Donovan McNabb Sent to Washington: Be Careful What You Wish for, Eagles Fans

Philadelphia fans are notorious for complaining about their teams, even the success of their teams.

For years, Eagles fans have been open to the idea of trading one of their city’s greatest players, Donovan McNabb.

It seems as if Philly fans are not content with their recent level of consistent success because it has not equated into a Super Bowl championship.

Until recently, this disappointment has only been publicly expressed by fans. Each time Eagles fans got displeased about their quarterback, the organization would play the same song and dance where Andy Reid, Eagles head coach, claimed that No. 5 was his QB and the GM's office claimed that it had no desire to trade him.

This season, however, the Eagles GM office apparently sided with the fans. No. 5 has played under center for the Eagles since 1999, but this year he will be suiting up in red for their hated rivals, the Washington Redskins. (Wait, what?)

Yes—Donovan McNabb, the face of the Eagles franchise, has been traded to the archrival Redskins for a second round pick this year and conditional third or fourth rounder next year, leaving many avid football fans scratching their heads.

Why would they trade him inside the division? Why only a second and third round pick? Why not trade him to the Raiders, who also wanted him? Why trade him at all?

Some of these questions may never be answered; however, the Eagles were in a tough situation.

It is clear that the Eagles GM felt that paying McNabb his bonus of $6.2 million due in May was not a smart option because he only has one year left on his contract. That would allow him to sign anywhere he wanted at the end of the season.

That is a problem for two reasons. First, the Eagles have a young quarterback, Kevin Kolb, who they believe in and are ready to hand the reins to.

Second, as previously mentioned, although No. 5 has been the Eagles’ franchise player this past decade, at times he wasn’t treated that way.

We can count, using both hands, the number of times that McNabb trade rumors have floated around in recent years, and we certainly would lose count of the number of times an Eagles fan has cursed McNabb out of town.

These fans may be surprised when they find out that in the last decade only Brett Favre, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning have won more games and thrown for more touchdowns. 

Also, in the history of the NFL there is a small class of quarterbacks who have passed for 30,000 yards and rushed for 3,000 yards. Only John Elway, Fran Tarkenton, and Steve Young are above McNabb on that list.

That being said, this offseason the Eagles were openly trying to trade him.

It seemed as if they were working out a deal that would ship him to the other side of the country, to the Oakland Raiders. That deal fell through because Oakland was not pressing to trade for a player that would become a free agent after this season and sign elsewhere.

McNabb essentially held the power in negotiations with any team. Due to his expiring contract, all he had to say was that he would not sign with that team after the season, and then that team would naturally lose interest in trading for him.

It appeared as if Arizona was an option for Donovan because he reportedly owns a house there, except the Cardinals showed no interest.

Then it happened...

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that No. 5 asked the Eagles to trade him to Washington...and yes, they did. Some reports are saying that the Eagles did the classy thing by showing him respect and trading him to wherever he wished to play.

That seems honorable, except for the fact that McNabb probably also told them, “If you don’t trade me there, then I’m not going anywhere this season, and you will pay me my $6.2 million.” Still a tough choice, but all in all, the Eagles said good riddance.

What is now interesting is that the same disgruntled Eagles fans that were blaming McNabb for their “disappointments” of making the playoffs eight out of the past ten years, which includes five division titles, five trips to conference championships, and a trip to the Super Bowl (lost by a FG to the Patriots) are now probably questioning this move (and are most definitely angered by it).

Everything is gravy when you can ship a guy all the way across the country to arguably the worst team in the sport while assuring yourself that you made the right move.

It is a different story when you trade him to the hated rival Washington Redskins, who you are certain to play at least twice a year. 

Mike Schmidt, possibly Philadelphia’s greatest athlete, who played 3B for the Phillies, once said that while playing for Philadelphia he loved winning, but he hated reading about it the next day.

The country is rooting for you, McNabb. At least I am...

Just a thought...

While their defense is already solid, the Redskins' offense has just added the missing quarterback they desperately needed to become a playoff contender. Perhaps one of the only pieces left to become a serious threat in the NFC is a No. 1 wide receiver to play opposite Santana Moss (need some OL help too).

There is a top wide receiver still lurking out there on the market, and he used to play for the Redskins new head coach...

As Chris Berman would say, "Marshall, Marshall, Marshall."