McNabb deal is OK with Phillies, Nationals fans

WASHINGTON - Packed with an even number of fans in Phillies hats and those in Nationals apparel, the elevator to the luxury suites at Nationals Park was in full agreement.

"Great trade," said Ken Miller, wearing a Phillies cap.

"Great trade," agreed John Welch, a Nationals fan - at least for the day.

Most of the other days Welch follows the Washington Redskins, who have been active this offseason, even before the big Easter Sunday trade that sent Donovan McNabb down to D.C. They hired Mike Shanahan to coach. To either complement or challenge Clinton Portis, they signed veteran running backs Larry Johnson and Willie Parker.

And they added a couple of quarterbacks, Rex Grossman and Donovan McNabb. Two quarterbacks who left their original teams amid debates about their real worth.

"You guys don't know what a bad quarterback is," said Peter Bealings, a Redskins fan sitting out in the piazza during yesterday's Phillies victory.

And that, folks, is how the people in the elevator reached such a consensus. The Philadelphia fans were happy the offseason chapter was closed. And Washington fans? Watching Jason Campbell during the Redskins' last few seasons, watching him run for his life because of a porously poor offensive line . . . well, watching Nationals pitching is less painful.

McNabb's new situation is opposite of what Kevin Kolb's new situation will be. Because he came at little apparent cost, because those playing his position before him struggled so mightily, anything he does better will be appreciated.

But there was also a little buyer-beware sentiment in Nationals Park yesterday. Maybe he's hurt, opined a cluster of people at the Red Porch Restaurant in left-centerfield.

"We really don't really know what we're getting," said Steve Albanese.

And for those who believe in conspiracy theories, there was a corollary one here. The Redskins made this trade when they did to step all over the Nationals home opener - even though fans of the visiting team might have outnumbered fans of the home team.

Consider this: The Nationals' home opener featured a president throwing out the first pitch in a White Sox hat - and a bleacher filled with Phillies fans heckling someone in a Yankees hat.

What about the players? Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins gave perfunctory answers or none at all when asked about the trade.

"I wish him the best of luck," Howard said.

"I like McNabb," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said in the dugout before the game. "I thought he was a real go-getter. Liked him a lot."

He was asked whether he disapproved of the trade.

"I didn't say that," Manuel said. "I'll let them run their team."