A Moment of Sheer Stupidity

Stupid. Foolish. Arrogant. Shocking. Risky. All of these are adjectives I would use to describe last night's blockbuster trade that sent QB Donovan McNabb from Philadelphia to Washington for two draft picks. We all knew the Eagles were finally dealing McNabb, we just never thought the Eagles would be dumb enough to trade their best player to a division rival, especially a division rival that now has a coach with a reputation for getting seemingly declining QBs over the hump.

As bad as the Redskins' record was last season and as bad as this team looked(especially on offense) last season, most of Washington's woes can be chalked to a myriad of injuries, particularly on the offensive line. They lost Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels to a neck injury that eventually ended his career. They lost high-priced guard Randy Thomas. Every week, it seemed the Redskins lost a crucial piece, from Clinton Portis to Chris Cooley. The Eagles traded McNabb to Washington, thinking this was still the dreadful 4-12 squad from last year. However, a lot has changed since last season ended. Inept head coach Jim Zorn is out, two-time Super Bowl winning head coach Mike Shanahan is in. The team added some depth at RB with declining backs Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. They signed QB Rex Grossman who, like McNabb, has led his team to a Super Bowl, and has experience in the scheme OC Kyle Shanahan is implementing. Now, they have a 6-time Pro Bowl QB in McNabb, who is a significant upgrade over first round bust Jason Campbell. On top of that, the Redskins sit with the 4th pick in this month's draft staring dead at Oklahoma State left tackle Russell Okung, considered by many to be the best offensive tackle prospect in this draft and perhaps the best OL prospect in years.

The McNabb trade(especially if combined with the Okung drafting) causes a huge swing in the NFC East. It gives the Redskins its first proven QB in years. It pairs McNabb, suddenly more motivated after being left for dead by the team he brought to five NFC Championships, with Shanahan(who got John Elway his first ring at 34). Most importantly, it puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Andy Reid, whom some would say is more the reason for the Eagles inability to get over the hump than McNabb ever was, now puts his career in the hands of unproven QB Kevin Kolb. Kolb's career numbers? 4 TDs, 7 INTs, sacked 5 times in 12 games(2 of which he started, which was last season in McNabb's absence). That's hardly a resume that would drive me to trade my aging franchise QB.

When you combine the departure of McNabb with the trade of solid cornerback Sheldon Brown a few days prior as well as the release of Pro Bowl OG Shawn Andrews a few weeks ago, there's a lot to scratch your head about. Why the sudden need to get younger? Many believed the Eagles could compete for a Super Bowl this season with the soon-to-be 34 year old McNabb. Another head scratcher? Why the Eagles not only turned down the possibility of acquiring CB Nnamdi Asomugha(the best at his position in the NFL) in a trade that would have sent McNabb out of the division AND the conference along with CB Asante Samuel but also turned down the Redskins offering Pro Bowl DT Albert Haynesworth for McNabb straight up. Sure, Haynesworth's contract is hefty and it doesn't make the Eagles any younger but it certianly makes them better defensively, as would the Asomugha trade.

Who is sitting at the top of Round 2 in this draft that Eagles felt moving a QB with some juice left in the tank to a division rival was worth the risk? Tim Tebow? Carlos Dunlap? Colt McCoy? Didn't the Eagles watch what happened last year when Brett Favre signed with Vikings and faced the Packers? You don't let a pissed off Pro Bowl QB face you twice a year if you don't have to. That's what the Packers tried to avoid with Favre and it's what the Eagles should have done their damnedest to avoid with McNabb. Now, McNabb sits on a team that could potentially have all its holes filled by September with an owner with an endless bank account to bring in whomever McNabb wants.

Andy Reid claims trading McNabb in the division was to make Donovan happy. You know how you make him happy? YOU DON'T TRADE HIM! McNabb never asked to leave Philadelphia, even while ungrateful Eagles fans spit in his face on a weekly basis. Sportscenter this morning followed the news of the McNabb trade with reaction from Eagles fans, most of which saying good riddance with one fan offering to drive McNabb to the airport and another wondering if this high 2nd round pick means the Eagles can go get Tebow. Tim Tebow? Really, Eagles fans? I know I suggested the Eagles take Tebow a few months ago, but that was based on McNabb being in Philadelphia to mentor him and it was also if he was still there in the third or fourth round. You really want to add a QB with Tebow's mechanical issues to a depth chart that includes Kolb(and his 2 starts) and Mike Vick(who was used primarily as a gimmick last year)? Now, Kolb's lack of experience isn't that much of a red flag. Aaron Rodgers never started a game in the pros before replacing Brett Favre and there was far more pressure on A-Rod than there will be on Kolb. After all, Kolb's replacing a scourge, while Rodgers replaced a legend. Still, the Packers went 6-10 in Rodgers' first year and eventhough Rodgers played admirably, that doesn't show up in the win column. If Kolb goes 6-10 with Philly while McNabb is leading the Redskins to the playoffs, it's going to be a dark day in the City of Brotherly Love.

As heartbreaking at first as this may have been for McNabb, he ends up in a better situation with the ability to not only learn from a potential Hall of Fame coach but gets two opportunities to show Eagles fans what they're missing. You can't script this kind of payback(Well, I guess you can, if you copy last year's Vikings-Packers showdowns). As for the Eagles and Andy Reid, keep in mind that Reid has now traded McNabb to the Redskins just a few short years after trading down with Cowboys to acquire Kolb and allowing Dallas to take promising pass rusher Anthony Spencer. Those are two deals that inevitably haunt this franchise. Hopefully, Eagles fans will have a car big enough to drive Reid to the airport when this latest moment of incompetence blows up in his face.