News that Philadelphia traded its long time franchise QB Donovan McNabb to the rival Redskins sent a shock wave through the NFL last night. Many are now asking how the Eagles could trade him to a team within the division?
But we think the move is both calculated and smart.
Honestly, this was going to be the last year that the Eagles could get anything for the 11- year veteran. After 2010, his contract was up, and Philly, one of the most frugal organizations around, wasn’t going to be ponying up $20M+/year to keep an aging No. 5 around.
They also realized that he was never going to bring a Championship to the City of Brotherly Love.
So they moved him, and will insert Kevin Kolb in as the starter.
Another reason why I don’t think they were afraid to trade him within the division is because they know everything strength and weakness he has, and Sean McDermott will have an excellent game plan ready to stifle No. 5 when the teams face off.
Remember, Andy Reid has built McNabb into the player that he is over his entire NFL career.
Insight and knowledge of that kind can be leveraged to make good players look very ordinary.
At the end of the day, both teams did what they had to do and will be better off because of this gamble.
The Redskins needed to bring in a proven QB and the Eagles needed to unload McNabb while they could still get value for him.
Pro Football 101 » Rams Really Have No Other Choice at No. 1
April 21st, 2010 at 15:04
Return to top
[...] Skins could, as Donovan McNabb is not the long term answer, and by moving down to No. 4, the Rams would probably end up with one of the OTs (Russell Okung or [...]
Pro Football 101 » Teams that helped themselves in the NFL Draft
April 26th, 2010 at 21:01
Return to top
[...] guys who fit their system. They traded up to land DE Brandon Graham and nabbed a Safety with their Donovan McNabb pick in round two. One area where Philly needed help was in the back seven and off the edge and [...]