Eagles Offseason: Quarterbacks

Donovan McNabb will return for his 11th season with the Philadelphia Eagles.  Joe Banner already said so.  Andy Reid said so.  So why do I get the overwhelming feeling it's not that simple?

Because it may not be.  Amid all the discussion about McNabb remaining an Eagle lingers his desire for a new contract and a boiling frustration with the fans and head coach.  If he still holds a grudge over some boos, imagine how he must stew over his benching.

The fact is, this story can still play out where Donovan winds up elsewhere.  Nobody within the organization wishes to entertain that idea now, especially with the most unpopular backup QB in recent memory waiting in the wings, but it's a reality.

The question the front office must ask is exactly what McNabb is worth.  If he is awarded a new deal, how many more years do we commit and how much money can we afford to spend?  Even the biggest fan must take a step back a ponder the consequences of another huge contract for a quarterback whose talent has likely peaked while failing to deliver a championship.  That could change of course, but for now it's an accurate assessment.

You could argue he doesn't deserve a new contract at all.  Donovan will earn over $9 million in '09, and eight figure salaries every year until the contract expires after 2013.  Plus, he has the option to terminate the agreement himself in 2011 if he feels slighted by the club.  Sounds fair for the services he's provided.

Ultimately though, the goal is to keep Kevin Kolb off the field.  It would be premature to label him a bust, but if nothing else he showed he is not yet prepared to take over.  The good news for the Eagles is they can probably placate McNabb by restructuring the current deal, adding in more guaranteed money.  In one more year, his contract becomes entirely base salary, which means they could cut him at any time and take no hit against the salary cap.  This obviously puts all the risk on the player.  If he were to suffer another serious injury, he could simply be dumped the following season, and he would be a huge question mark as a free agent.

Just how perturbed is Donovan though?  Does he hate Philly fans?  Is he worried about looking over his shoulder?  McNabb can still make this situation very hard on the Eagles, and almost force an exit if he desires.  I personally believe he has too much class for such a power play, but it's impossible to know how strained he perceives his relationship with Reid, or with us for that matter.

The safe bet is Donovan McNabb is here next season, because that's what the Eagles want.  As we examine their options this offseason though, we might consider at least the possibility of life without 5 while these issues exist.

Comments

[David F.]

Bring 5 back, but get him another receiver to throw to! (I know you don't agree with that second stance Kulp but work with me here.)

[David F.]

But a good point about Donovan's relationship with Reid and the fans. In late season interviews he seemed so disconnected in a way I've never seen from him before, ESPECIALLY when it came to discussing the fans. In an interview with NFL Network after the Giants playoff game Neon Deion asked Donovan if he liked the fans in Philly. McNabb stayed quiet for a while, then said very sarcastically, "Sure! I LOVE them!" I wouldn't be shocked if he requested a trade this offseason, but I pray it doesn't happen.

[Kulp]

Haha, well I will never be against anything that makes this team better. Jackson and Curtis are an alright 1-2, but I agree there is room for improvement. It all depends on the player.

[zfg]

I'm hoping McNabb stays around at least for the next 2 years, because I sincerely doubt that we could find anybody better in that time span. I agree that he should get another receiver to throw to as well. Granted, we CAN win with our current group, but it could certainly be a lot better. Reggie Brown and Greg Lewis haven't done much more than take up space this year, so those are two wide receiver positions that could be easily upgraded. Secondly, let's consider the fact that Plaxico Burress turned Eli Manning into a Pro Bowler and Super Bowl MVP (even if the MVP was a complete farce -- the defense deserved it). Imagine what a guy of similar talents could do for Donovan, who is actually a good QB to start with.

[eric]

change the banner back to the phillies, please?

[Tartan69]

I second Eric's request. And while we're at it, can we talk more about Flyers/Sixers now instead of solely the Eagles? Thanks.

[chris]

please bring back the Phillies banner...PLEASE!

[HLH]

I think we should bring back 5 because I still believe he is a top QB in this league. But I would also bring him back because there is nothing to trade him for. There are no players I see worthy enough trading Mcnabb for. And if we trade him for a first round draft pick the odds are we won't use it anyway. I don't think Kolb is trash. But I don't think he is the QB of the future here. Sure he had the most passing yards by a QB in the preseason last year. But he also played the most out of anyone. I say bring back Mcnabb and hopefully we will win the Superbowl one day with him. But if not I'd like them to keep an eye on Daryll Clark. If he keeps getting better I wouldn't mind picking him up when he comes out of college.

