2011 NFL Trade Rumors: Why the Washington Redskins Won't Deal Donovan McNabb
2011 NFL Trade Rumors Have Donovan McNabb Playing Elsewhere Next Season, But Could He Stay in Washington?
The foregone conclusion among NFL fans and analysts is that Donovan McNabb won't be a Washington Redskin next year.
The chatter has been: "When McNabb gets traded by the Redskins, where will he play in 2011?"
But maybe it should go something like this: "Can Washington improve with McNabb behind center next season?"
So throw those widespread assumptions out the window.
Here are 10 reasons why McNabb will be the starting quarterback for the Redskins in 2011.
10. A Trade Won't Return Much Value
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Roughly 10 months ago, the Redskins traded the 37th overall pick and either a third- or fourth-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire Donovan McNabb.
After giving up two reasonably high draft picks last year, Washington will likely be asking for a similar package in return. Maybe something like a mid-second rounder and a fourth-rounder.
And who the hell wants to do that?
McNabb has had exactly two seasons in which he's completed more than 60.4 percent of his passes. He is coming off a season in which he threw more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (14), and will turn 35 next season.
Though McNabb's track record of success will give him plenty of suitors, teams might back off if Washington asks for an arm, a leg and two high-draft picks in return.
9. The Redskins Don't Want To Admit They Made a Mistake
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Let's face it, the union between Donovan McNabb and the Redskins has been a worse combination than John Madden and the Telestrator.
Washington made a mistake by giving up two draft picks to acquire an aging quarterback who could wind up being nothing more than a one-year rental.
But do you think the team will admit that? Hell no.
The Redskins can't even admit that signing Albert Haynesworth was a terrible decision, and they still have him on their squad despite the painfully obvious fact that the two don't mesh well.
Washington would rather see the franchise's hopes be flushed down the toilet than say, "Hey, we made a stupid decision. Now it's time to fix it."
8. How Much Better Are The Other Situations?
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Donovan McNabb wants out of Washington because of the way he was embarrassed by Mike Shanahan last season and the fact that he isn't guaranteed to be the team's starter in 2011.
But if he leaves Washington, he isn't going to a Super Bowl contender.
His best-case scenario would be with the Minnesota Vikings, but ESPN Insider reports that Vince Young is likely to land there.
That leaves McNabb with a few other possible destinations, mainly San Francisco, Seattle and Arizona.
Have fun with that, McNabb.
Sure, you'd have a better chance of winning in the NFC West, but you'd still be playing for a bad team.
Score.
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7. Washington's Receivers Are The Problem
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Yeah, Donovan McNabb struggled in 2010, but maybe it's because he was throwing to Santana Moss and a bunch of John Does.
Moss had 93 catches for 1,115 receiving yards and six touchdowns but averaged just 12 yards per catch.
Anthony Armstrong had 44 catches for 871 receiving yards, but he's still Anthony Armstrong.
And Washington's third-leading wide receiver (tight ends excluded) was—wait for it—Joey Galloway, with a whopping 12 catches for 127 yards and zero touchdowns.
Maybe I'm confused here, but I thought this was 2011, not 1997.
McNabb can't shoulder the blame for putting up pedestrian numbers because his receivers were pedestrian.
6. Washington Had No Running Game in 2010
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Here is the statistical output for Washington's top three running backs in 2010:
Ryan Torain: 742 yards, 4.5 YPC and four rushing TDs
Keiland Williams: 261 yards, 4.0 YPC and three rushing TDs
Clinton Portis: 227 yards, 4.2 YPC and two rushing TDs
That's 1,230 rushing yards and nine total rushing TDs from the best three running backs on Washington's roster.
Granted, much of that was because of injuries, but getting rid of Donovan McNabb isn't going to make the Redskins a better rushing team.
Having a healthy backfield and a more balanced gameplan will though.
5. McNabb Said So Himself
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After his second benching of the season, Donovan McNabb told the Washington Post he'd be back in Washington in 2011.
"I don't want to go anywhere," McNabb said, "I want to be here. I really do. . . . I don't believe in starting something and not finishing."
Of course, he's since flip-flopped, saying he wants the Redskins to trade or release him.
But you can't just ignore the fact that he literally once said he wants to stay in Washington.
4. And He Said It Again
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As part of ESPN's Super Bowl XLV coverage, Donovan McNabb told Mike Tirico yesterday that he still considers himself a member of the Redskins.
"As of right now, I'm definitely a Washington Redskin," McNabb said. "I signed a contract to be with them the next couple of years, and that's the way I'm treating it as such. And I think the way of approaching it myself is to make sure that this offseason I focus on being a better quarterback and being ready for the 2011 season."
Naturally, he's taking the "I'm unhappy but wanna sound like a good teammate" approach, but it's better than the "get me the hell out of here" approach others have used in the past.
McNabb is probably just yanking our chains, but you never really know, do you?
3. There Are No QBs Worth Drafting With Their First Pick
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The consensus top four quarterbacks in the 2011 NFL draft are (in no particular order): Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Mallett and Jake Locker.
By the time Washington picks at No. 10 overall, Gabbert will be off the board and Locker could be too if some team decides to really roll the dice on him.
Even if Locker—a huge favorite of Mike Shanahan—is still available though, would the Redskins take him?
NFL analysts continue to talk up his potential and how he "could develop" into a franchise starter, but the guy's never completed 60 percent of his passes in a season.
Then, there's Cam Newton, who dominated college football this season but is also a quarterback who needs a couple of years of development.
Why risk the 10th overall pick on a QB who has "bust" written all over him?
2. John Beck and Rex Grossman?
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ESPN has reported for months that the reason the Redskins aren't committed to keeping Donovan McNabb next season is because the team is high up on John Beck and Rex Grossman.
Well, I find that laughable to begin with, but Grossman is actually a free agent this offseason, so there's no guarantee he'll be back in Washington either.
And even if he is, that would leave Grossman and Beck as the only quarterbacks on Washington's roster in 2011.
That's like using a water hose and a squirt gun to fend off a group of armed intruders.
Even Dan Snyder can't be that dumb.
1. He Gives Them The Best Chance Of Winning Right Now
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You already know my less-than-complimentary feelings toward John Beck, Rex Grossman and the college QB prospects.
And I'm definitely not Donovan McNabb's biggest fan either. Hell, I'm not even a McNabb fan.
But he still gives the Redskins the best chance of winning right now.
Beck's hardly seen any NFL action, Grossman has been a target of quarterback jokes since he entered the league, and none of this year's rookie QBs are going to pull a Sam Bradford and lead their teams to magical turnarounds.
That leaves one man who should be Washington's QB next year.
And that man is Donovan McNabb.
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