Wrapping Up McNabb Trade Week
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Wrapping Up McNabb Trade Week
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Some final thoughts from the week the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb:
*I expect Donovan to start out gangbusters with the Redskins. He doesn’t want to admit it, but the fans’ frustrations and his own frustrations were an anvil around his neck these past several seasons, really ever since the Jeff Garcia year, an unsettled situation that morphed into the drafting of Kevin Kolb. Don needed this change as much as the Eagles did.
You might have noticed the way he threw himself into the ‘Skins offseason conditioning program. He only participated in that here if he was rehabbing a serious injury from the season before. His batteries are recharged; Donovan’s first month of the season is going to be lights out. After that, the reality of the Redskins’ wifty o-line and the fact that he really isn’t quite what he was five years ago – especially in sensing and sidestepping pass rush pressure -- will have a leveling effect. But brace yourself for a slew of premature boy-the-Eagles-sure-screwed-up stories from the national media.
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*If the Eagles do end up trading or releasing Michael Vick in the coming weeks, I would not be at all surprised to see Jeff Garcia return for a third stint in midnight green. I know he's tossed his helmet into the ring. Ideal guy to mentor Kolb.
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*I don’t put much credence into that “blocking Sam Bradford going to Washington” business, as a reason why the Birds traded with the Redskins. It comes from other GMs theorizing what the Eagles might have been thinking. Big leap from there to “this must have been what happened.” In this internet age, lots of media folks are eager to be Bob Beamon, if it helps their “brand.”
What I think happened: There weren’t that many really good offers, as April rolled around. The Redskins’ bid was pretty good, and Donovan liked the idea of going there. Other considerations might have dovetailed, but those were the two elements driving the deal, along with the fact that the Birds had decided they absolutely, positively needed to move on. I’m not sure they were quite at that point earlier in the offseason.
Speaking of which, very interesting and potentially damning to see an Andy Reid ally like Mike Holmgren imply the Eagles could have gotten more earlier in the process, before some of the suitors made other QB arrangements, based on indications the Birds initially wanted more than a second-rounder this year and something for later. But again: If Kolb leads the Eagles to a Super Bowl title, nobody will care what they got for McNabb.
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*Got a long, thoughtful email from a fan, contrasting Roy Kolb’s statements in my Thursday story with Sam McNabb’s talk this week of Donovan being resurrected on Easter, etc. The letter-writer felt Roy was a breath of fresh air.
I think Roy and Sam are good people. Both fathers did an excellent job raising their sons to be decent, responsible human beings. They are in different situations right now. If a time comes when the Eagles trade away Kevin Kolb, I doubt Roy will be any happier than Sam was.
In the toxic atmosphere that developed around Donovan here, Sam and Wilma took a fair amount of heat. I never thought they really deserved it. There is nothing obnoxious about appearing in a soup commerical, campaigning to raise funds to fight diabetes, or wanting to help young African-American quarterbacks; they are still a tiny minority in an NFL otherwise dominated by African-Americans. I think the McNabbs have always seen themselves as cultural warriors, and I think they mostly have fought the good fight.
That doesn’t mean they couldn’t be hard to take at times, such as with the Easter analogy. Sam delivered it to a national reporter Tuesday, after stiff-arming the Philadelphia media at the Redskins’ press conference introducing Donovan.
Covering the team, I didn’t find the McNabbs so overbearing – remember, I covered Eric Lindros’ entire career in Philadelphia, I know from overbearing. But I wish they could have been a little less tightly focused on fighting that cultural war, could have loosened up a little. (The same wish goes for their younger son.) It was frustrating that they weren't a little more discerning about who in the local media tried to be fair, and who just rode the tide of popular opinion. In their eyes, I think we were all the same malevolent, middle-aged white guy, intent on tearing down Donovan. They were not much for nuance. If somebody somewhere at your media outlet wrote or said or drew something they felt was a cheap shot, that was it for you. (In that sense, come to think of it, they WERE like the Lindros family.)
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*Rich Hofmann already wrote this, but I really don’t see why the Eagles are going to be terrible this year, as some folks seem to assume. I don’t think the 2010 Kolb is going to be a huge step down from the 2009 McNabb. If the o-line and defensive secondary come together, I would expect a winning season. Not the Super Bowl, but a winning season. In the NFL, youthful talent might make you erratic, but it shouldn’t make you incompetent.
That same sense of relief I expect to buoy McNabb in Washington will echo here; I think that was really what DeSean Jackson was trying to say the other day. I don’t believe he necessarily wanted Donovan gone, but I know he wanted this uncertain mess to be settled, once and for all. Lots of people did, yours truly included.
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*Maybe next week I can start thinking about the draft again?
