Donovan McNabb Benched: Why Shanahan's Decision Could Cost Skins Their Season

News channels erupted along with plenty of screaming fans when Rex Grossman strapped on a helmet and began stretching out with 1:50 left to play in Sunday's contest against the Lions.

Grossman was called upon to lead a game-winning drive, but no Hollywood ending here.

G-Rex fumbled on the first play, and Lions' DT Ndamukong Suh picked up the ball and ran it in for a touchdown that put the game out of reach.

"I felt with the time and no timeouts, he was the best chance to win in that scenario," Coach Mike Shanahan explained. "Just knowing the terminology of what we've done, how we run it."

So let's get this clear. Because Rex Grossman has been with Kyle Shanahan for a few years, including his time in Texas, he is more capable of putting together a winning drive than Donovan McNabb? Something just does not add up here.

Remember Grossman's time in Chicago? His horrible Super Bowl performance when the game was on the line? I can't see how Grossman would be the guy Shanahan would want on the field in this position with the game on the line.

All sarcasm and kidding aside, there is no doubt that it shocked McNabb as much as it did his teammates and fans.

DeAngelo Hall said Monday it was "definitely a shocker."

McNabb refused to comment much on the issue Monday. Since this was only the second time he has ever been benched, when asked about this compared to his previous time, he kept the conversation very professional.

"You just have to learn from it and move on," McNabb said. "I did it then, and I'll do it now."

"He (Coach Shanahan) makes the decisions, I just continue to go with it and just cheer for my team," he said. "We had opportunities we just didn't take advantage."

There is a thing called trust. That has to be all but shattered at this point.

There is a thing called momentum. Any that the Redskins and their offense may have had before is currently residing in the same place the trust went too.

A team that was turning into a serious force in the NFC is now showing that they are just a rebuilding team and will have spells of inconsistency no matter how high the hopes of the fans.

This is still the first year that Mike Shanahan has coached here.

This is still the first bye week that Donovan McNabb has sat through with a team not called the Eagles.

This is still a Redskins team that has not had their starting running back for most of the season. Granted, backups Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams have been exceptional in Clinton Portis' absence, but there is still something about Portis that can't be missed. His ability to recognize and pick up the blitz on pass blocking for one thing.

The signs of fatigue were obvious all over the offensive line, and for that matter the entire offense. It seemed like the Redskins were just trying to make it to the bye week so they could take a much-needed breather.

The only unfortunate thing to think about over the bye week is why Shanahan would trust a backup instead of a Pro Bowl-caliber starter to lead a team on a game-winning drive.

That's two weeks to stew over the bad thoughts and mistrust.

That's two weeks to question if the playcalling and coaching mindset is right.

Players get the plays from their coaches and have to be able to trust that they are calling the right play with the greatest opportunity for them to succeed.

Can you think that now about Shanahan? As a fan?

What if you were a player? Would you have doubt?

Doubt is what will kill any chance of a team having success. A team has to trust each other and their coaches to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.

Could you succeed when it is obvious Shanahan does not trust your starting quarterback with the game on the line?

The next two weeks are pivotal in showing the fans, the players and the NFL that the Redskins can bond together as a team. If there is no bond, you can expect another losing season to come sooner rather than later.