Source: Washington Post

Washington likes nothing better than a quarterback controversy, or a quarterback debate, or a quarterback scandal — even in an election year.

That's why the very words "Peyton Manning" have the same effect on Redskins fans as that of dangling a drool-soaked tennis ball over a Labrador's head right before tossing it in the yard.

Once again, the lab — and a lot of Redskins fans — will go running.

But not all Redskins fans. Some will look at that beat-up tennis ball and lie right down on the porch, waiting for someone to take a fresh ball out of the can.

And that's what makes it a great debate topic, at least for those whose sports heart died last Sunday with the end of the Super Bowl. Those hearts might temporarily restart for next week's NFL Combine, but the real adrenaline shot is the draft in April. So until then, this is what they've got.

And it's a legitimate debate. They don't want another season of Rex Grossman, with John Beck as a sort of midseason palate cleanser that, somewhat miraculously, made them want Grossman back. Peyton Manning — with his Super Bowl ring and his commanding presence and his confidence — looks pretty good after whatever that was we saw last season.

Except that Manning turns 36 next month. And while he is among the least-sacked quarterbacks in the league, that didn't prevent him from needing three neck surgeries and missing the entire 2011 season. Bones in his neck have been fused and he's been cleared to play by his surgeon, which everyone takes to mean that he's just fine.

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