Eagles block Bradford to Redskins?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles block Bradford to Redskins?
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
It might sound cockamamie to suggest that one of the reasons why the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb to the Redskins was so they wouldn't draft Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. ESPN's Adam Schefter did more than suggest it, he tweeted it (Twitter continues to rule the world).
But I have to say I'm completely on board with this theory. In fact, a team source mentioned last week that it was a motivating factor and I guess I was in too much of a stupor to realize its importance.
Yes, the No. 1 reason why the Eagles dealt with Washington was because it made the best offer. And, yes, that offer -- a second round draft pick and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2011 -- made shipping McNabb within the division that much easier.
But the Eagles also did not want to have to deal with Bradford, a quarterback they rate very high, for the next decade. I know one Eagles coach -- who would know such things -- that had Bradford ranked among the better quarterback prospects over the last decade. There was a reason why offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was at Oklahoma last week to watch Bradford throw during his Senior Day.
The Eagles feared that Redskins coach Mike Shanahan would use his second-round pick to move from the No. 4 overall pick into the Rams' top spot. St. Louis likes Bradford and could very well take him, but the team needs a complete overhaul and it may have been willing to give up the top spot to address a host of other needs.
With the trade, the Eagles not only got rid of a quarterback that became expendable, but they got two draft picks in return and they kept a future All-Pro quarterback out their division for the time being.
Sounds like a win-win-win to me.
Jeffrey Lurie was the man on the grassy knoll.— p-diddy- Regardless of whether this story is actually true, I can see the Eagles front office claiming it if Bradford becomes this year's Flacco or Matt Ryan. However, they still need Kolb to produce in order for it to sound the least bit legitimate.— catnameddomino
- bradford is a stationary qb washington has up to this point a weak pass and run blocking line, even if they did draft bradford he would not last 2 games behind that line. bradford is no guarantee at qb no position is.— only 9
- Anything Schefter writes about the 'Skins comes from Shannahan. The Eagles certainly gave them latitude with the trade -Shannahn wins with older QBs - not rookies.— hlc10
- Jeff,Joe and Andy can not be trusted. If they say something don't beleave it.— I M Jim
- Ok so the Redskins keep the 4th pick and get McNabb and the Eagles have the 24th and 37th pick and outside of Maclin ( jury still out) and Jackson. What stud player have the Eagles drafted in the last 10yrs. Because I don't see no love lost for Tra and Shawn Andrews! Since when does the Eagles get better thru the draft. Every year they luck up on 1 player every draft and the other 6-7 picks get cut within 2 yrs. Bradley+Celek+Maclin+Jackson+McCoy+Kolb =1 pro bowl. Every day the journalists gotta a new spin on why McNabb was traded but it's all out of fear of failure and looking stupid. They ran him out of town plain and simple!So anything less than a Superbowl (win) get rid of all those bums since they can't win the big one!— Birdman411
- I meant to say in the first two rounds. Westbrook's my man— Birdman411
Comment removed.- Yeah just like of all those homegrown players the Saints had -Brees, Shockey,Sharper, Vilma, etc. Yeah they were young— Birdman411
- Makes sense to me that this was one of the reasons. The author did say it wasn't the most important reason but just one of them. When you make such a big trade I'm sure there's lots of ideas that float around in your head. You know... you weight all of the positives and negatives before making the final decision. And from the Redskin's perspective, as other posters have suggested, they went with the proven commodity.— regulus6633
Yeah, and maybe, just maybe, McNabb blocked all of his other trades in an effort to help the Eagles out with this...yeah, that's it, get on board with that...check out twitter, the source of all truth.- You guys should really read the articles before you start acting like you know anything. McLane was only reporting what he had heard. I heard the same thing reported on ESPN and McLane was not the source. Nobody said it was the main or primary reason. I live in Redskin country and the interest in Bradford was REAL. You guys that start spouting off without a clue are amazing in your ignorance.— BillinVA
- At best the skins not getting Bradford is a inadvertent by product of the trade— BBAX
- BillinVA, you are talking about yourself. "But I have to say I'm completely on board with this theory."
- "...a future All-Pro quarterback..." Famous last words. How many that fit that billing are now in the trash heap and out of the league?— Beechdancer
