Mike Shanahan: 10 Reasons Why He Has Been Embarassing Donovan McNabb

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After the latest benching of Donovan McNabb, it is safe to say that this relationship is over.

You know the one where we watched our division neighbor date a QB for a while. After our neighbor tried, and tried and tried to go all the way, he realized he never would.  So the Redskins came a calling and traded two very important draft picks for Donovan McNabb.

My initial reaction on the evening of Easter Sunday was one of confusion. I asked myself, like many Redskins fans, if we are rebuilding, then why are we trading for McNabb? Well eventually I learned to accept it, and just hope for the best.

Well a year later, they hopefully are finally rebuilding. In the NFL, it only takes a year or two to rebuild. So as long as Shanahan can hold on to his draft picks for now on, I believe in him as a head coach.

The national media is going to dance all over the Redskins because they love McNabb and because the team is a laughing stock at the moment. Oh well, we deserve it, this place is a tragic circus.

Here are ten reasons that Mike Shanahan has been embarrassing Donovan McNabb this season.

10. To Let All Players Know That They Will Get a Chance.

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John Beck will start a game at quarterback this season for the Redskins. Shanahan said that McNabb will be backup this week, and next week he will be third string. Shanahan is giving up on the season in a way, switching to the other QB’s. But he has good reason.

The season is lost and all positions need to be evaluated.

The Redskins are a team in serious need of talent evaluation, from top to bottom. What better way to let the entire locker room know, that these last three games are important as any. If you want to be a contributor to the Washington Redskins next season and for years to come, you better play ball.

Everyone is going to get a chance, if you show up in the offseason every day, are accountable to your teammates and practice hard, you will get a chance here.

From quarterback, to kick returner, to the punter and kicker, you will have a chance. 

Isn’t this a better option than last year, when we watched Jason Campbell play out the string, instead of giving Colt Brennan a chance? I prefer to see what Rex Grossman and John Beck can do.

Yes I know Grossman sucks, but hell, this is America.

9. Shanahan Did Not Want to Bring in McNabb in the First Place

"Were trading a 2nd and 4th round pick for McNabb, deal with it!"
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Some in the D.C. market have speculated that Mike Shanahan was not the one who signed off on the McNabb trade in the first place. It is very possible, given the Redskins past that the owner was the one pulling the trigger on the trade. At this point, I would not be surprised by anything that comes out of Redskins Park.

Either way, McNabb had 13 games to prove himself. And he did not.

"Right now, I gotta do what I think's in the best interest of this organization," Shanahan said on Friday.

 As long as that is how Shanahan operates I am all in.

8. Donovan Deserves It

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The team is 5-8. Donovan McNabb has not been catalyst that the coaches had hoped he would be. He has 14 touchdowns and 15 interceptions this season. His quarterback rating is 77.1.

The offense is not simply producing and that falls on the coaches and the quarterback.  With the playoffs out of reach, it’s time to retool. McNabb has missed lots of easy throws this year, and Shanahan is tired of it.

He is not a super bowl caliber quarterback, so why keep him in there? I'm not saying Grossman is either, but its better than doing nothing.

7. Shanahan Knows The Trade Was a Mistake

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“If I do make a mistake, I admit it and move on.” Shanahan said on Friday, just hours after news broke of the benching.

My guess is that Shanahan has known for months that he doesn’t think McNabb is capable of leading them to a super bowl.  That is his goal, to win a super bowl. If he doesn’t feel McNabb is the guy, then why not bench him.  He told McNabb that he might not be back next year.

Most coaches who trade for a player, do not give up on him this early. Leading to more speculation that he was not the one who pulled the strings on this trade.

6. Kyle Shanahan

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The offensive coordinator and coaches son is the play caller. He has been seen on the sidelines, looking unhappy with McNabb at times this season. Rex Grossman was in his offense last year in Houston, and he is likely the one who brought Grossman in.

It is very likely that Kyle wanted Rex in as the starter at an earlier stage this season. It has become clear that the coaches are not going to adapt their system to their talent. So they must adapt the talent, which sometimes is a fatal flaw of coaching staffs.

We shall see.

5. Cam Newton

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The front office wants Cam Newton, I want Cam Newton, screw it put Rex in and lets get the best draft pick possible. I was hoping for this approach after the Dallas game, because we all hate Dallas.

The last Auburn quarterback we drafted turned out well didn’t it? Screw that, Rex is going deep.

Besides whats a controversy these days without Cam Newton.

4. The Shanahan’s Want Their Own Guy

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Mike Shanahan spoke today of the possibility of looking at the college draft this spring for a quarterback. Whether it is Cam Newton, Jake Locker, Andrew Luck, Christian Ponder or whoever, the Redskins have to get a young quarterback.

After messing with McNabb’s footwork and trying to get him to fit their system, they have failed. Now it is time to get their own guy, for better or for worse.

So the Shanahan’s have decided their guy is not McNabb. Like I said earlier, it is better than continuing to suck.

18 points per game is not going to cut it.

 

3. Ego

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Mike Shanahan has a huge ego and his battle with Albert Haynesworth proved that. I am on Shanahans side on most of this, but it doesn’t mean his ego isn’t huge.  

I’m pretty sure if anyone won two super bowls their egos would be huge as well. He feels that this season is not all his fault and with better quarterback play the team would perform at a much higher level.

He also may finally be showing Daniel Snyder that the philosophy of keeping aging veterans around does not work, so he is sitting him down.

2. Deflecting the Blame

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First there was Albert, now we have the blame being pinned on McNabb.

The blame is deserved all around, the defense has been horrid and special teams not so special.

You know what, Shanahan is not going anywhere. He needs time to get this franchise back on its feet. Have patience. He admitted trading for McNabb was a mistake. Lets all move on.

Now there is nobody left to blame, except for the head coach. So after 13 games, its getting closer and closer to put up or shut up time, for Shanahan.

The fan base is very restless, and Shanahan has to start taking all of the blame on his shoulders,

1. Long Term Plans/New Philosophy

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Instead of continuing to live with the false hope that the team is close to being a contender, the franchise is going to turn in a new direction. 

They are allowing Grossman to try and earn a one year job in 2011, and to draft “a young Donovan McNabb,” as Shanahan said.

Other players on the team are getting opportunities as well. Anthony Bryant, Macho Harris, Kevin Barnes are all getting chances to start in the final few weeks. This is not about racism and its not about being Daniel Snyder’s pawn.  Its about winning, and so far they are not. For anyone who thinks Shanahan should be fired, you're crazy and impatient. You have taken on the personality of the owner.

While Rex Grossman is not the best bet, McNabb has proved not to be much better.

In the words of the great Proposition Joe, “You all are thinking short, when you should be thinking long.”