myerstownherald.com

By ERIC FISHER
The Eagles couldn’t come up with any answers between their regular-season finale against Dallas and their first-round playoff exit. Consequently, they enter the offseason with more questions.
First and foremost, they must answer the questions about their quarterbacks. Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick are all entering the final year of their respective contracts. All three will not be back next season.
There are other areas that need to be addressed: offensive line, defensive end, linebacker, safety, running back, etc. But the biggest decision will involve the quarterbacks. And when we’re talking about decisions on quarterbacks, we’re really talking about McNabb.
After 11 years, is the Donovan McNabb era over?
McNabb has never been as good as his cheerleaders boasted, nor has he been as bad as his detractors claimed. He’s been very good. At times, he’s been great.
He has never, however, been an elite quarterback. And he certainly isn’t an elite quarterback now. That’s why the Eagles should take the best offer they can get and trade McNabb.
The idea that McNabb is an elite quarterback is dispelled by looking at the other playoff quarterbacks. Peyton Manning (Colts), Drew Brees (Saints), Brett Favre (Vikings), Kurt Warner (Cardinals), Philip Rivers (Chargers), Tom Brady (Patriots) and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay) are all superior to McNabb. You can even make an argument that Carson Palmer (Bengals) and, heaven forbid, Tony Romo (Cowboys) are better than McNabb.
Of the 12 starting quarterbacks from playoff teams, McNabb ranks, at best, eighth. Critics may rank him as low as ninth or 10th.
The playoff quarterbacks comparison demonstrates that McNabb is not an elite quarterback. Even if one concedes that McNabb used to be a terrific quarterback, he is no longer worth a contract extension.
Now try to imagine McNabb playing next season without a contract beyond the end of the year. McNabb isn’t the most secure guy under normal circumstances. With an expiring contract and competition waiting in the wings, the ultra-sensitive McNabb would be even more insecure.
McNabb has already had his share of quirky moments during 2010. Following the 24-0 loss in the regular-season finale, McNabb answered a question about the Eagles’ youth by saying that, yes, the Eagles showed their youth during the loss to Dallas.
He should have responded that all the Eagles, young and old, played poorly and it takes a team effort to lose 24-0. Instead, McNabb seemingly threw the younger players, including receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, under the bus. McNabb’s passing of the buck was as off-target as his passes to Jackson and Maclin on deep routes behind the Dallas secondary.
This isn’t to say the losses to the Cowboys were McNabb’s fault. There was plenty of blame to go around. But it’s not McNabb’s job to spread that blame.
Another uncomfortable moment came as McNabb led the Eagles down the tunnel to the field prior to their playoff debacle. Actually, “led” is probably the wrong word. His teammates, including Jackson, appeared embarrassed by McNabb’s air-guitar routine.
McNabb’s pregame routine appeared to be another attempt of trying too hard to act cool and relaxed – as if nothing bothers him – when nothing could be further from the truth. We have repeatedly seen this dynamic in effect at numerous news conferences.
Speaking of news conferences, McNabb’s final quirky off-the-field moment came when he proclaimed that, despite the consecutive losses to the Cowboys, this was a great season. He also resorted to passive-aggressive behavior by sarcastically apologizing for not winning all 16 regular-season games.
Hey, Donovan! You’ve been in Philly long enough to know that any season that ends with two humiliating losses to the Cowboys isn’t a great season. And nobody is complaining that the Eagles didn’t go 16-0. But is one or two victories over playoff teams too much to ask?
It’s time to cut ties with McNabb. It’s been a great run. But it’s over. The Eagles may or may not be better with Kevin Kolb. They won’t, however, be better with McNabb returning as the starter.
My intial reaction to the idea of trading or cutting McNabb was that Andy Reid will never do it. Reid and McNabb seem joined at the hip.
Then I started thinking about the contract situation. When the Eagles restructured McNabb’s contract, they gave him more money, but did not extend it for additional years. The hesitation to extend the contract certainly indicates the Eagles’ reluctance to commit to McNabb. That is a sign that Reid may decide to go in a different direction.
The different direction is Kolb. The third-year quarterback looked good earlier this season when McNabb was injured. It’s time to let Kolb grow with the young receivers and running backs.
Elevating Kolb would also indicate that the Eagles are making a transition to the future. Bringing McNabb back would indicate to Eagles fans that they’re in for more of the same.
A new beginning trumps more of the same.
That’s why it is time for the Eagles to cut ties with Donovan McNabb.