“That’s a very well-coached football team. They’re going to continue to win a lot of games.”

That's Ravens coach Jim Harbaugh, standing up for the guy that used to employ him.

It's not nice when you lie, Jim, even if you have good intentions.

* * * * *

So, just because there's no escaping the discussion of this... well, no, Donovan McNabb wasn't playing very well today. He was far from alone in that. He also had turned the ball over seven times in his last seven quarters, which I guess was one time too many for Eagles coach Andy Reid.

Did he deserve a benching? The points for it.

1) If the quarterback in a West Coast system doesn't play well, you're pretty much out of luck. (Also, that guys that run West Coast systems think they can do it with any QB, but that's a whole 'nother story.)

2) It's not like McNabb has shown enough mobility so far this year as to make that part of his game a clear edge over Kolb.

3) If it works, you've got a spark for the rest of the year.

4) It's highly unlikely that the Ravens had much game-planned for Kolb.

5) There might be something else going on in the locker room, in practice, and behind the scenes. As outsiders, we'll never know.

The points against.

1) If you honestly wanted Kevin Kolb to succeed, giving him his first taste on the road in Baltimore, without any semblance of a running game, is a funny way to show it.

2) When McNabb hit the bench, the team was down three points on the road against what we can all pretty much assume is a better team. No matter how you might fall on this decision, we can all agree on one thing: it didn't work.

3) Yet again, the more effective running back (Correll Buckhalter) got almost no work, while the sad remains of Brian Westbrook did little with more touches. The play calling was also as ridiculous as usual, with 41 passes called against 17 runs. So, um, if you're arguing for Reid's judgment as being a good thing, you've got plenty of legroom on that bus.

(Updated: Buck seemingly got dinged up in the game. He was also one of, um, two running backs available for the game. I have no words for this personnel work, really.)

4) Reports have it that McNabb wasn't even informed of the change at halftime; Reid had the quarterback coach tell his starter. Nice to know the past ten years of service doesn't extend to, well, being a goddamned man about it. Why not text him the message, Andy?

5) There is absolutely no defense for the playcall that led to the 108-yard TAInt that sealed the game and season. (It was second and goal from the two-inch line. They threw. Words fail.)

Cris Collingsworth made the point tonight that while he wouldn't have made the move to McNabb in this game, he also wouldn't go back to him for the rest of the year, so that the team can sees what they have. I'm fairly sure that will be the case, but honestly, in the circle of thoughtful Eagle fandom that I run in, there's less interest in bringing back Reid than there is in bringing back McNabb (and if you want to clean sweep the entire roster, we're not going to complain).

You see, unlike McNabb, I'm pretty sure that Reid hasn't really helped his team win a game in years. Unlike McNabb, Reid does things like franchise LJ Smith, trade for Lo Booker, continues to employ players that cost the team games, can't be trusted with a challenge flag, etc., etc., etc.

Donovan McNabb, if cut loose today, would be employed in the NFL with a similar level of job within a week. Andy Reid, if said the same, would not.

So if you're an Eagle Fan, and you want Reid back next year, you're rooting for them to close the year with Kolb and win.

And if you're an Eagle Fan, and you want McNabb back, you're rooting for them to lose every game with Kolb.

And if you're just hoping for the best thing for the franchise moving forward... hell, I don't know, maybe five more ties.

But as for me, I'll boil this down to its simplest essence. In my points league, I own Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin. They'll be starting next week. And I'll be rooting for them.

Hard.