The Washington Redskins traded for former Philadelphia Eagle Pro Bowl QB Donovan McNabb Sunday night. The Redskins reportedly gave up the 37th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and a conditional third or fourth rounder in 2011 to acquire McNabb.The deal makes sense for both teams from strictly a personnel standpoint. Washington was in desperate need of an established NFL quarterback and, in Donovan McNabb, they now get an 11-year veteran who has led his teams to five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. The Eagles, on the other hand, have a young potential star QB in Kevin Kolb and were looking to stock their cupboard with draft picks for the future while clearing out a spot for Kolb to start. Mission accomplished on both ends.
One thing strikes me as odd about the trade, however. Philadelphia was reportedly receiving offers from several teams around the league, including the Oakland Raiders, but chose instead to ship McNabb to a team within their own division. Trades such as this are not unprecedented, but they are uncommon. Being divisional rivals means the Eagles will square off against McNabb and the Redskins at least two times a year now and one has to believe that these games will paramount to the new Washington signal-caller.
The obvious logic behind the move is that Philadelphia and head coach Andy Reid feel that they are a better team with Kevin Kolb at quarterback and that Donovan McNabb's best days are in the rear view mirror. But that mistake has been made before, and very recently. Two years ago, the Green Bay Packers made room for Aaron Rodgers by dumping Brett Favre and, while Rodgers has been exceptional, the move bit them in the behind in 2009 when Favre led the Minnesota Vikings to two wins over the Pack en route to claiming the NFC North title.
For those of you who say that McNabb is no Favre and won't have success, just take a second and think back to the last time Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan entered a new situation. Shanahan took over a Denver Broncos team in 1995 with an aging QB who had a reputation for never being able to win the "big one". That quarterback's name was John Elway and, within four years, the Elway/Shanahan combination had won two Super Bowls. John Elway retired in 1999 and will always be remembered as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Maybe "Donnie McFootball" is over-the-hill. Maybe the Eagles got a steal in this deal with their division mates. Maybe. But as a devout Washington Redskins fan, I'll take my chances with this move. I believe McNabb makes the Redskins eminently better and will aid in the further development of young receivers Devin Thomas, Fred Davis, and Malcolm Kelly. The McNabb trade also gives the Redskins the ability to go out and choose either the best offensive tackle on the board or Tennessee safety Eric Berry with the #4 overall pick in the NFL Draft on April 22. Add to this scenario the possible addition of a second or third round draft pick for Jason Campbell and this trade becomes an even bigger winner for Washington.
When it's all said and done, Redskins fans everywhere can take solace in knowing that gone are the Zorn/Campbell days. The Shanahan/McNabb era has begun. Hallelujah and welcome to D.C.
