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.
You can follow Moving the Chains on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Get it here.
- McChoke & Rush both stink!
— Liberty4All - @will69,you and ppaizza are still playing the racecard game for McFraud,you attack phillyguyinva and adnantax for telling the truth,i'm not a racist i'm a native american we are the most discrimanated people in the country..McFraud is the racist with his PR team wilbon-irvin-smith-fletcher-mitchell-reese-douglas-ppizza-cyo etc etc when ever McFraud fails they throw out the race card flag,the bottom line is McFraud is finished as B HOPKINS said 'he has no heart'is BHOP racist???...wolf.— wolf 4
- Although he cant hit a runner in stride, you gotta give him props for being really good at turning benchings into multi million dollar payouts.
- mcnabb is probably a better qb than he looks in washington (though still definitely past his prime). does anyone think the result will be better with grossman behind the non-existent o line?— dreinterests
- Wolf- I see you are still up to your closet racist comments! Why not? A jerk will always be a jerk! Too bad for McNabb!— madaboutit
wolf 4 -- you are NOT an eagles fan you idiot. you will always be ex eagle wolf. remember calling vick convick and saying you are no longer an eagles' fan because they benched kolb? you fake a** fan, beat it. and stop calling me an mcnabb "apologist" because i was happy that he was traded, moron!- Ya know, I was, and still am a Mc5 supporter. Doesn't mean I wasn't cussing up a storm when our defense let him beat us here at home! (Think where we'd be if THAT one had been a win!) So I'm not gonna cry for the guy at all. When he left here that afternoon, I just KNEW how smug-faced he looked, how much he wanted to gloat! (Trade ME willya! Showed YOU punkasses what-for didn't I!!) No, I'm not gonna bleed for a guy that made about 125 million in salary while here, and lots more since, and will so in the future....somewhere. And I am certain that if there had been NO change at QB, we would be about 6-7, 5-8 right now. The fact that we sit here at 9-4 with the defense the worst it's been in a decade, the right side of the O-line positively disgraceful, and Special Teams players not knowing the freaking RULES......is just astounding! True the D has manned up on a couple of occasions, but the losses to the Titans and the damn Redskins still make me puke. This might be Andy's BEST coaching job since he got here. With all that is WRONG with this team, the fact is only a very few things are RIGHT! We have strength, versatility, CAPABILITY, and dependability in our "skill" players, not the least of which is V-7. I just hope we beat the Giants and have the Division won after a win against the Vikings. That would make the Cowpatties game meaningless (unless somehow a win would get us a bye) and we could rest some folks, maybe rest Vick so he could be healthy for the first playoff game. FLY IGGLES FLY!!!— TBear
The Redskins learned in 6 mths what the Eagles took 10 years to learn!— bill19666- Shanahan in Washington is exactly what the Eagles need to ensure domination of the NFC East.... one less team to be concerned about challenging for Philly's position on top of the division...... give Shanahan a budweiser and a contract extension...... Maybe it wasn't Haynesworth after all.
— Dexter - I can't wait to see that idiot Wilbon on "PTI" tonight have a stroke on the air over this.
- where are all the McNabb lovers? You know, the ones screaming that the Skins would win the East? I guess it Shanahan's fault that Mcnabb sucked all year - just like it was Andy's fault McNabb crapped the bed in the final 2 games against the Cowboys last year ????— jhjack
- I always been a mcnabb supporter..because he wore the eagle green..he went to another team well hes the enemy now..i will say this one move describes this move by shannahan...classless...but i could careless cause he is no longer a eagle..as far as the race comments on here..u idiots rooting for the wrong color, it should be GREEN! GO EAGLES!!— bigjay215
- Andy Reid is a great coach and a pretty good talent evaluator. Contrary to McNabb, the Eagles and Andy Reid has always had his back. I guess he knows that now.— K.D.
- Reid is an arrogant b-----d but his move was brilliant. He strengthened the team and seriously damaged a division opponent in one trade. Too bad it couldn't have happened a lot sooner.— Bob1
- Let the McNabb apologists start spinning this story into his favor. I'll get you started..... No weapons, the dog ate his playbook, the coaches did not put him in a position to win...... AND GO!
PS: I guess Andy Reid was a genius to get make such a marginal talent look like a Hall of Famer (except in big games) ;)— lostInPhilly
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
