In addition, I don't know if you've noticed, but I did pick the perfect time to do so.
I am an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan. I have been since, oh, about 7 or 8 years old. My heart always pulls for the underdog, so when I saw Joe Gibbs' Redskins pummel Philly week after week, I began to feel like Philly needed all the help they could get. And after watching countless Emmit Smith touchdowns and more Aikman-to-Irvin calls from the announcers than I can remember, I found myself rooting for the Eagles on every play of every game. It seemed the only team we had a chance to beat was a couple teams that wouldn't play on Mid-Atlantic television, or the St. Louis Cardinals (who at the team were part of our division, and have since moved to Arizona -- you can imagine the ancient frustration I felt watching them play the Steelers in the Super Bowl).
So this brings me to the present day, practically. Donavan McNabb, 33, is traded to the Washington Redskins for the 37th overall pick in the year's draft, and a conditional pick next year.
You can see the story all over the web, so I won't bore you with that. But here's is how Washington is better off: first they get an instant starter and clear upgrade over Jason Campbell. You also get a mentor for him to teach him how to handle the pressure on and off the field. This kind of leadership Campbell has not had during his stay at Washington and is highly valuable. Second, this clears the way for a no-pressure pick at no. 4 overall in the draft.
Now, Philly wins, as well. Last year the Eagles' defense was reduced to rookies (Macho Harris, a cornerback converted to free safety(, third-stringers (Joe Mays and Tracy White, both primarily special teamers filling in at linebacker) and has-beens (Jeremiah Trotter, the once-Pro Bowler who had been out of Football for nearly two years) just to keep the required 11 men on the field. Injuries had blown holes in the defense and clearly they needed help. With the only real depth being a QB, and all of them entering their last year on contract, it was time to move someone.
McNabb made the most sense. So now, Washington has their safety net, and Philly has picks to help defense. Now it is just up to both to use them wisely.
