Professor Bainbridge...on law, politics, religion, culture & food

Heath Shuler for Veep?

Somebody named George Greyson wrote a column for an Asheville, NC, paper in which he opined that (HT: Reynolds):

Should Virginia’s extremely talented governor Tim Kaine not capture the VEEPstakes, Barack Obama should look several hundred miles to the south for his running mate—specifically, he should recruit Congressman Heath Shuler, a native of Swain Co. and now a resident of Haywood Co. in the picturesque mountains of North Carolina.

A top passer at the University of Tennessee and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1993, Shuler played several seasons for the Washington Redskins, thus also giving him name recognition in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. area.

Right. Name recognition as the worst quarterback in the history of the Washington Redskins and one of the worst QB busts in NFL history:

He was the #3 Overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft, but did not report to training camp until he got his 9-year, $19.25 million contract. He played in a total of 17 games over three years, and the Redskins went 4-13 in those games. After going back and forth with Gus Frerotte in 1994 & 1995, he lost the job permanently in 1996 season, and took only one snap that year. The result of that play? A fumble.

The only people living in the DC area who might possibly want Shuler would be transplanted Dallas Cowboy fans who want to rub it in all over again.