Why the Eagles traded McNabb to the Redskins (1 Viewer)

[gianmarco]

Driving into work, just heard something interesting on the radio.

So it sounds as if the Eagles weren't necessarily looking out for McNabb in their trade to Washington after all. The word is that the Eagles did not like the idea of Bradford possibly pairing up with Shanahan and being there for years to come. Apparently others are agreeing with this notion.

I'm not sure I buy this theory since I don't see how Bradford would have made it there anyway but I guess it's possible and would help further explain the trade within the division.

ETA -- Schefter rumor

ESPN's Adam Schefter is floating an interesting theory regarding the Eagles motivation behind trading Donovan McNabb.

Per Schefter, a few NFL execs believe the Eagles traded McNabb to Washington because that would take the Redskins out of the running for Sam Bradford.

The reason for going to such lengths to avoid that? The Eagles apparently believe Shanahan could have made Bradford that good and didn't want to face him in the division for the next decade.

If true, this is an incredibly bold move by the Eagles. They gave away their franchise quarterback -- who could seemingly play at a high level for several more seasons -- to avoid a potential franchise quarterback from hitting the division.

If this is the case, then the Eagles are showing some major respect to Shanahan, who has been known to be very good with quarterbacks.

While the theory is interesting, it's hard to determine its validity. Would the Redskins really have traded up to the number one pick to select Bradford? It's possible, but seems unlikely. They would likely have to include a 2011 first round pick to move up that far.

 

[Donsmith753]

That's a lot of ifs

 

[BigTex]

This has to be the single most idiotic trade theory ever recorded by mankind! Seriously!

 

[twistd]

Driving into work, just heard something interesting on the radio. So it sounds as if the Eagles weren't necessarily looking out for McNabb in their trade to Washington after all. The word is that the Eagles did not like the idea of Bradford possibly pairing up with Shanahan and being there for years to come. Apparently others are agreeing with this notion. No link as of yet although I'll look.I'm not sure I buy this theory since I don't see how Bradford would have made it there anyway but I guess it's possible and would help further explain the trade within the division.

I think you are right. It doesn't make sense. First of all, the Rams seem pretty set on taking Bradford. Secondly, even if the Rams don't take Bradford, there is a possibility that someone could have jumped up in front of the Redskins and taken him. There are far too many variables there. I think the Eagles just put the asking price too high initially. Then teams that might have been suitors made moves to solve their QB problems. So the market dried up some. I believe that the Redskins just made the best offer. I'd guess that Buffalo or the Raiders were offering just a second. The Redskins sweetened the deal by including a 2011 pick. And that 2011 pick is either a third or a fourth. That is pretty good. It will be fun to see if this trade jumps up and bites them, or if the record of Redskin mediocrity continues. One way or another the Eagles are a good team, with lots of early draft picks to rebuild their defense. And their skill position players are young and talented. If Kolb is as good as they think he is they will be very good again this year.

 

[Steelfan7]

Yes because the Shanahan - Cutler duo did so well that the rest of the league should be fearful of a Shanahan - Bradford hookup.

 

[Christo]

Yes because the Shanahan - Cutler duo did so well that the rest of the league should be fearful of a Shanahan - Bradford hookup.

Plus, Snyder's just loopy enough to draft Bradford anyway.

 

[scratcher]

While it may have had a small part to do with the trade, I doubt it was the driving factor.

 

[CaptainHook]

Lol

 

[Saints-Man]

That's a lot of ifs

While Shanahan is a good coach, it is not like he is Bill Walsh. He already had Elway when he got the Broncos job and in the years since Elway's retirement, he was unable to find a good QB. He can't "make" a good QB. I have favorable impression of Bradford, but he is not guaranteed to become a good QB in the NFL.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

preposterous

 

[Cookiemonster]

That's a lot of ifs

While Shanahan is a good coach, it is not like he is Bill Walsh. He already had Elway when he got the Broncos job and in the years since Elway's retirement, he was unable to find a good QB. He can't "make" a good QB.

He DID lead Cutler to do better than he has in Chicago. Plummer also looked better under Shanahan than he did anyone else, but that could also be attributed to being on a better team in both cases. Unless that O line is greatly improved, I don't think McNabb or Bradford or Elway would look very good in DC. I think Detroit drafts BPA and that isn't Okung, but at spot #4 the LT could be BPA and a big need. Still, they need to do more than draft Okung #4 to make that a desireable line for a QB to play behind.