[TC]

Definitely bring back 5. Some Eagles fans are ungrateful for what we really have at QB. Not calling anyone out here, just saying... Don is the man, and I still firmly believe he'll get the ring for us. Maybe I'm a huge dreamer, but I believe in him. With that being said, Don can't do it all himself. I think the Eagles need a big back and another receiver. It's probably cliche at this point to mention a back and another receiver, but its true. Look at the two teams left standing; they each have a strong powerful wideout (Ward, not necessarily big, but strong as a horse then Fitzgerald, the guy is big and strong). Look at the two teams left standing last year, each had a big wideout; Burress and Moss. People say it all the time, but Reid goes out and gets a big play cornerback, so he must see the threat that a receiver poses. Why wouldn't he get his own team a threatening receiver? None of our guys put fear into any defense. TO is a bum, but look what this team did with TO. Yeah, that superbowl was lost, but TO wasn't healthy.

[DLo34]

@ Kulp

1. I don't care what 5 thinks about the fans. Really at this point, and reading some of the assanine comments on this site about McNabb and the shit he hears at the Linc, could you ever blame him?

2. We need to start a sign T.J. website. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is the answer to out no one to throw to in the red zone issues.

3. L.J. out; Tra out; Runyan in; Dawk comes back one last season.

4. Sign Mikell long term.

5. Draft a running back early. Westbrook needs someone else to rely on who can run the ball up the middle. Draft a safety to be Dawk's ultimate replacement. Draft/sign a tackle to replace Tra.

6. McNabb stays.

7. And I personally think Marty Mornigwheg (sp?) should be fired, not Reid.

[will.H]

i love 5. while the shortcomings and the almosts bother me, i believe hes still the best option. we need that player (receiver) that other teams say "man, i wish we could stop that guy." That is one of the biggest factors in the craphead cardinals being in the superbowl. man, i wish we could stop that guy=fitzgerald

[KB]

I would love to see Kenny Britt(6'4, 215 Pretty damn strong. Similar stats to Crabtree, minus the TD's with a much worse QB and a balanced offense) on the Birds, but I wouldn't take him in the first. But I not 100% sure another young WR would address the teams current issues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HYzZzufMRU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5bmvT8odZ4

McNabb needs to stay, but unless BWest gets healthy I could see McNabb having more trouble next year.

[TC]

@DLo34

Yo I like the sound of T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

[zfg]

@TC

The Eagles could very well have lost that Super Bowl even if T.O. (who is a jackass, but certainly not a bum) was completely healthy. A great receiver doesn't guarantee a championship. In fact, you can have a great receiver and go 0-16 (see: Johnson, Calvin). The thing to take away from that is that the one year Donovan had a big play receiver, he had his best statistical season. The point of a a wide out isn't to catch perfectly thrown balls when they're wide open, but to MAKE PLAYS. Donovan had some bad throws this weekend, and that is on him, but do you think Larry Fitzgerald wouldn't have come down with that 4th down pass?

[TC]

@zfg

I don't think Calvin Johnson has proven to be great yet, in the NFL. I also never said a receiver guarantees anything. There are no guarantees. But a big strong receiver increases your chances dramatically. And Don had more than a great "statistical season" the year with TO. The birds were 13-1 that season before shutting it down. I think that is more than "stats".
The point of every player being on the field is to MAKE PLAYS. Our receivers are not big enough or tough enough to be the number 1 guy who's going to catch fades in the endzone like Burress, or knock guys over like Ward, or catch the deep jump ball like Moss. Those are examples of making plays.

[eckriebel]

This team can win. I would like to point out that during the playoffs and several points during season, the team still seemed still be a notch below the upper crust of the league talent wise. I think Andy Reid has mad mistakes in the talent department. I would like to point out that we have a pick in the early 20's (I believe 23). I think we are more than capable at reciever (DJ, Curtis, Celek). I would like to see us make a move to ensure we could get Knowshown Moreno. I have watched him in person over 10 times in the past 2 seasons. He is a perfect spell and future replacement for westbrook. I feel he is a tougher, smarter version of Reggie Bush. He has a tremendous motor, great pass catching ability, and is a willing and strong in picking up the blitz. The mock drafts I have seen have hime going between 19-22. We would need to move up to get him but he is more than worth it.

[Kulp]

Calvin Johnson = great.

78 catches, 1331 yards, 12 touchdowns... no quarterback.

