McNabb wants to stay
ORLANDO -- Andy Reid made public today what has been presumed for the last few months: That Donovan McNabb is on the market.
McNabb wants to stay
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
ORLANDO -- Andy Reid made public today what has been presumed for the last few months: That Donovan McNabb is on the market.
But the Eagles head coach has not told his quarterback about the public shift and he hasn't spoken to his first ever draft pick in months, according to sources close to the situation.
McNabb, however, still wants to play for the Eagles and still wants to retire an Eagle. He said as much in his last public comments in January after the Eagles lost to Dallas in the first round of the playoffs and posted something today on his Web site.
"I was asked to respond to statements made at the NFL owners meetings that the Eagles would entertain offers to trade any of their three QBs," McNabb wrote. "Here is my response: My position hasn't changed. I've said all along that I would like to win a Super Bowl and finish my career in Philadelphia.
I understand the situation well and just hope whichever direction the Eagles decide to go in, they do it quickly. I think that would be best for me, Kevin [Kolb], Michael [Vick], the Eagles, and any other teams involved. No matter what happens, I've already begun preparing to have an outstanding season in 2010."
The 33-year-old McNabb has spent most of the off-season at his home in Arizona.
The Eagles are reportedly in search of a second-round draft pick for McNabb, but they may have to take something less with the list of potential suitors drying up. Early in the off-season they set the bar high. They were asking for two first-round draft picks and a third-round draft pick, according to a league source.
Oakland and Buffalo, two teams in need of a spark, could be two of the more likely matches. While it is unlikely that McNabb would want to go to the moribund franchises, he may have no choice. The Raiders and Bills could be willing to sign McNabb, who is the last year of his contract, without asking for an extension. If they wanted an extension, McNabb could simply refuse to negotiate.
Reid said today that the Eagles are entertaining offers for all three of their quarterbacks, not just McNabb. It is unlikely that the Eagles would get much in return for Michael Vick. The asking price for Kevin Kolb is higher than it is for McNabb, a league source said.
Reid said that the team has placed a value on the three quarterback and what it would take to trade each one.
"Yeah, we have an idea," he said.
Reid was one of 16 NFC head coaches to have breakfast with reporters today at the NFL owners' meetings. He reiterate that McNabb was his starter, Kolb was his backup and Vick was his third stringer. But that could change in the near future with the Eagles listening to offers. He was asked if some of the offers piqued the team's interest.
"We’ll go back and look through those and think through them a little bit, away from this situation here," Reid said. "There’s nothing right now that I’d jump up and down about. But there has been some interest."
Reid was asked if "entertaining offers" meant that all three quarterbacks were on the market.
"I wouldn’t say they’re on the market," he said. "I’d say I’m listening. I’m not saying I’m doing anything. I’m keeping my ears open, which we do on every player. This is no different."
Reid was then asked if saying that he was entertaining offers was different from his stance after the season when he said McNabb was his starting quarterback.
"I can say it again: Donovan is our No. 1 quarterback and Kevin is our No. 2 quarterback and Michael is our No. 3 quarterback," Reid said. "That’s how I feel."
So did that mean he could definitively say that McNabb would not be traded?
"Donovan is our starter, our starting quarterback," Reid answered.
Here are some other highlights from an hour-long interview session with Reid:
-- Reid said that there have been offers for Sheldon Brown. The disgruntled cornerback said last April that he wanted a new contract. Brown went on to have one of his better seasons and eventually reached the Pro Bowl.
-- He said that defensive end Victor Abiamiri had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
-- He said that center Jamaal Jackson, who tore his ACL in the second-to-last game of the season, would miss most of training camp. He wasn't sure if that meant that Jackson would not be back in time for the season opener.
-- He said that he did not see the Eagles retaining linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, who is an unrestricted free agent.
Poll: One must go
flavious: really? mcnabb is not cunnigham? you right mcnabbs numbers this year were better then any year of cunninghams career including the year he won mvp... sometimes i wonder if you people are just looking for an argument.— bleed green forever- McNabb for just the 33rd pick isn't enough, especially if he signs an extension with the Rams. If it's going to happen, that is what is going on right now behind the scenes, Birds and Rams brass along with 5's agent are blowing up the phones and fax machines. If we are going to trade McNabb, package him with Patterson for the 1st rd, 3rd/4th rd pick and go after Suh. Tpizza and Reddgie would have to agree there, you end up paying big money for Suh, but he improves your interior D a lot and Bunkley will be better next to better talent.— Bleue
- McLane took my scoop and ran with it; now he has a new story about it;gotta go to that.— watsonmr
- I agree with a few of the earlier comments, a large portion but not all has to do with race. It is so obvious to see that i don't think it can be denied. I don't think you could find a black male eagles fan in the tri state that would not agree that some, not all but some of the harsh critisisms he has received over the years is nothing more than repackaged rascim presented to appear otherwise. From a football point of view this is probaley the last and best chance to trade d-mac and get value in return, I think if he stays this year your are saying Kolb won't be the guy and d-mac is here for next 3-4 years and another young different young quaterback will be groomed for the future. So for in a football sense it make sense, but as far as the tone of the fans i think you have to say large portion of them have questionable motives at best.— phillynation80
- What are you McSlob apologists going to say now? WHAT? Why not move to whereever McSlab goes. If its not St Louis, it may very well be Arizona! But he's DEFINITELY going somewhere before the season starts! HA HA! Boo hoo......where's "Donovanisthefastesttoleave" now? Where are the "be careful what you wish for" punks now?? HA HA!
- I'd rather have dead worms than interceptions all while making it to the playoffs you f**king idiots.— dr.elektrika
- "I've already begun preparing to have an outstanding season in 2010." Recall that by McNabb's standards that means losing to every playoff team you faced + Oakland while averaging 12 points per game.— jtj10
