Vick’s ascendency may render McNabb’s legacy obsolete
by Liam Blackburn
October 2nd 2010
 
Donovan McNabb’s intra-divisional switch this off-season was described by the man himself as “a new chapter in the book of Donovan”. But this weekend everyone will turn back a few pages and reflect on his time in Philadelphia as Number 5 returns to his old stomping ground.
 
In 11 years, McNabb took the Eagles to five NFC Championship games but only one Super Bowl. There are those who view him as a very good quarterback who wasn’t quite able to take his team all the way and there are those who believe he chokes on the grandest stages. The notoriously fickle Eagles fans slide up and down that spectrum but most were happy to see McNabb’s understudy Kevin Kolb take the baton.
 
McNabb’s trade to the Redskins was furiously scrutinised but its ramifications were always like to come to a head in this match-up in week three. Could Kolb outshine McNabb? Would the Eagles outwit a man they became so familiar with?
 
But now the parameters have shifted. Kolb is back on the bench with little evidence that he is, in fact, the next Aaron Rodgers. The reasoning behind the trade appears to have been abolished. And it is Michael Vick who has changed the whole landscape.
 
McNabb has spoken this week about his return and how he would dearly love some cheers and a rapturous welcome. But the response was always going to hinge on the Eagles’ current situation. Had they stumbled into this fixture 0-3 with Kolb stuttering, a disgruntled crowd may have rolled out the red carpet and erected a bronze statue for McNabb, after all you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone. As it is, the Eagles are 2-1 and under Vick, they’re effectively 3-0. The memories of McNabb have been banished and the Vick era is well and truly up and running. History can fade if the present looks all the brighter and coming into this fixture, that’s exactly how many Eagles fans will view the situation.
 
But for McNabb, Sunday represents a shot at redemption, a chance to prove he is still equipped to beat the best. His confidence and humour likely shielded him from the cold shoulder he received from Andy Reid and the rest of the organisation, but inside there has to be a fire burning. Trading McNabb for financial reasons or because you have faith in Kolb is one thing, but trading him within the division sounds more like a snubbing. Now, Kolb has resumed his role of back-up behind the one quarterback the Eagles wanted to trade the most. McNabb is not the type of man to get incensed but this fixture has added edge. The press conferences will be full of praise and appreciation but the bottom line is this is a cut-throat industry. McNabb was not only deemed to be expendable by the Eagles but they also believe they can suss him out twice a year.
 
This is a big test for Vick too. He looked masterful on Sunday against the Jaguars flinging the ball around from inside the pocket. Like McNabb did in his earlier years, he is learning to trust his arm more than his legs; he was looking deep and wide rather than short and central. But ultimately he has faced an improving but still dire Detroit Lions team, a Jaguars team who get little QB pressure and a Packers secondary which was blown up on several occasions last year. The Redskins defense poses a different proposition entirely.
 
If Vick does continue to shine, Eagles fans will shed few tears for McNabb. The book of Donovan may yet reach an intriguing conclusion but don’t expect it to sell many copies if Michael Vick keeps on excelling.