ASHBURN - After practice Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan addressed reporters for the first time since making a decision on his Week 1 starting quarterback.
Here's a transcript of what followed:
The announcement of QB: “I had a chance to talk to our quarterbacks over the weekend. I talked to both John and Rex. [It was] a very good battle. Like I’ve said all along, I’ve got a lot of faith in both of them. It’s been very competitive all the way through. I wanted to announce it today that starting quarterback will be, obviously, Rex. The rumors are right”
On what went into the decision: “[It was] Day by day. Practice everyday, game situations. Just watching [both of them], how they perform in all different areas. It was close. Very competitive. As I’ve said, I’ve got a lot of confidence in both guys after watching them through this camp.”
On why he chose to announce it on Monday: “I just thought it was the best thing. If we knew what direction we were going to go, [we wanted] to let everybody know and let everybody know [as soon as possible] so on Wednesday we can focus on the Giants and not all the speculation that goes on in between. I wanted to take as long as I possibly could to make sure that I did make the right decision. But [it] was very competitive, and I like where we’re at.”
On Rex’s preseason: ”Like I said, you’re looking at him everyday. Everything he does. It’s a big evaluation process. [We look at] 7-on-7 [drills], check-offs, audibles, blitzes. All in all, I thought he did a great job. I thought John did too. But I thought Rex won by an inch.”
On Rex having regular season snaps in this offense: “First of all, it’s always nice to get some snaps. familiar with the system. I thought he was pretty automatic with a lot of his reads. Hopefully he plays accordingly.”
On if there was something John Beck didn’t show him: “John did a great job, too. [It] was very close.”
On how much past experience helped Rex: " I’ve said from day one, anytime you’ve got confidence in two quarterbacks, it’s pretty good in the National Football League, and that’s what I have right now. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be fun now that we can get going and we got two quarterbacks that we got a lot of confidence in, and hopefully they play accordingly”
On if he will re-evaluate the QB position after the Giants game: “We evaluate every position. That’s the nature of this game. You’ve got to be at the top of your game to stay at any position. I know that everybody wants to make the quarterback controversy and [say] ‘How long will he be here?’, just like any position. It’s the nature of the game. You’ve got to perform [even] if you’re a Pro Bowl player, or you’re coming in as a first round draft choice, [or] a third round draft choice. We’re going to evaluate you everyday. And I told [the two quarterbacks] from the start, I said ‘I have no idea what direction we’re going to go. Whoever plays the best is going to start’”
On if Rex Grossman is the starter for the entire season: “Obviously you make your decision based for the season.”
On if it is Rex Grossman’s job to lose: “Of course it is. When you pick a guy out, you don’t say ‘Hey, do you think this guy is going to fail?’. Obviously you’re hoping he’d be very successful.”
On John Beck’s reaction to the decision: “I think the same way Rex would [have]. These guys are very competitive. Whichever way we went, obviously the other guy would be disappointed. But they’re going to support their teammates. He’s one play away from being the starter. I’ve got a lot of confidence in him. ”