Finally, some good news for Colt Brennan in 2008.

A year that started with a thud — Brennan being sacked eight times and throwing three interceptions in Hawai'i's 41-10 Sugar Bowl loss to Georgia — got worse for the Warriors' most accomplished quarterback with hip surgery this month.

But yesterday the Washington Redskins gave him something to jump — as soon as the hip is able — and shout about after a long, winding wait through the two-day NFL draft. It was about the only thing the Warriors, who were otherwise shut out, could celebrate from the proceedings at the Radio City Music Hall in New York this past weekend.

With their pick in the sixth and penultimate round — No. 186 overall — the Redskins opened up a door of considerable opportunity for Brennan. So good is the match they could make one of those eHarmony.com commercials about the possibilities.

Ideally, of course, Brennan would have been taken well ahead of where he plummeted to as the 10th quarterback selected, reaffirming the wisdom and rewarding the pluck of his decision to return to UH for a record-breaking senior season. But after the Sugar Bowl debacle and surgery we've all known for weeks that wasn't going to happen.

What Brennan got yesterday, then, was one of the best scenarios he could have subsequently hoped for. The Redskins need a No. 3 quarterback who can be fit into the West Coast offense of new head coach Jim Zorn, a scheme that necessitates accuracy. Brennan, with the skill set we've seen him sharpen over the last three years and experience, can be that man. It will be a waste if he isn't.

Washington's starting spot is in the hands of fourth-year pro Jason Campbell for the time being. The backup job is held by 14-year veteran Todd Collins. But No. 3 is wide open with only Sam Hollenboch and whatever free agents the Redskins might add.

Zorn knows something of Brennan's situation. He came from an off-the-marquee school (Cal Poly Pomona) as an undrafted free agent with less than eye-popping "measurables" (6 feet 2 and 200 pounds) 30 years ago and carved out a remarkable 12-year playing career in the NFL that has led to a marquee head coaching job.

Less than three months into his Washington tenure, Zorn has sized up and taken a flier on Brennan who is, for the time being, "his" quarterback to mold. Somebody the Redskins have the luxury of developing while not having to rush into action.

If Brennan can flourish in that role, then others will open up for him. To be sure Collins, who will be 37 in November, won't be around forever.

Brennan has what he wanted, a foot in the door of the NFL. And a pretty good one, too. From what we saw in his UH career, that should be all the opening he needs.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.