Five, Oh

In the last few weeks, the rumors around Donovan McNabb being traded have swirled and intensified, to the point where it seemed more when, not if. And tonight, it finally happened, as ESPN reported that the club had sent him to Washington for a meager collection of draft picks.

In the last three months, the club has released Brian Westbrook (sad but expected), traded Sheldon Brown to Cleveland for ordinary picks (unknown, unexpected), and now, moved McNabb. From what I can tell, they went in this direction because (a) Andy Reid just enjoys Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb that much, and (b) no one would give them much for Vick.

Now, this blog is on record as being ready to move on from the McNabb Era, so I'm not going to go back on that just because the return on investment seems poor. But why they had to move him to a division rival, and a club that hasn't had steady quarterback work for decades... well, I just don't get it. The last thing you want to see from a guy that might have five good years of work ahead of him (given the life expectancy of QBs in the new post-contact NFL world)... well, it's to see him two times a year, in a division that you need to win to go anywhere in the playoffs. Were the packages that Oakland, San Francisco, St. Louis and others really so much worse, or was Washington the only suitor?

In any event, this solidly puts us into the start of the Kolb Era... which, given the sudden crushing lack of veteran depth, the defensive secondary issues in the wake of the Brown trade, and the usual growing pains that accompany a new QB, should give the team that 6-10 year that we've all been waiting for, to prove that the QB does matter. But at least it'll be a rising action, which will make enduring the 10 wins and a playoff spot that the Skins will enjoy like it's the second coming of Theismann worth it. Right?

Tonight, McNabb issued one of his perfunctory little press releases, talking about how he was looking forward to working with Mike Shanahan, and how there were more good times than bad in his 11 years here. And yes, all of that is true, and there's something that reeks of ingratitude in not having a moment as he leaves town, but... really, you suspect he could have written this about any number of teams for immediate release for years now. A simple and heartfelt "Screw You, Cap'n Andy, and the idiot clowns who puled for Ricky Williams and made my career much harder than it needed to be" would have been great. Or, at least, would make me owning his jersey a little easier to take right now.

In other words, if you are an Eagles Fan, as I am... well, it might be best to just check back in Summer 2011. By then, you might even have a new coach to go with your new QB. And the wheel rolls on..