Yesterday it was reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN that the Philadelphia Eagles had traded quarterback Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins in exchange for a number of draft picks including a 2nd rounder this year (37th overall) and either a 2nd or 3rd rounder in 2011.
I was truly shocked at the announcement. I knew that there had been tonnes of rumors going around that McNabb would be traded but I didn't think it would actually happen, especially to a team in the same division.
Then again this is something that Philly fans had wanted to see for a long time as every year fans would clamor for McNabb to be traded. It seemed no matter what he did McNabb could never win over the fans who Philly. Even though he took them to the NFC Championship 5 (which is an Eagles record) times and the SuperBowl once it always seemed like it was never enough.
McNabb leaves the Eagles as the franchises all-time leader in attempts (4,303), completions (2,534), yards (29,320), and touchdowns (203). He was a Pro Bowler 6 times and is one of the best passers/rushers of all-time. I think Eagles fans are going to quickly regret running mcNabb out of town.
Here are a couple of facts about McNabb I am sure most fans don't know:
- Least-intercepted quarterback per pass attempt of all time, (4588 attempts-96 interceptions, 2.09%
- Second-best touchdown-to-interception ratio of all time, (209-96, 2.18) behind Tom Brady (217-92, 2.36)
- First NFL Quarterback ever to throw for more than 30 touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions (2004)
- One of six quarterbacks of all time to have over 25,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards (alongside Randall Cunningham, Steve Young, Fran Tarkenton, Steve McNair, and John Elway)
- Currently the third-highest winning percentage among active quarterbacks (83-45-1, .647) behind Peyton Manning (119-59-0, .669) and Tom Brady (88-25-0, .779)
And now McNabb is a Redskin. He more than likely won't be able to repeat the success he had in Philly due to his age (33) and the loss of all his offensive weapons: Brian Westbrook, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Brent Celek. He now goes to a team that boasts Santana Moss as its best receiver. A significant downgrade no matter how you look at it.
As for the Eagles they have handed over the offense to Kevin Kolb. Kolb is 25 and is entering his 4th season in the NFL. He was drafted 36th overall in the 2007 draft out of Houston and has never really shown any promise in the NFL. Since being drafted he has thrown 130 passes in 3 seasons. He has 4 TDs to 7 INTs and has done a better job carrying a clipboard than he has done throwing a football. Yet here he is in charge of one of the best offenses in football.
Needless to say I don't understand this decision at all.
Yes McNabb is getting older but he is still better than Kolb. Maybe Kolb has shown some promise in practice but that isn't a real game situation. The only saving grace here is that the Eagles still have Michael Vick under contract so if Kolb fails miserably, which I think he will do, then Vick can step in and save the day.
Back to the Reskins. This move makes even less sense for them as it does for the Eagles. You have a new coach and a new GM and your first major move is to bring in an aging quarterback that will have no weapons to work with? The Redskins also only have 1 draft pick in the top 100 now (#4 overall) and lots of holes that need to be filled. I think Jason Campbell is an underrated quarterback and they would have been fine with him under center for another year or two while they groomed his replacement.
I am not a fan of this deal at all. The Redskins are trying to build a team to compete right away instead of building for the future while the Eagles jettisoned the best quarterback in franchise history so Kevin Kolb could become the starter. Tell me how this is a smart trade for either party.
Random YouTube Video
No comments:
Post a Comment