 

[gianmarco]

Not surprised with these responses as I felt the same way. I have no idea why Schefter would try to pass this on.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

preposterous

Excellent

 

[Ghost Rider]

While Shanahan is a good coach, it is not like he is Bill Walsh. He already had Elway when he got the Broncos job and in the years since Elway's retirement, he was unable to find a good QB. He can't "make" a good QB.

You do realize that Shanahan worked with the Broncos and Elway back in the 80s and that Elway had most of his best years in the NFL, in the 80s and 90s, when working with Shanahan, right? Do you not remember the work Shanahan did with Jake Plummer? Pretty much every QB Shahanan has worked with for any length of time in the NFL played his best when working with Shanahan....Elway, Steve Young, Brian Griese, Jake Plummer, Jay Cutler, etc.I realize that a decent portion of fantasy football players hate Shanahan because of how he has driven them nuts over the years with his RB situations, but you can't ignore the facts.

 

[Not Sure]

Schefter has become so ESPN-ized. It's a real shame since I used to respect him.

 

[FunkyPlutos]

Schefter has become so ESPN-ized. It's a real shame since I used to respect him.

(quite possibly the best posting ever!)

 

[Crippler]

Baldinger on the NEtwork last night also mentioned that the Eagles say this as a plus for the Skins to have McNabb but it was due to declining skills more than the fear of Bradford. He does not expect McNabb to be very successful with his skill level behind a brutal OL, with old RB's and the receiving core.

 

[Donnybrook]

Per Schefter, a few NFL execs believe the Eagles traded McNabb to Washington because that would take the Redskins out of the running for Sam Bradford.

They also told Schefter who really shot JFK. I am surprised he did not report that as well.

 

[PewterFan]

My theory is that the Eagles are happy and willing to face McNabb twice a year.

 

[Black]

Must have been a slow news day for Shefter...that and some medicial weed.

 

[Pickle Rody]

preposterous

Excellent

Schefter has become so ESPN-ized. It's a real shame since I used to respect him.

(quite possibly the best posting ever!)

Last year mid-July Joe Bryant posted a thread asking for questions to ask new ESPN Insider Adam Schefter during his interview with him. At that time, this is the question I asked, "Adam,

Are you concerned that moving over to ESPN will lessen some of your well earned credibility just because of your association with what many here believe to be a sports soap opera network? How will you avoid that perception? Are you worried that you'll get sucked into the ESPN propaganda machine?

Thanks in advance for your reply,

Steve"

Now for what it's worth, this question was never asked of Mr. Schefter, so there was no reply. I find it amusing that a year later Schefter seems to have actually been sucked in by the ESPN machine.

What a shame.

 

[Donnybrook]

For what it is worth, I still like Schefter better than his replacement on the NFL network, Jason LaCanfora. I can't take LaCanfora seriously because he look too much like the PC neard from the Apple computer commericials.

 

[n20]

While Shanahan is a good coach, it is not like he is Bill Walsh. He already had Elway when he got the Broncos job and in the years since Elway's retirement, he was unable to find a good QB. He can't "make" a good QB.

You do realize that Shanahan worked with the Broncos and Elway back in the 80s and that Elway had most of his best years in the NFL, in the 80s and 90s, when working with Shanahan, right? Do you not remember the work Shanahan did with Jake Plummer?

Pretty much every QB Shahanan has worked with for any length of time in the NFL played his best when working with Shanahan....Elway, Steve Young, Brian Griese, Jake Plummer, Jay Cutler, etc.

I realize that a decent portion of fantasy football players hate Shanahan because of how he has driven them nuts over the years with his RB situations, but you can't ignore the facts.

Shanahan didn't join the Broncos and Elway until 1995... he was the Raiders HC and 49ers OC before that. Elway already had like 11 years under his belt before being coached by Shanahan.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Shanahan didn't join the Broncos and Elway until 1995... he was the Raiders HC and 49ers OC before that. Elway already had like 11 years under his belt before being coached by Shanahan.

No offense, but you really need to do your homework.

 

[n20]

Shanahan didn't join the Broncos and Elway until 1995... he was the Raiders HC and 49ers OC before that. Elway already had like 11 years under his belt before being coached by Shanahan.

No offense, but you really need to do your homework.

QB Coach... touché.

 

[TommyGilmore]

Washington could still get Bradford if they really wanted to.

 

[cstu]

My theory is that the Eagles are happy and willing to face McNabb twice a year.

