absence, according to Gibbs, is related to a desire to renegotiate his contract. . . .
Gibbs said he will meet with Hasselbeck soon to determine what move, including a trade, might be best for his career.