I'm not typically one for effusive praise after one good season, except he met (and to some, exceeded) expectations in the face of complete and utter failure all around him.

[TC]

@Kulp

Those are great stats, but does that make a great player? His team won ZERO games. I don't think you could call anyone on that team a great player. Not to mention, his team was playing from BEHIND all season. Of course he's going to have a ton of yards receiving.

Lots of players have great stats, but by no means does that make them a great player (especially based upon 1 year). Johnson could end up being "great" but he is not yet. The team went 0-16.

Look at Iverson for comparison. He has had great stats in the NBA, but he's not a great player. Of course, he'll prob make the HOF, though.

[theKrisheim]

talk about the flyers more?

seriously?

[zfg]

@TC

Yeah, I think we're both driving at the same point, I just came off as way more of a dick than I intended to in my post. My bad.

[jd]

could mcnabb win it all if:

he was running the arizona offense?
he was running the pittsburgh offense?
he was running the NYG offense with burress?

i think he could. keep him, invest in an offensive lineman, draft another good WR and RB.

[Billy]

If we get 5 a legit number one we will reach the Superbowl, it happened once and it will happen again. TJ or Boldin or any elite number one with desean at 2 and curtis in the slot is as good a receiving corps as any..

Oh and Calvin Johnson is better than TJ or Boldin, I would shit a brick if we got him

[Kulp]

@ TC

Normally I would agree with some of that. You can't blame a wide receiver for going 0-16 though, and despite constantly trailing, the Lions ranked right in the middle of the pack for pass attempts.

The biggest thing is it was only one season, but the guy was the number two pick in the draft for a reason. The fact that he was able to put up those numbers without a legitimate NFL QB, while paired with lousy complementary receivers, and when teams were expecting the Lions to pass it to him, their only weapon, that all says a lot about how amazing a receiver he is.

I understand why you don't think great is the right word, but be prepared to cross that threshold soon.

[TC]

@Kulp

The fact that he was able to put up those numbers without a legitimate NFL QB, while paired with lousy complementary receivers, and when teams were expecting the Lions to pass it to him, their only weapon, that all says a lot about how amazing a receiver he is.

Yeah true that. I agree. So lets hope the Birds get a legit wideout.

[Bfisch]

Number One wideout and a Power running back.

[Scott B]

get Boldin or TJ. I dont believe CJ is available. Boldin hates the Cardinals, who walks out after your team won its first NFC title in X amount of years.

we can give them Lito a ham sandwich and a few picks over the next few years.

[will.H]

its such an old topic but it has a lot of merit. get a receiver that commands attention. curtis, jackson, celek is a good core to work around. the rest are just system guys, eventhough i like avant. It makes sense to have a very dynamic receiver in a pass oriented offense. get the receiver.. end the doubts.

the cards arent in the superbowl because of darnell dockett or rogers-cromardie

[jsb34]

what good are better receivers if 5 can't hit them, or throw inbounds? QBs need to be accurate. He isn't. Once again, with the ball in his hands and teh game on the line, he failed.

[js1057]

We do need a #1 wide receiver, no question. Think about it, a legit #1, Jackson #2, and Curtis back in the slot where he belongs. Too bad Matt Millen is gone, maybe we could have gotten Calvin Johnson for Dorenbos, a cheerleader, and an IHOP gift card....damn.

[will]

get rid of cobb. he sucks. i couldn't believe they made aj inactive for all three playoff games.

@TC:

iverson isn't a great player but he'll make the hall of fame?

[PhiPhan5648]

Wow... if you compare the talk right now, to the talk at the end of last season, you really see a pattern. Get a Proven Numer One Wide Reciever? Sounds like we're been preaching this for years, and years, and years, and years. The only time we had a glimmer of that need fulfilled, was in 04, when we had the Giant Douche, with a side of Turd Sandwich in Terrell Owens.

But I have to agree... keep Super Five, Sign a Free-Agent Number One Wide Out, Put D-Jack in the Number Two, Kurtis in the Slot, and suddenly, the one weakness of the Eagles team the past god knows how many years, is a Strength.

P.S. I'd keep Avant for the Fourth WR, drop Baskett for trade-bait somewhere, lose Brown immediately, and maybe, just maybe keep Greg Lewis for Shits and Giggles, and because he's not terribly, horribly, bad at Special Teams.

Oh... and as far as Kolb. He could be a good QB in the NFL, but I don't think he can in our system of offense. The Eagles have been running a "Scramble QB" for a few years now, and Kolb is a Pocket Passer.