Mine too, as well as getting some picks out of the Redskins hands to weaken them long-term. Teams don't usually trade guys they fear to play against within the division, so common sense tells me that even though he improves the Redskins they still think they can roll over them. The Eagles know all of McNabb's weaknesses and have the defense to exploit them.

 

[scratcher]

The Eagles know all of McNabb's weaknesses and have the defense to exploit them.

I'm not sure the Eagles have the defense to exploit anyone right now. Hopefully by the time season starts they will...

 

[thayman]

My theory is that the Eagles are happy and willing to face McNabb twice a year.

Mine too, as well as getting some picks out of the Redskins hands to weaken them long-term. Teams don't usually trade guys they fear to play against within the division, so common sense tells me that even though he improves the Redskins they still think they can roll over them.

The Eagles know all of McNabb's weaknesses and have the defense to exploit them.

Wouldn't that go both ways? Won't McNabb know all of the defense's weaknesses, as well as Reid's?

 

[CiscoKid]

preposterous

The Redskins were simply the highest bidder. I think if the Eagles would have gotten a like viable offer, they would have been happy to trade McNabb out of the division.

 

[Chairshot]

Absolutely ridiculous. No way there is any truth to this. And if there is, the Eagles leadership has gone off the deep end.

 

[ScottyFargo]

Trading McNabb to the 'Skins doesn't necessarily stop them from drafting Bradford. And that's on the small chance he actually falls to them. Very silly. This Schefter character is silly.

 

[Slider]

The Skins offered the most. Plain and simple.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

This has to be the single most idiotic trade theory ever recorded by mankind! Seriously!

 

[cstu]

My theory is that the Eagles are happy and willing to face McNabb twice a year.

Mine too, as well as getting some picks out of the Redskins hands to weaken them long-term. Teams don't usually trade guys they fear to play against within the division, so common sense tells me that even though he improves the Redskins they still think they can roll over them.

The Eagles know all of McNabb's weaknesses and have the defense to exploit them.

Wouldn't that go both ways? Won't McNabb know all of the defense's weaknesses, as well as Reid's?

Maybe it's just selective memory, but what comes to mind is the Raiders/Bucs SB in which Gannon had the worst SB performance in history versus his old coach.

 

[metoo]

My theory is that the Eagles are happy and willing to face McNabb twice a year.

Mine too, as well as getting some picks out of the Redskins hands to weaken them long-term. Teams don't usually trade guys they fear to play against within the division, so common sense tells me that even though he improves the Redskins they still think they can roll over them.

The Eagles know all of McNabb's weaknesses and have the defense to exploit them.

Wouldn't that go both ways? Won't McNabb know all of the defense's weaknesses, as well as Reid's?

Maybe it's just selective memory, but what comes to mind is the Raiders/Bucs SB in which Gannon had the worst SB performance in history versus his old coach.

How did Favre do against GB? It goes both ways.

 

[ThePassion]

The Skins offered the most. Plain and simple.

Exactly. And as a PR move to show the Eagles do care about their players (unlike Bwest or Dawk) they used the Washington thing to say they were looking out for McNabb. Win Win.Hopefully next year vs the Skins its Win Win as well...

 

[CaptainHook]

i dont know if the skins offered the most but its definitely safe to say they offered the most out of the teams mcnabb wouldn't have made a stink about going to.

 

[Jason Wood]

I have to be honest, this is the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

 

[Cassius]

Surprised this thread is still on the front page.

 

[GregR_2]

My theory is that the Eagles are happy and willing to face McNabb twice a year.

Mine too, as well as getting some picks out of the Redskins hands to weaken them long-term. Teams don't usually trade guys they fear to play against within the division, so common sense tells me that even though he improves the Redskins they still think they can roll over them.

The Eagles know all of McNabb's weaknesses and have the defense to exploit them.

Wouldn't that go both ways? Won't McNabb know all of the defense's weaknesses, as well as Reid's?

Maybe it's just selective memory, but what comes to mind is the Raiders/Bucs SB in which Gannon had the worst SB performance in history versus his old coach.

Raiders/Bucs, you had someone with intimate knowledge of an entire team go to a different team and prepare them to the level that they knew the audibles and what plays were likely to be called, etc.If that situation applies to today, it is that McNabb carries that info to the Redskins which can be used against the Eagles. The Eagles won't know the Redskins terminology, plays, etc, any better for having had McNabb on their team previously. But the Skins will know more about the Eagles.

