Jason Campbell, surrounded by reporters, answered questions quietly and calmly. Walking by was Jon Jansen.

"There's the future of the team right there," Jansen said with a mischievous smile. "You're all talking to the future."

Campbell heard him, and grinned.

A moment later, a reporter asked Campbell if he considered himself "the future" of the team.

Replied Campbell: "I feel like I am the future. I just have to continue to keep working and continue to be patient. I'm learning behind a great guy like Mark Brunell, and he does a great job of teaching. He plays the game relaxed and fun."

The second-year quarterback's immediate future is to prepare for Saturday night's preseason game against the New York Jets.

He is expected to see increased action after going 9-of-15 for 99 yards in the preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday.

Mark Brunell is expected to draw the starting assignment each preseason game. As to who will come in after Brunell, associate head coach-offense Al Saunders plans to rotate Campbell and veteran Todd Collins in that role through preseason.

Last Sunday in Cincinnati, Collins came in second, following Brunell. Against the Jets, Campbell will come in second.

"I want to play and have fun," Campbell said. "I think a lot of guys are putting pressure on themselves, thinking they've got to make every play. I just want to go out there and play, let the game come to me. The guys around you will help make plays, too. You've got to trust them."

Joe Gibbs commented earlier this week that Campbell seems to have "a calmness" about him this year.

"I know he said after the [Aug. 5 Redskins-Ravens] scrimmage that he was kind of tight when he started, but I haven't seen him look like that," Gibbs said. "He seems to be real focused. He's not breathing hard. I think his demeanor is a lot like Doug Williams. I'd turn around sometimes and Doug would be yawning on the sidelines. Jason, if anything, has a real smooth presence about him."

Regarding his assessment of the team's quarterback situation, Gibbs said: "I think Jason could play right now, but I think we need to continue to work with him. Our situation is that Mark is our leader and he is the guy we hope plays the whole year.

"Todd and Jason are still rotating and we're taking a look at both of them. We like everything we see. We want to see them both play a bunch here in preseason and then we'll decide what we're going to do as start into the year."

-- LLOYD A 'GAME TIME' DECISION

#### -- RAMSEY, COLES RETURN

Among the top storylines of Saturday's preseason game will be the return of a pair of former Redskins to FedExField: quarterback Patrick Ramsey and wide receiver Laveranues Coles. Both Ramsey and Coles departed Washington via trades.

"Patrick is excited about his opportunity up there and I know they are working him pretty hard," said right tackle Jon Jansen, one of Ramsey's closest friends. "He's happy to have an opportunity and have an impact. I think they're giving him a fair shake."

Added head coach Joe Gibbs: "It will be a little weird to see him on the other sideline. We thought the world of Patrick and we're hoping it all works out for him. I'm sure we'll get his best."

Conversely, five former Jets will be facing their old team on Saturday night: wide receivers Santana Moss and Ataveus Cash, right guard Randy Thomas, kicker John Hall and linebacker Khary Campbell.

Moss said he was looking forward to playing his old team. He maintains plenty of close friends on the Jets.

"It will be my first time to face them," he said. "I think it's a good time since it's preseason and it'll be a fun game. You want it to count, but you don't have to worry about winning and losing, just going out and having fun."