Did Al Davis Want Donovan McNabb to Be an Oakland Raider?

It all started at the annual owner's meetings when Andy Reid basically said that the Eagles were shopping the services of All Pro QB Donovan McNabb.  Initial reports had the Rams, Bills, and Raiders as the most likely destinations for the 11 year veteran.  Soon after the Rams and Bills made it clear that they weren't very interested in trading for McNabb.  That left the Raiders as the "front runners" in the McNabb sweepstakes. 

It was also reported that the Eagles were looking to acquire a pick in the top 42 in return for McNabb.  The Raiders own the 39th pick.  Done deal right?  Why didn't this trade go down.  Multiple reports said that McNabb didn't want to play in Oakland.  Did Philly trade McNabb to the 'Skins to make him "feel good" about the trade?  I don't think that was the case.  You don't trade a top 5 QB to your division rival for the 37th overall pick if the an AFC team has the 39th overall pick on the table.

IMO, Al Davis didn't want Donovan McNabb as much as the media and many others thought.  If Al wanted Donovan he would have made it happen.  He traded a 2nd and a 5th for DeAngelo Hall, thinking he was going to be half of the best CB duo in the league.  He traded a 1st round pick for Richard Seymour last offseason.   Do you see what I am getting at?

When Al Davis wants a player that is on the trade block he gets his man.  Whether McNabb wanted to be a Raider or not.  If Al Davis wanted him in the Silver & Black, Donovan would have been getting ready for the 2010 season in Napa, Ca. 

Maybe Al Davis has his eye on a RFA with a 2nd round tender?  Maybe Davis and Cable have there eyes on a player they could land with that 2nd round pick? 

Or, maybe Schefter, Mortensen, La Canfora, Lombardi, Kawakami, and John Clayton were wrong about the Raiders being "front runners" and the Raiders "heavily pursuing" the Pro Bowl QB.

What do you think?