The City of Brotherly Love is excited about the start of the baseball season but it’s the Eagles who’ve come out swinging.
Andy Reid and company have made a lot of moves in the off-season, but this one on a Richter Shock scale of 1-10 is a certified 20. It’s not really that big of a surprise that the Eagles dealt Donovan McNabb, but why make the deal to a divisional rival?
After 11 seasons, McNabb leaves as the franchise leader in passing yards, completions, completion percentage, attempts and touchdown passes but he never took his team to the summit. This is why it’s a deal which basically had to happen. However, is the 33-year-old only worth a couple of draft picks? Having said this the team is now in great position with five of the first 87 selections in this month’s draft but Philly fans are probably wishing they were getting names instead of numbers in return. Plus, he’s now a member of the hated Redskins. How weird is it going to be seeing McNabb twice a year since he stays in the NFC East?
As a fan of the Eagles growing up I have been through this before with Randall Cunningham, but unlike that change I think Donovan’s departure is a good thing. Kevin Kolb is ready to become a starter and with Mike Vick as the No. 2 quarterback, this could be a fun season but there may also be some growing pains.
Philly fans should look at the bigger picture though and ask: How many more chances should Donovan get? The move could be a good one for his career as well. A new football forwarding address might lead to a post-season birth with the Redskins. Oh wait, they’ve seen that before in Philly (9-7 as a post-season starter), but perhaps he can take that next step this time under Mike Shanahan.
I will say this Eagles fans, for my money Kolb/Vick is a better combination than McNabb/Grossman. Although some are already calling the Redskins playoff contenders and possible divisional champions, don’t count out the Eagles. In a season which many are saying they’ll regress with Kolb and Vick, I think the team will remain competitive in what is now once again the toughest division in football.