Behind the McNabb trade
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Behind the McNabb trade
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
When Kevin Kolb meets with reporters today at 12:30 p.m. it will essentially be his introduction as the Eagles' new starting quarterback and it will unofficially signal the end of one era and the beginning of another.
But Donovan McNabb's departure from Philadelphia and how it came to be will be discussed for days, weeks and maybe ever longer than that. So let's look behind the scenes. Here are the essentials:
-- Washington was one of at least a "dozen teams" to have inquired about McNabb since the end of season, according to a league source.
-- The Redskins didn't think they could get the deal done initially and didn't even know if they wanted McNabb or wanted to draft a quarterback instead, per the source. New coach Mike Shanahan had made it clear at the NFL owners' meetings, however, that he wanted to upgrade at quarterback. He had given no indication, however, that he was interested in McNabb.
-- The Raiders had indeed become the front-runners last week, but McNabb, through his agent Fletcher Smith, had made it LOUD and CLEAR that he did not want to play for Oakland. According to a league source, one faction of the Eagles brain trust did not think that McNabb should ultimately dictate where he would go. Another faction was willing to consider McNabb's feelings and that's how they arrived at Washington.
-- The Redskins jumped back into the picture in the middle of last week. McNabb's camp was involved almost from the beginning. There were still other teams involved, at this point, in talks with the Eagles, but Washington moved to the forefront on Saturday. When the Redskins threw in the 2011 conditional fourth round pick on Sunday, the deal was clinched.
-- Eagles coach Andy Reid was in constant communication with Smith. If McNabb had his choice, he preferred to go to Minnesota or Arizona, according to a source close to the quarterback. But he was intrigued by the idea of playing for Shanahan, a two-time Super Bowl champion coach, who had become John Elway's coach when the quarterback was 34 and helped guide him to his first title after 14 seasons without one in Denver. McNabb is 33 and had played 11 seasons in Philadelphia.
-- McNabb's camp thought that there was still a chance that the Eagles would not trade their franchise quarterback. But when the Eagles let it be known that Michael Vick was returning and when they traded cornerback Sheldon Brown on Friday, they felt the writing was on the wall.
-- McNabb, according to those close to him, did not ultimately care that he netted the Eagles relatively little in return.
-- When asked if the Redskins' offer was the best he had received, Reid said this morning on ESPN's Mike and Mike that it was the best for all parties. As usual, he tiptoed around a straight answer.
Talk about short sighted institutional insecurity. Are the Eagles so insecure and attention starved that they would really trade the 2nd best quarterback in there history on the Phillies opening day just to grab the headlines. It sure seems so.— lostInPhilly- I can certainly appreciate what Mcnabb has done for this organization over his career, but if you look at the moves (read: departures) they've made beginning last offseason, this is right in line. The youth movement will be complete after the draft.This team is basically built for 2011 and beyond
- Little? The equivalent to a first rounder (25-30 pick according to Rich Hoffman's) charts is not little. They probably couldn't have done much better.
- Dear Donovan McNabb http://eviltrancetwins.com/— eviltrancetwins
Sad to see him go but I'm still rooting for the Eagles. lonewolf is a hypocritical piece of cheese, tho— Mabus- WHO CARES?? LET'S GO PHILLIES!!! LET'S GO PHILLIES!!— cadilacjack
Comment removed.- It's both oddly admirable and pathetic that they allowed McNabb's feelings and well being dictate who they would trade him to. This move paired with the Vick rehabilitation pretty much destroys the notion that Eagles' ownership is in it only for the money. Sadly though, for the average fan, they seem more interested in making a social justice impression in the community than in winning a Super Bowl. I am Oppressed.— Oppressed & Targetted
It is absolutely foolish to believe that the Eagles did this to steal headlines from the Phillies.- Wayyyy under the cap last year, now even further under the cap. Lurie will probably use the money he is saving to give Joe Banner a raise. This team is run to make money not win. They only win enough games to keeps fans in the seats, that is all they care about— jayw66
- I wish D-Mac well. He was a class act while he was in Philly. However, his skills have gone seriously downhill. This is evidenced by the fact that only ONE team was willing to swap a 2nd round pick for him. Imagine: with all the teams in this league that need help at QB, only one was willing to pay for McNabb. Personally, I feel the Birds have a shot at the playoffs and possibly more in 2010; just imagine what this offense can accomplish when half its passes are NOT thrown in the dirt!— lifeguard
- Cadilacjack - obviously a lot of people care. Don't turn this into a Phillies/Eagles thing either. Despite what goes in and out of your head, people ARE allowed to like a baseball team AND a football team. They ARE allowed to cheer for both teams too. I know, weird thought isn't it?— EaglesBleedMoney
- I would be interested to see where the Eagles payroll stands right now.......seems like they have shed a LOT of $$ for 2010. Is Laurie going cheap until the labor agreement get cleared up??? I am worried.— beefbr
- Hey Jay...where ya been Banner got his rasie and extension last week!!— SkipinWV
