TRUSTS CHOOCH IN A PINCH
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.
