I always chuckled at the thought of Eagles fans wanting to get rid of Donovan McNabb. I know Philly fans are tough, however "What have you done for me lately?" seemed so foolish whenever I looked at the six-time Pro Bowl, five-time NFC Championship game veteran McNabb and contrast him to the large herd of NFL teams limping along with a 2nd or 3rd rate QB as their starter. Remember Cleveland's QB tragicomedy the last 2 years (4-12 then leaping to 5-11)? Ick.
Compare that to the Eagle's 11-5 record and wild card berth:
McNabb threw for 3,553 yards and 22 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 14 games last season, leading the Eagles to the playoffs. His passer rating of 92.9 was the third-highest in his career.
Now McNabb certainly has his detractors, "Nice stats and lots of regular season wins...but no big enchilada." I do get that. We're all chasing the Lombardi trophy. However, for many teams that dream has evaporated by game 6 in mid-October. And how many of those sad sack franchises would send their grannies on a one-way trip to Obama's Death Panels for these numbers:
McNabb, the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 draft, leaves as the franchise leader in yards passing (32,873), completions (2,801), attempts (4,746), completion percentage (59.0) and touchdown passes (216). He also rushed for 3,249 yards and 28 TDs.
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The Eagles were 92-49-1 in regular-season games that McNabb started and 9-7 in the playoffs.
Yep, I thought so. Me too. Sorry Nana...
This leaves Kevin Kolb, who has started two games in three seasons, as the Eagles starter in the always brutal NFC East. Michael Vick is his oh-so-rusty and devastatingly erratic backup. Or is that erratically devastating and so-so-rusty Vick?
New Redskins coach Shanahan must have cashed some serious chips to get Mr Moneybags (Skins owner Dan Snyder) to pull the trigger for McNabb - Donovan's in the last year of his contract and will probably be looking for some serious cash. And to kick Philly's butt twice a year till he's done.
The terms of the deal are for the Eagles to receive a second-round pick, 37th overall, in this month's NFL draft, and either a third- or fourth-round pick next year.
Trading your all-franchise QB to a division rival which is loading up under new coach Mike Shanahan? Yikes. I'll leave the pro's and pro's consideration for the Redskins side of this deal to someone who doesn't hate those f**king bastards. (oops)