Ever since the Philadelphia Eagles' playoff loss to the Cowboys, their franchise's future was in question. The end of the Andy Reid era was simply a rumor; however, the trade talk of at least one of their talented quarterbacks became the most likely alternative for a team in need of rebuilding. It wasn't until Sunday evening that a deal was finally made, sending Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins in exchange for a second round draft pick in 2010 and third or fourth rounder in 2011. The Eagles claimed that this was not only one of their best offers, but also the best scenario for Donovan.
The organization wanted to make him happy as well, therefore Buffalo and Oakland were out of the question, even though both showed great interest in the six-time Pro Bowler. There was a certain debt the Eagles felt they owed to Donovan after helping lead them to four straight NFC East division championships, five NFC championship games, and one Super Bowl appearance. "What have you done for me lately" is the common denominator, but more so "what have you done when it really mattered?" Even though fourth and 26 was unforgettable, ultimately McNabb will always be remembered for his monumental meltdowns in the biggest games, and not winning when it counted most.
David Akers is the only remaining Eagle on the active roster who was on the team that played in the Super Bowl game back in 2005. Now that Kevin Kolb has been given the keys, he can grow along side a young, talented group of players like LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, and DeSean Jackson. McNabb said in his press conference with the Washington Redskins on Tuesday that he knew that this was going to happen a long time ago, it was just a matter of when the deal would be made. But I don't think that anyone, even Donovan, can truly grasp the concept of why the Eagles would trade within the division. It seems like the business aspect was shadowed by their remorse for McNabb, and now the Redskins go from being a last-place team in the division to a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Brett Favre going to Minnesota has to ring a bell; all the pieces were there except for the quarterback position. After acquiring Favre, they were just one throw away from playing in the Super Bowl. Not to mention Green Bay was in the same division and got taken to the woodshed twice by the old man who, like McNabb, saw the team bring in a first round quarterback while he was the starter and supposed franchise player. During the press conference, McNabb showed signs of bitterness towards Eagles fans and ownership, in between flashes of his charismatic smile. He is looking forward to working with Coach Mike Shanahan and an array of talented players; you can also bet that he has already marked the two meetings between the Redskins and Eagles in his calendar, making the rivalry more interesting than ever before.
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