"Don't discount Holmgren covering his own behind for getting Delhomme instead of McNabb." - borntosuffer Excellent point.— Falkirk- What were the Eagles supposed to do? McNabb and Kolb each had one year left on their respective contracts. The Eagles had to choose their future and they chose Kolb. It is amazing that they received the 37th pick overall in a supposedly deep draft. Does anyone really think that McNabb is going to lead the Skins to a Super Bowl any time soon? McNabb had a good but not great career. You knew what you had with McNabb; you may have a great QB(or not) with Kolb. Football teams roll the dice with their future all the time; time will tell if this works out. It was time.— syddan26
The author raises the issue of why are there so few successful QB's in the NFL while the other positions are dominated by blacks? According to the McNabbs, the media and some posters here, the underlying reason is racism. They feel the need to go on some sort of cultural crusade. Well, the rest of the world is sick of hearing that, because it is the furthest thing from the real truth. As if teams and fans would discriminate to their own detriment. If that were the case, we would see more white running backs. Is 80% enough? No. Why? Everyone knows why, but it can't be discussed due to fragile psyches and opinions about what is important in this world. But the bottom line is in the meritocracy of pro sports, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.- My take away from this is that you guys can't think of anything else to write about. Why not talk about the upcoming draft and team needs? What does the list of player visits tell us? Why not talk about the uncapped year and the Eagles salary purge? Why not talk about potential trades for Vick? Could he be traded during later rounds of the draft? Why regurgitate the same story that is becoming yesterday's news? I expect more from you guys. I expect only the best.— CouchKing
Comment removed.- Skins were 4-12 last year. Campbell threw at 64% completion rate. They are going to McNabb who throws at a 60% completion rate. They are not adding McNabb and vaulting past the Vikes, Cowboys and SB champ Saints.— CouchKing
- The Eagles' writers should start talking about the draft, because the trades of Brown and McNabb didn't just slash payroll; they added draft picks. Those draft picks are crucial for the Eagles to build a Super Bowl champion. The Eagles and their apologists are having fun at McNabb's expense now, but they must have a good draft, and the long suffering fans should hold them to it. It's time to stop the BS and win a Super Bowl.— 76erfn
- For the larger portion, the Philadelphia fans and media deserve a stiff arm. On the other side, if there is little reason to suspect the Eagles will be terrible this year, then there is little reason to suspect they will be any better than last year. If Kevin Kolb IS a step down, then, with all the other problems this Eagles team has, it isn't going to be pretty--even if not terrible. I would hope that Michael Vick will be gone, just on the gp's.— BEMiller
- Corey301 That's the problem -- the defense won't lay him, or too many other people, out. I don't know what games you've been watching for the last few years, my man, but in the ones I saw DMac was fighting an uphill battle against his own defense time and time again. The NFC Championship game against the Cardinals is case at point. McNabb produced the late game lead. I'll say it again -- McNabb produced the late game lead. All the D had to do was hold for one series, and they couldn't do it. Result -- no Super Bowl. Now tell me, what defensive position did you see McNabb playing during the Cards'game winning drive? Furthermore, tell me exactly what has been done to remedy the defense liabilities between that game and now. I heard a report that even Ashante is talking about good things to come -- I guess he intends to actually tackle somebody this coming year! Listen, the definition of insanity has not changed. Don't think that replacing McNabb with Kolb will yield a different result if the defense can't stop any top-tier opponents and Reid continues refusing to run the ball to secure late game leads. All these fools who are posting predictions of Super Bowl victory are either delusional or on something that if not illegal should be made such immediately.— newview
There is prejudice in this world, from all races towards one another, unfortunately, and we generally know when we see it, no matter how disguised. Donovan's parents are protecting their son, from whatever they percieve a threat real or unreal. All parents are guilty of this, that is human nature. The Eagles have always been a positive, progressive outfit, and starts with the Lurie's. The Eagles always take a chance on becoming a better team. No one person should ever compromise that. I believe Kevin has the right attitude, skills, and persona to be a great QB, but it always is a risk. Most folks here Love Donovan, but understand the whole dynamic of this deal, one year left on 3 QB's, need to have return on investment and Youth vs experience risk. Change is the only constant, impermenance is permanenance, and vice versa.- "I think the McNabbs have always seen themselves as cultural warriors..." Even as a less-than-middle-aged white guy, I would seriously love to see the McNabb cultural warriors use this opportunity to shine a light on the "Redskins" name. As another poster said, it's the same as playing for the Washington Darkskins. How is this not mentioned by the media more? Also, sign me up for Backup Garcia.— Pseudochamp
- Kolb is an ideal QB for the West Coast Offense, because he is an ACCURATE passer and makes quick decisions--unlike Donovan, whose expertise seemed to be throwing ground balls to receivers 6 yards away, and holding onto the ball too long (except for his unforced fumbles). Reid may annoy a lot of people, but he is no dummy, and I expect McNabb will miss the Eagles a lot more than they will miss him, and I predict 2 wins over Washington each year that 5 is their QB.— gilbi
- The #1 scapegoat is gone. Who will clowns like Angelo Cataldi and Rhea Hughes blame now?— billym
- Nice summary. McNabb needed a change of scenery. Eagles were not going anywhere with McNabb's leadership in a pass-happy offense. Eagles need to jettison Vick immediately. Amazing how the FO has over-valued its quarterbacks. Eagles settled for much less for McNabb than they expected. It will be likewise for Vick. Glad to see Eagles moving-on.— Smashmouth
- a stroke of genius by AR and company by moving McNabb---timing just right(the masters, start of MLB, final 4 after the annoucement)QUESTION-what do Tiger and McNabb have in common ??answer at end. The genius of the trade just insures the eagles with 2 division wins against the McNabb QB'd skins. Probably the reason "CAMP BRUNO"(food, drink, fun / games, & hiding the salamie) was cancelled in arizona this year because Shanahan will not put up with the antics of a BOZO! Eagles hopefully will finish the great cleanout by dumping KILLER and getting Garcia back to backup. ANSWER: both are known for low balls.— jwatson
