ASHBURN, Va. — Dan Snyder has selected seven quarterbacks in his nine drafts as the owner of the Washington Redskins.

And he's still looking.

Having failed to land Jay Cutler in a trade, Snyder and the Redskins spent a couple of days last week entertaining Southern California's Mark Sanchez, the latest possible solution to a long-term quarterback vacuum that's existed in Washington since the early 1990s.

But Sanchez is a hot commodity, unlikely to be there when the Redskins are scheduled to be on the clock with the No. 13 overall pick in the NFL draft late Saturday afternoon. The well-guarded secret in the back offices — the biggest cause for suspense as the week goes along — is how much Snyder and Co. are willing to trade to move up to a top five spot, or even higher, to guarantee they can get a player they really want.

"I think anything is possible," executive vice president for football operations Vinny Cerrato said yesterday. "It's just what you're willing to give up."

Not since Mark Rypien have the Redskins had a quarterback who kept the undisputed starting job for more than a couple of seasons. Since buying the team in 1999, Snyder has targeted the position twice in the first round, taking Patrick Ramsey in 2002 and Jason Campbell in 2005. Lower-round selections Todd Husak (2000), Sage Rosenfels (2001), Gibran Hamdan (2003) and Jordan Palmer (2007) failed to establish themselves even as backups. University of Hawai'i alum Colt Brennan (2008) spent his first season playing third string.

Campbell put up cautious numbers — 13 touchdowns and six interceptions — last year in his first full season as the starter, but the Redskins clearly feel they can do better.

Snyder, nevertheless, was optimistic yesterday in what has become his once-a-year regularly scheduled appearance before reporters.

"Obviously we were disappointed with some of our late-season games last year," Snyder said. "We got close, as everyone knows, we got beaten up in terms of injuries, but that's no excuse. I think we're positioned pretty well to improve."

'FRIDGE' SERIOUS

Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman William "The Refrigerator" Perry remains hospitalized in Aiken, S.C.

Aiken Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Melissa Summer said yesterday that Perry is in serious condition.

The 46-year-old Perry has been hospitalized to deal with complications from Guillain-Barre (gee-LAN' bah-RAY') Syndrome, a chronic inflammation disorder of the peripheral nerves.