Redskins quarterback Tim Hasselbeck met with head coach Joe Gibbs earlier this week to discuss Hasselbeck's future with the team following the Redskins' selection of Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell in the first round of the draft Saturday.
Hasselbeck was the third quarterback on the depth chart last season behind Patrick Ramsey and Mark Brunell and he did not play in a regular season game in 2004.
"I told Tim we think a lot of him," Gibbs said. "We really like him. I think what we're going to do is just proceed ahead. We're going to be very sensitive to what he wants to do."
Gibbs said that the team will try to do for Hasselbeck whatever Hasselbeck desires. Whether the team will try to trade him, release him, or keep him on the roster for the foreseeable future remains to be seen.
"We're just going to leave it up to him," Gibbs said. "I want what's best for him. He's really the kind of person you want on your team. The situation changes when you draft Jason, so I just want to be real sensitive to that."
Hasselbeck was a restricted free agent this offseason and the Redskins re-signed him. He has been participating in voluntary offseason workouts at Redskins Park.
"As of right now, for me, I signed with the Redskins and I'm here," Hasselbeck said. "That's why I'm here for the offseason part of it."
Hasselbeck has been in similar situations before. He was released by Buffalo prior to training camp in 2001 and by Baltimore later that year. He spent time with Carolina and Philadelphia, as well, before signing with the Redskins in October 2003.
The 6-1, 211-pound quarterback started five of six games at the end of the 2003 season. He completed 53.7 percent of his passes and threw for five touchdowns and 1,012 yards.
"I've been the fourth guy before, and it didn't mean it was the end of my career," Hasselbeck said. "It didn't mean that I didn't end up on that team. It didn't mean any of that stuff because things happen. Guys get hurt; things like that happen.
"The only way I know how to deal with this kind of stuff is to come in and work hard and trust that if you're a good enough player, you'll get the opportunity to play."
Hasselbeck said that he appreciates the way Gibbs has handled the situation.
"He's been very up front with me about what it looked like going in and where I stand now," Hasselbeck said. "He made me feel that he wanted to help me in terms of my career and in terms of the long run and things like that. So from that standpoint, he's been a man of his word so far. I'm sure that means that he would help me in any way that would be beneficial to me."
