I had resolved to let the sports writers do the sports writing, since they are the ones that get paid for it and I have a dozen other things to do. And since the Sixers didn’t do much worth mentioning this season, it made it that much easier to look the other way. This blog post is one that I didn’t think I would be making, and don’t really want to make, but maybe after writing, it will be easier to see McNabb in a Redskin’s jersey next year. Somehow I doubt it.
The speculation has been heavy for weeks. With it, I felt my interest in the NFL beginning to fade. They’d already let Brian Westbrook walk, but that was somewhat understandable. The concussions, the other injuries, the big contract, the running back expiration date (30+)… you get it. Still, I asked myself, “supposed the stars line up perfectly and the Eagles win the Super Bowl without Westbrook… wouldn’t that mean a little less?” Without Westbrook AND McNabb, the answer for me is pretty clear.
Obviously I’m speaking from that place that fans still go to sometimes, while owners and GMs busy themselves with numbers. But I have to wonder, why isn’t Tom Brady on the trading block? Or Eli? Or Romo? Or Rivers? Why does McNabb catch the fall for the Eagles inability to stop the run? I guess if he made more plays on offense, the Eagles wouldn’t have to stop the run as often. But didn’t he do that enough times… I mean, all those NFC championships weren’t produced under the best scenarios, but he still got it done.
In the perfect world, McNabb would have retired an Eagle. Would have sucked for Kevin Kolb, but they probably would have found another team for him to play with. I know he had a few good games last season, but he also had a few bad ones in his career. Best case, the Eagles know what they’re doing, shed a contract, find a young star, and put some pieces together. Worst case, we’re back in Doug Pederson land (the QB who was supposed to let McNabb get a year in training; that lasted about 4 games, I believe). How will Vick take sitting behind Doug Pederson? How long will Kolb have before he gets pulled? If and when the ball is put in Vick’s hands, what will he do with it? Would be an excellent story for Season 2 of The Michael Vick Project. If only life was like reality TV (hmmmmm….)
So now the question becomes do the Redskins end up with a better record than the Eagles next year? Does McNabb blow a tire, show his age, or throw the ball low or high, proving the Eagles to be geniuses? Or does this light that fire, and put him on a mission. You know what they say about any given Sunday? The Redskins had a terrible record last year, but they weren’t as bad as they seemed.
At the end of the day, McNabb’s sole crime was not winning a Super Bowl. (Neither has Andy Reid, by the way. But I guess all those NFC Championships have gotta mean something for somebody). A big part of me hopes that he gets his before the Eagles get theirs. Maybe that makes me a Redskins fan now, I don’t know. But I do know that somebody’s gotta have the last laugh here (and I doubt it will be the Giants who look to be on the downward trend, but it could easily be the Cowboys — let’s hope that doesn’t happen, though).
PS – What’s the over-under on Farve becoming an Eagle? Oh you think it’s not possible. Let’s not forget who we’re talking about.
PS2 – I’m sure there are some fans out there who wanted McNabb to go to the Dolphins for Ricky Williams and a draft pick, you know, to fill that Westbrook void and finally make things right for the franchise. smh.
