Number 5

Well, I've been getting a lot of requests for opinions on what seems to be shaping up as McNabb-gate.

1. Yes, there has been an unusually high level of speculation, comment, or leaks from and surrounding the Eagles this off-season with respect to the fate of Donovan McNabb.

2. Yes, I do believe that Kolb's performance during the fill-in accelerated any succession plans the Eagles may have had before.

3. The implosion at the end of the season resulting in the loss of the division title as well as ending the playoff run did not help McNabb's case. Whether you consider this fair or not, he is the quarterback, and as such such will draw either the most or second-most heat for the fortunes of the team he plays on. The other guy on the hot seat in these situation would be the head coach.

4. Is there any precedent for a team dealing a Pro-Bowl caliber QB who still has gas in the tank? Hmmm, let's see: Kurt Warner and Brett Favre are the most recent examples, but Warren Moon and Randall Cunningham also come to mind.

5. What's my personal take?

• It's never smart to air these things out in public. Philly is already a wicked tough sports town and all the commotion of the past few weeks can not be good for the Eagles (although better now than later). And what if you don't trade him? Makes for some hard feelings, despite what people like to think about professionalism and the widely known fact that football's a business.
• Hate to say it, but it depends on what Philly gets for Donovan. If the Eagles trade McNabb and fill in a hole or two with players and good draft picks (like the all-pro safety from the Rams), then it's probably worth the gamble on Kolb. Though it would then require that the Eagles pick up another QB in this year's draft for insurance. First of all, I don't like Vick, and I don't trust him. Second, Kolb had 2 good outings that amounted to garbage time in one game and a pushover defense in the other. True, it doesn't hurt his case that he performed, but I wouldn't call that a generalizable sample.
  
• Might have to take a page out of the Green Bay playbook. Although for full disclosure, I thought they were rat-bastards and the lowest scum for how they treated Favre (and yes, he's a diva but that was no excuse). In other words, I don't know if I can be comfortable with a deal with the Vikings or Cardinals given all the other pieces they already have in place. If we have to deal with a strong team, make it an AFC team.
• Despite the fact that this may look like it makes good business sense for the Eagles, let's not confuse a possible trade with blaming McNabb for Philly's playoff difficulties. Over Mcnabb's career they have had the best record in the NFC East outside the fact that Eli has a trophy. I may not be Donovan's biggest fan, but once he's gone, that crowd in Philly is gonna ask for you to bring out another Christian.