- EaglesBleedMoney--I get it you like both sports...good for you...alot of us do. McNabb's soap opera was a tired story. But all the talk about McNabb can now end. He didn't pass away...infact we will see him twice a year. Now LET'S GO PHILLIES!— cadilacjack
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- Okay, people are upset about the trade. I like McNabb. He was classy about Philly. It's an emotional city which has a history of trashing the players on its teams--only to later be filled with regret. Much of this is tied to years of losing. McNabb understands and he dealt with it in stride. Eagles understand and they dealt with it too. But the writing was on the wall--the Cowboys manhandled them three straight times. The Giants and Cowboys were physically superior teams. New philosophy is bigger=better--allows you to dominate and control the ball. Eagles were playing finesse ball in West Coast offense--49ers and Packers style. It wasn't going to hold up in the NFC East much longer. PLUS, McNabb had one more year under contract--so the questions begin--do you commit to the old approach which has not netted the results you wanted, and hope for the best, or do you adapt, and admit that it's time to shift gears and change your approach? I applaud the Eagles. It's a gutsy move, but it was the best thing to do for them and McNabb. He stays on a quality team with a good coach and they get picks which allow them to focus on development.— pillsbury
- This trade got Momma McNabb's fingerprints all over it.— docboy
- I hope they lose every game! GO SKINS!!!— mallen4562
- wolf - that dom probably does taste good...it's been on ice for a looong time— greaser0305
I personally don't understand the decision to trade McNabb and all the fans crying for him to go. He was a consistently great QB. Brett Farve won only 1 super bowl and it took him a while to get there. He has been with the Green Bay Packers for 17 years and has had his ups and downs but they consistently were behind him (and I think he is pretentious as they come, the old hound dog). My family lives in the Philly area and I live near DC and everyone here is still confused on McNabb's trade to the Redskins but the city is extremely happy.— racers7- I wish #5 the best...and I love how the Eagles are stockpiling draft picks.— larry and stan
- Eagles are a 6 and 10 team, with at least one loss at the hands of Washington. Good luck Kolb. maybe they will get you a complete team at the same time. Maybe they will actually build a complete team to help you. Maybe they will start making actual GOOD game day decisions and not bhe so predictable. Nahhhhhh. It is the Eagles under Reid, so more of the same. Predictions: Under .500 team next year and Reid will get a pass while they finish 3rd or 4th in the East. Lets go Phillies.— SlinkTMP
- I love McNabb but I am glad this story is finally over. He only had a year left on his contract and it is clear the management was ready for Kolb. I would have rather have gotten Landry or another defensive back but at least they got something. The two picks equate to a late first rounder. Question I have to ask, who will the 5 haters blame now?— pking222
- Finally!!! Eagles should have found a way to get rid of this player years ago. Maybe he won't vomit if he ever gets in another Super Bowl.— jraines
- Here we go lonewolf strutting around like a peacock,drinking champagne,they did my baby wrong,I know he wasn't that accurate but he was a clutch player and a leader,he was a probowl alternate 5 times!,they did my baby wrong.BM5.— bigmama5
- totally agree with Pablo. For this to be an act to steal some of the Phil's thunder is just dumb. there is a little thing a few weeks away - the NFL draft - that they can now fully prepare for with the QB situation all but resolved. (still need a third stringer).— Lunchboy
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Good trade, but what a kick in the nads if he wins it all with the Skins...- kolb kolb, he's my man if he can't do it.....well..he ..is..my man.— Lonewolf10
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- I hope I am WRONG about our Iggles this year. I do not see them fixing the many, varied and serious problems we have on defense as well as the serious problem on the right side of the O-Line. Therefore Andy MUST get at LEAST two defensive starters and find a guy to hold the fort at Center until Jamaal can make it back from rehabbing that terrible knee injury he suffered late last year. We might be competitive, but we will still be one starter and one, possibly two, front seven rotational players away from a fairly decent (slightly above NFL average across-the-board)playoff-game-winning type Defense. Perhaps KK will use the year to find out what kind of guy he will be when the major problems on defense have been addressed and 2011 rolls in.— TBear
- To all you McNabb haters, remember Washington has better rbs than the Eagles and has a coach who actually runs the ball. Plus, Washington's defense is way better. The Eagle defense has more holes than a Swiss cheese factory especially with the Brown trade. He was the only one in the secondary who could actually make a tackle. Draft choices, no matter how many or how good are not going to make an immediate impact. The Eagles are obviously rebuilding, otherwise they would be spending money in an uncapped year rather than saving money. With their brutal schedule and porous defense, the best record they can possibly have is 8-8, regardless of how Kobb performs.— richd618
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- Lifeguard---His has nothing to do with his skills, how about you think about how much he is owed in is final year,($14 million) along with him becoming a FA...If he is not going to sign an extension, why would you waste a 1st round pick on him for one year you moron. If you go back and look at his stats, you will notice his talent is not declining...— phigglesfan75
