McNabb benched; Eagles trade implications
The Redskins are going with Rex Grossman instead of Donovan McNabb this weekend. Here's my take on the move and a look at Eagles trade implications.
McNabb benched; Eagles trade implications
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
At just about this time last year, Donovan McNabb was coming off one of his better games of the 2009 season.
He completed 17 of 26 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns, helping lead the Eagles to a 45-38 win over the Giants in Week 14.
It looked like the Birds were set up for a deep playoff run. They had won four in a row and would go on to extend that streak to six.
But after two losses to the Cowboys, an offseason trade and an extremely bizarre 13-game stretch in 2010, McNabb is out of a starting job. Not only that, but he's being replaced by Rex Grossman.
The news was broken today by Kelli Johnson of Comcast SportsNet and later confirmed by Jason La Canfora of NFL Network. Grossman will start for the 'Skins when they take on the Cowboys this weekend. Per La Canfora, the decision has been made by offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, and Redskins players do not agree with it.
McNabb's agent, Fletcher Smith, is none too pleased either.
"I almost don't even know where to begin, but it really started with Detroit and it was just wrong the way Donovan was treated," Smith told Jason Reid of The Washington Post. "Just the way Mike handled the whole situation in Detroit, and in almost every instance since that time, and this is, I guess, the culmination of that. I think it's ... again, it's beyond disrespectful."
As I mentioned yesterday, if the Eagles lose to the Giants this week, they'll be rooting hard for the Redskins to beat New York in Week 17. That game could potentially decide the NFC East.
There's another Eagles angle to visit also. When the trade was made in the spring, there were provisions in place to determine what pick the Birds would receive this year from Washington.
It would be a third-rounder if one of two things happened:
1. McNabb was selected to the Pro Bowl.
2. The Redskins won nine games, and McNabb played at least 70 percent of the snaps.
Neither of those two things are happening. The Redskins lost their eighth game of the season last week. And McNabb's not going to be on the Pro Bowl roster.
So the Eagles will instead receive a fourth-round pick.
His future is as uncertain as ever. Despite the contract extension awarded to him last month, McNabb could still be released after the season, and the Redskins would only be on the hook for $3.5M.
"What does the future hold? Well, without talking to him, I can't answer that question at this time," Smith told Reid. "Obviously, we're going to have to sit down and digest the season at season's end. And we will, in due time, come to a decision.
"But at the end of the day, he has to live there [in Washington], he has to play there. And the decision, at the end of the day, is ultimately his. I can't answer that question on his behalf. But from my standpoint, I'm certainly not happy with what has transpired. If that is his decision, we're absolutely not happy with Mike's treatment or handling of Donovan. In this situation and in a lot of situations this season."
The other aspect to look at here is the coaching staff. Has Mike Shanahan showed a single sign in D.C. that he's got the Redskins going in the right direction? I haven't seen one. That franchise is as dysfunctional as ever.
Of course, Shanahan was signed to a five-year deal last year, worth approximately $7M per season. So the Redskins are far more likely to cut ties with McNabb and give Shanahan another chance to right the ship.
But let's not forget, the Redskins acquired McNabb after Shanahan was the coach. So I'm not sure how he gets away with assuming anything but full responsibility for this mess.
Update: Shanahan told reporters that McNabb would not even be the backup this week. That would be John Beck. McNabb will be the third-stringer. In addition, Shanahan said he could not guarantee that McNabb would be back with the team in 2011.
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Can't we bombard the Pro Bowl voting and get Mc5 selected as an alternate and then hopefully all the real QB's will pull out like usual.— DennyP
So what round pick do we get?— Matt Sherlock- 4th as it stands now. 3rd if McNabb goes to Probowl as the 9 wins are out — crohnkiller
- 4th as it stands now. 3rd if McNabb goes to Probowl as the 9 wins are out — crohnkiller
- Sherlock, go back and read the article and answer your own question. — hulk0455
- Just so we are clear, we received Washington's second round pick last year (which is Nate Allen) PLUS we will get a fourth rounder this year. — Champs_2008
- Who cares - McChoke is gone. — Liberty4All
- I gotta say, more than anything this reflects on Shanahan. he just doesn't seem to have any idea what he's doing.— lefty1117
- CLOWN SHOW IN DC— RoastedBird
Feel bad for 5 but he's not the same QB anymore.
Hey, I like the new pop-up at the bottom of Philly.com! It goes well with the auto play commercials. Can't wait to see how much cr@p Philly.com can jam onto one page.— Richard Saunders- I got rejected twice for agreeing with you in my own response, so if I don't mention certain phrases that the police obviously don't like, maybe this will go thru. Plain and simple, I agree with your second comment.
- Such a shame what has become of Mac5. He truely was a good guy. Not a great leader of men, but he was a good guy. If only he would've understood what Mike Vick understands today, and that's that, for all the great athletic ability you have, it's only here for a short time so you have to put in all the work that it takes to be great. Mac5 never truely put in the work.— papabear702
He may be arrogant, annoying and uncommunicative, but year in and year out Reid makes way more good decisions than bad. One more example of dumping a very good player just past his prime, and actually getting something in return. I am 99% certain that had Kolb played all year, he'd have outplayed #5. I am 100% certain that Vick has been an off-the-charts improvement...- Mac5 always did what worked for him since he was a child. After all, it got him to be a #2 draft pick in the NFL, and to multiple NFC championship games and 1 misrible Super Bowl. If he ever would have put in the work and effort Mike Vick is putting in now, the Eagles would've never traded him and would have a Super Bowl ring to show for it. He was, is, and will forever be a lazy superstar to me. All the talent in the world but a mental midget. Too many times in his career Mac5 has made the same mistakes only to repeat them over, and over and over and over and over again. And over and over....— papabear702
McNabb isn't the same QB he was even two years ago, but you have to feel bad for him considering the situation he got put into -- terrible owner, confused coach, dysfunctional locker room and no receivers to speak of. Reid really screwed 5, whether he meant to or not.— jpk
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