McNabb - what does it mean to the East?
by Jody Jamieson, Chris Brophy & Paul Hopkins
April 9th 2010
Shockwaves reverberated around the league when Donovan McNabb was traded to the Redskins for a 2010 second round pick and a conditional pick in 2011. But how does this effect the NFC East?
The Diner is fortunate to have both an Eagles and Redskins fan on the team so we went straight to them for views, whilst also seeking the thoughts of the resident Cowboys fan watching on from the NFC East sidelines on this stunning move.
Who wins? There's only one way to find out...fight!
The Philadelphia view – Jody Jamieson
Being an Eagles fan I obviously have a vested interest in this one, but I'm here to break down the trade in a fair and impartial way.
As much as the Eagles Front Office has danced around the issue over the past few weeks, there is no question that for the first time in a decade, the team is rebuilding. Trading away Reggie Brown and Chris Gocong doesn't suggest full rebuild, but letting Sheldon Brown (traded for picks), Brian Westbrook (released), Shawn Andrews (released), Will Witherspoon (option not picked up) and now McNabb leave shows that the rebuild is officially underway.
While Philly isn't the most patient city in the world, this makes absolute sense for a team who went into the off-season getting old and full of holes. The trade for Jason Peters didn't pan out too well in Year one, and there are too many question marks on the offensive line. Defensively they are very weak at linebacker and safety in both talent and depth. Realistically even with McNabb, right now it would be hard to envisage seeing a winning season out of the 2010 Eagles.
While it never really makes sense to make a divisional rival better, the Eagles aren't likely to be competing over the next couple of years. By the time they have completed any rebuild McNabb will likely be on his last legs. It gives Kevin Kolb the chance to take control of the offense. Kolb had a couple of good performances in 09 when McNabb was on the shelf, and he now has a chance to build a good relationship with DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.
Donovan McNabb versus the Eagles will be a strange experience over the next couple of years, but you won't want to miss it. Philadelphia got what they needed for their rebuild and Washington got what they needed to compete for a playoff spot. I'd like to call this trade a push, but it's always better to win than rebuild, and the window is officially open for Washington.
The Washington perspective – Chris Brophy
I was sitting up watching TV late this past Sunday night and had the internet on the laptop besides me. I was about to go to bed and boot down when I noticed on the sidebar or a site I was on mentioning the McNabb trade. Needless to say bedtime was put on the backburner for a while as I investigated.
Redskins fans before this are a split bunch – some believing a proven coach and an improved O-line could get the best out of Jason Campbell, others believing a new QB (most likely a rookie) was needed. I class myself as the latter although I certainly want to see the OL helped too. I don't think anyone foresaw this though and after consideration I'm delighted. Ok, McNabb is no spring chicken and the price is not cheap (although I don't think it's extortionate either) but where are you going to find a proven starting quarterback well versed in the west coast offense who offers an immediate upgrade for a 2nd round pick plus? They don't come on the market to often and I like the decisiveness. I like the way McNabb fits into the offense, Shanahan loves to use roll outs and sprints to buy extra time for his passers and work a side of the field and McNabb can be that type of passer just fine. Adam Schefter made an interesting comparison on his twitter feed, tweeting how Shanahan took over at the Broncos when John Elway was a 33 year old quarterback who couldn't get over the hump. That doesn't really mean anything in the cold light of day but it does show that age and the wear and tear of 11 seasons won't put Shanahan off putting his trust in McNabb.
There is a downside – lack of picks and an aging offensive backfield. As I have posted on the Diner twitter feed/facebook pages half in jest – is Dan Snyder trying to win his 2005 fantasy football league? Now the Cowboys have cut Hotel Adams could he be the Redskins left tackle fix (that is in jest!)? Hopefully they can recoup a couple of picks by dealing Jason Campbell (although they may have to just release him) and sliding down a few spots in the draft. What is vital is that we see signs of players being added via the draft behind the veterans to learn and develop and then the transition being seamless when the time is right. Redskins GM Bruce Allen is the son of former Redskins coach George Allen, a man who built by trading for veterans, the apple hasn't fallen too far from the tree.
Credit the Eagles too, in a situation where they have three QB's all of whom can be starters in this league but with one year left on their respective contracts and they've got a good price for a guy who has given them 11 seasons of great service. I don't think the inter-divisional thing is as big a worry as some make it, it means the Eagles face a QB they know inside out twice a year and they should be better equipped to defend him than most.
Overall I love it. I wanted a new passer for the Redskins and I've got one. However, I fully accept the element of risk, both in terms of McNabb needing to help this team win quickly (within 3 years) and that the Redskins have strengthened the Eagles draft hand and they are a team that usually drafts well.
The outsider – Cowboys – Paul Hopkins
Brilliant – I'm never one to sing the praises of the Eagles but I love the sheer balls of it. “Yeah ok, we'll trade you to somewhere we'll play you twice because we know that we can take you down. And we know how to do it.” Love it!
It is making me laugh however that people are now suddenly putting the Skins as joint-favourites apparently with the Cowboys for the NFC East. Not because Dallas has a divine right to sit atop the East, but because this is the 2010 Donovan McNabb, not the warrior he was in the first half of the decade. As much as we can make the case for McNabb making a difference – and don't get me wrong – this is a significant upgrade over Jason Campbell, I saw at the end of the season a broken down, immobile QB.
Ware, Ratliff and Spencer (not to mention the Giants and Eagles themselves) must be licking their lips now at having to face against a QB who just can't move around in the pocket anymore. Toss in the pretty weak offensive line of the Skins – I don't see simply adding Russell Okung or any other left tackle for that matter suddenly making that line any better anytime soon. So the immobile one and his selection of run-down rushers are sitting ducks.
Granted, he's used to playing with very moderate receivers (until last year) so obviously on that count will fit in well in Washington who lack the big superstar at that position. We know from watching the Eagles that he can't do it alone – and indeed, couldn't with Maclin, Jackson and Celek in 2009. So why should he now be able to transform this less-talented offence in 2010? If the Skins now really went for it, went out and made an insane move for Brandon Marshall say, then yes, I might be a little trepidatious.
From a Cowboys perspective, I have to be honest and say that it really doesn't worry me. I used to hate playing McNabb because he usually crucified us, but of late we've pounded him. I don't see that changing in Washington. And the Eagles? Well they're always dangerous to play and I have to admit begrudgingly, they have some stock of young talent – likely to only get better with the replenishments they're going to make in a couple of weeks. Kolb can play, but its going to take time. And as Jody says, maybe 2010 will be a down year. But then again, maybe it won't. The talent is obvious.
The Redskins will be a dangerous if-you-catch-them-on-a-good-day kind of team this year but anything more than that? Nope, sorry I'm not buying the hype. McNabb won't make the difference to take the Skins to double figure wins. The Eagles will always be a dangerous team for the Cowboys to play; that won't ever change. But I'd rather McNabb was in Washington than in Philly.
It's probably a win-win for both teams which is usually how these trades end up. Look at it in the right frame of mind and both teams got what they were happy with. But for me, the talent across the two teams just got diluted.
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