That said, I'm not sure McNabb can impart as much of difference making information as a coach, e.g. Gruden, could in that situation. A QB has his own job to prepare for and not be spending his time teaching the defense. Players switch teams all the time without seeing a Bucs/Raiders situation to that degree. But a coach, that's part of what he does is get his team prepared in that fashion. Just my 2 cents.

 

[SSOG]

You do realize that Shanahan worked with the Broncos and Elway back in the 80s and that Elway had most of his best years in the NFL, in the 80s and 90s, when working with Shanahan, right? Do you not remember the work Shanahan did with Jake Plummer? Pretty much every QB Shahanan has worked with for any length of time in the NFL played his best when working with Shanahan....Elway, Steve Young, Brian Griese, Jake Plummer, Jay Cutler, etc.I realize that a decent portion of fantasy football players hate Shanahan because of how he has driven them nuts over the years with his RB situations, but you can't ignore the facts.

Shanny was there both for Elway's MVP award and for Elway's late-career resurgance. Steve Young worked with Shanahan for 3 years and those three years wound up producing all three of his career first-team AP All Pro awards, his OPoY, and both of his MVPs. Griese's best season came under Shanahan (100+ QB rating in 2000), Plummer's best seasons all came under Shanahan, Cutler's best season so far has come under Shanahan, even Bubby Freaking Brister had his best season under Mike Shanahan. The only guy who Mike Shanahan has worked with at the NFL level who hasn't had the best season of his career under Shanny was Jay Schroeder, who Shanahan coached for half a season with the Raiders. There are only two guys, imo, who legitimately have a strong enough track record to be considered QB gurus. Shanahan's one of them (Holmgren is the other).Personally, I think the idea that Bradford was the driving force behind Philly trading McNabb is ridiculous... but Shanny knows how to get the best out of his QBs. On that point, there is no debate.

Surprised this thread is still on the front page.

Hey, we all have to do our own little part to keep the offseason entertaining.

 

[switz]

Shanahan didn't join the Broncos and Elway until 1995... he was the Raiders HC and 49ers OC before that. Elway already had like 11 years under his belt before being coached by Shanahan.

No offense, but you really need to do your homework.

 

[B-Deep]

I've heard that now that the truth is out there, the Skins are doubling their efforts to get Bradford JUST to pull one over on the Eagles!

stay tuned

 

[nysfl2]

My theory is that the Eagles are happy and willing to face McNabb twice a year.

Mine too, as well as getting some picks out of the Redskins hands to weaken them long-term. Teams don't usually trade guys they fear to play against within the division, so common sense tells me that even though he improves the Redskins they still think they can roll over them.

The Eagles know all of McNabb's weaknesses and have the defense to exploit them.

Wouldn't that go both ways? Won't McNabb know all of the defense's weaknesses, as well as Reid's?

Considering that McNabb didn't even know the rules for overtime, I doubt that Philly is too concerned about this. Plus, QBs generally spend most of their time preparing for and looking for weaknesses in the defenses they are going to face, not their own team. Coaches spend their lives analyzing what their QBs do well and don't do well, and how to exploit/cover up those things.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Charles Robinson, a great NFL writer with yahoo had this to say on his twitter feed:

Per the buzz that Eagles traded McNabb 2 Redskins 2 keep Sam Bradford out of NFC East, several sources say it's legit. Still hard 2 believeI know this: there are some w/ the Eagles who really, really like Sam Bradford. It lends some credence to them wanting him out of NFC East.

I guess what makes it so hard to believe is that the strategy may not even work, unless they are counting on Snyder's urge to win now and not invest the pick in a delayed gratification player, and it may not even be necessary, unless they have info (maybe from former coach Pat Shurmur?) that the Rams will pass on Bradford.

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

We all know the real reason. Donovan is still really an Eagle. When they play this year, right at a critical point, McNabb is going to throw an obvious INT then rip off his jersey to reveal an EWO shirt.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

This has to be the single most idiotic trade theory ever recorded by mankind! Seriously!

"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

 

[Tom Servo]

We all know the real reason. Donovan is still really an Eagle. When they play this year, right at a critical point, McNabb is going to throw an obvious INT then rip off his jersey to reveal an EWO shirt.

For life!!!

 

[Saint]

I think Schefter must have been hanging with Holmes when he thought of this theory. I feel dumber for having read this post.