Aaron Rodgers' Neighborhood » donovan mcnabb

RBs Are Dropping Like Flies

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:54:14 +0000

First LT was released by the Chargers. Now, the news today is that the Philadelphia Eagles will release Brian Westbrook on March 5th, when the 2010 calendar year for the NFL begins. Westbrook is the Eagles leader in career yards from scrimmage, but has never played all 16 games in a season and was injured for the vast majority of the season last year. With Westbrook due $7.5 million, the logical move was to get rid of Westbrook.

So what does this mean for the Eagles and Westbrook? For the Eagles, it means that RB becomes an instant need for someone to back up LeSean McCoy. The Eagles could either go for a free agent RB like Chester Taylor or LT, or pick an RB in the upcoming draft. Taylor or a drafting an RB seem most likely– since the Eagles love versatile pass catching RBs and LT doesn’t seem to fit the bill. I also doubt the Eagles get rid of McNabb after this move. Getting rid Dawkins, Westbrook, and McNabb in a 2 year period might be too much for the Eagles fan base to bear. The Eagles were a playoff team last year, and I doubt the Eagles brass wants to completely blow the team up by getting rid of McNabb. Transitioning at RB and QB in the same season would likely be too much for this team, which had an explosive offense for most of the season. So strangely, this move may have solidified McNabb’s future in Philly.

As for Westbrook, I wouldn’t be shocked if he retires. Westbrook is just too injury prone to warrant a starting job, and rumor has it that Westbrook was already thinking about the future after the severe concussion he suffered knocked him out for the end of last season. I doubt Westbrook has a lot of suitors, so retirement seems like it may be his best option at this point.

In other RB news, rumor has it that Darren Sproles, the heir apparent to LT in San Diego, will not be signed to a 1 year deal by the Chargers after being franchised tagged last season. That means either Sproles will be signed to a long term deal, or will be out on the market if the team doesn’t pay him. Given Sproles’ versatility I wouldn’t be shocked if someone tries to pay him an absurd amount of money to take him away from the Chargers. S.D. pretty much has to draft an RB if this report is true, in which case a lot of change is coming to SD’s running game next year.

NFL Rumors: McNabb on the Move?

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:46:35 +0000

It doesn’t take long into the offseason for NFL rumors to heat up. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Eagles have already received calls from at least 3 teams– the Broncos, Browns, and Bills–asking about the availability of Donovan McNabb. The Eagles currently have an abundance of quarterbacks with McNabb, Kevin Kolb, and Michael Vick on the roster. So speculation is that the Eagles will trade one of them in the offseason or cut Vick, who is currently paid too much to be a 3rd string QB and gimmick wildcat guy. Rumor also has it that McNabb could be the guy to go, since his contract expires after next season, he’s 33, and Kolb looked good filling in for him last year.

Does McNabb make sense for any of these teams? I don’t think so. All three of these teams have needs in other areas that are greater than QB. The Broncos have a serviceable QB in Kyle Orton and need D and O-line help, the Browns still have a young Brady Quinn and need help all over the place, and the Bills still have a young Trent Edwards and need help with the offensive line and defensive backfield. Plus, McNabb is 33, and doesn’t exactly have a clean bill of health. I think it would be unwise for any of these teams to give up a 2nd round pick to get McNabb, especially since none of them are one QB away from contending.

I doubt the Eagles will get an offer for McNabb high enough for them to part ways, since Andy Reid has publically stated that he’s committed to McNabb. The Eagles aren’t going to part with Kolb, who’s been anointed the QB of the future in Philly, for anything less than a spectacular haul that any franchise probably won’t be willing to give up. So, the most likely candidate to be gone is Michael Vick, whether he’s cut or traded. But for now, I’d say the McNabb inquiries are just that: inquiries that aren’t likely going anywhere.

Idiotic Fans of the Week

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:23:32 +0000

Although it’s easy fodder, every week the neighborhood will spotlight one particularly egregious moment of fan idiocy per week. This week’s award goes to Philadelphia Eagles fans, who aren’t exactly known as the brightest or least fickle bunch on the fan spectrum.

Why you ask? Well, according to a poll on the Philadelpia Inquirer website, more Eagles fans prefer bringing Michael Vick back to play for the Eagles (33.9%) than Donovan McNabb (32.6%). Now while support for either of these guys isn’t very high and the poll sure isn’t scientific, that the “approval rating” for Donovan McNabb is even low, let alone lower than Michael Vick is about as idiotic as Tiger Woods thinking he could get away with sleeping with 15+ women and never get caught.

Let’s break down the stats this year alone:

McNabb: 3553 yards, 60.3% completions, 22 TDs/10 INTs, 92.5 QB rating, 37 attempts/140 rushing.
Vick: 6/13, 46.2% completions, 1 TD/0 INTs, 93.7 QB rating, 24 attempts/94 yards rushing.

First of all many teams would KILL for a QB with numbers like McNabb’s. Vick on the other hand worked on 37 plays all year for the Eagles and spent all last year in prison. Vick is by no means the dynamic player he was with the Falcons– a dynacism that made up for the fact that he was not an accurate downfield passer (see the career QB rating of 75.9). McNabb on the other hand has been playing at a Pro Bowl level for years. Philly fans have hated McNabb from the time they (once again idiotically) booed him at the NFL Draft. Philly has a bad playoff game this year and suddenly McNabb is done and no one wants him back. Hmm…maybe its because this is coming from a fan base that mercilessly boos their own team at every opportunity and loves the chance to have a knee jerk reaction about something. While McNabb isn’t in his prime anymore, its crazy to think that he isn’t worth bringing back to a team whose offense was clicking during the season in favor of keeping a man who’s been in federal prison for a few years or a QB who played in the run and shoot during college.

Eagles fans, you are the idotic fans of the week. If you don’t want McNabb, I’ve got a bag of magic beans I can trade you for him…