Donavan McNabb Squash Trade To Buffalo Bills

To the surprise of almost no one, the Eagles pulled the trigger Sunday on the long-anticipated trade of quarterback Donovan McNabb.

You knew the Eagles wouldn’t let the Phillies open their season Monday without a major announcement, right?

The shocker was dealing McNabb to the NFC East rival Washington Redskins, not the Oakland Raiders or the Buffalo Bills, the teams he apparently vetoed according to sources and reports.

When all was said and done, Eagles got the Skins second round pick this year, No. 37 overall, and either a third or fourth-rounder in 2011.

Kevin Kolb is the starting quarterback, according to Eagles head coach Andy Reid. Michael Vick is the backup – for now, at least.

In Washington, where the Phillies begin defense of their National League pennant, McNabb will take orders from newly hired head coach Mike Shanahan. Throughout his career McNabb has been compared to John Elway, the Hall of Fame quarterback who at age 38 won the first of back-to-back Super Bowls with Shanahan and the Denver Broncos. That makes the deal all the more puzzling.

“I’m going to sit here and tell you that he’s going to help the Redskins be a better football team,” Reid said. “And then time will tell on the rest. We’ll just see how things go as time goes on.

“I’m pretty confident that this is the right thing to do.”

Details weren’t immediately available but privately the Eagles have a reasonable chance of getting a third-rounder in 2011, indicating the deal is reliant on McNabb signing a contract extension with the free-spending Redskins. McNabb has one year left on his contract.

Reid called the trade a collective decision by himself, owner Jeffrey Lurie, president Joe Banner and general manager Howie Roseman.

Reid denied McNabb handpicked his team but conceded the 33-year-old veteran was “happy” about the destination. Without naming teams Reid also intimated the Birds turned down better offers for McNabb.

“You’ve seen things like this throughout the league,” Reid said on a conference call. “You’ve seen other quarterbacks who have moved on to one team where the compensation wasn’t as good and they ended up where they wanted to be. You’ve seen Drew Bledsoe leave the Patriots and wind up with the Buffalo Bills. I just felt that this was best for us and best for Donovan. And that’s really what it came down to.

“I do know that Donovan is happy about this. I just know that he was fine with going to the Redskins and he’ll do a fine job with them.”

Lurie, Banner and Roseman addressed the McNabb trade in statements.

“Donovan McNabb was more than a franchise quarterback for this team,” Lurie said. “He truly embodied all of the attributes of a great quarterback and of a great person. He has been an excellent representative of this organization and the entire NFL both on and off the field. I look forward to honoring him as of the greatest Eagles of all-time and hopefully see in enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton one day. I wish Donovan and his beautiful family great health and joy for many, many years to come.”

Banner described McNabb as “the ultimate professional.

“He has an incredible work ethic and has been an integral part of our success,” Banner said. “Over the years, Donovan has always carried himself with a great deal of dignity. He’s an excellent role model for young men and women from across the region. In my mind, he’ll always be remembered as one of the greatest Eagles of all time.”

The move paves the way for the Eagles to extend the contract of quarterback Kolb, also in his last year. That might have to wait a bit while the NFL and the NFL Players Association sorts out its labor dispute.

The Redskins starter is Jason Campbell, who last season threw for 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions leading the Redskins to a 4-12 record. Campbell could be on his way out, as the Skins are scheduled to meet this week with draftable quarterback Casey Clausen.

McNabb has been the Eagles’ starting quarterback the past 11 seasons. He threw 22 TD passes and was intercepted 10 times in his last season with the Birds.

In his career McNabb has completed 59 percent of his passes for 32,873 yards, 216 TD’s, 100 interceptions and an 86.5 passer rating.

The Eagles have five of the first 87 picks in the April 22-24 draft, and 11 overall.

“The fifth pick in the second round, that’s not a bad pick,” Reid said of the second-rounder from the Redskins. “Particularly the way the draft is setup now where you can kind of take a breath after the first day and evaluate who’s left.”

All of that said, it was fairly obvious Reid’s bond with his first-ever draft pick – the second overall choice in the 1999 draft – impacted the trade. It almost was as if Reid didn’t want McNabb to get too far away. Except for the fourth-and-26 completion that defeated the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs, Reid had too many McNabb memories to list.

“Every year was a great year, that’s what I know,” Reid said. “And every day was a great day. He was a heck of a kid – and he still is. He’s not going to change. Great person. Always fun to be around and he made everyone around him better.”

New York Jets Corners Cromartie And Revis Key To Super Bowl Crown

The New York Jets pulled off a wowzer of a move that gives them perhaps the most dangerous cornerback tandem.
The New York Jets reached a deal in principle for San Diego cornerback Antonio Cromartie.The NFL's best pass defense has reached a deal in principle to obtain Antonio Cromartie from the San Diego Chargers for a 2011 third-round draft choice that could turn into a second-rounder. That gives the Jets two cornerbacks who are 26 or younger and have been first-team All-Pros within the past three seasons.

Those guttural noises you're hearing are AFC East quarterbacks doubled over with stomach pain at the thought of Cromartie getting back to his shutdown form of a couple years ago.

Darrelle Revis was an All-Pro for the Jets last season. Cromartie was honored in 2007, when he led the NFL with 10 interceptions.

I guess the Jets won't be trading for Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, which was a fun topic to kick around for a while.

But the idea of Revis and Cromartie is almost as scary.

Cromartie replaces Lito Sheppard, who the Jets released Thursday rather than pay him a $10 million roster bonus.

Cromarite isn't guaranteed to shine. He has been inconsistent the past two seasons. He has gotten scorched for touchdowns. He badly misses tackles. He has off-field issues (seven children by five women) that must be considered.

Jets coach Rex Ryan has a knack for getting the most of defensive players. Cromartie is an exceptional athlete, and playing opposite Revis will mean he doesn't have to face the opposition's top receivers on a weekly basis.

Kyle Vanden Bosch Signs With Detriot Lions

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch agreed to a four-year deal Friday with the Detroit Lions thanks to the personal touch of coach Jim Schwartz.
Kyle Vanden Bosch says that Detroit coach Jim Schwartz put on the full-court press immediately. What it resulted in is a player who improves the Lions immediately, as Kevin Seifert notes.

Schwartz wanted the Tennessee Titans starter to open free agency and landed Detroit's top target by waiting in Nashville outside Vanden Bosch's home when free agency began.

"I could be anywhere in the country right now, and I'm on your front step because you're the guy I want," Vanden Bosch said Friday morning on radio of Schwartz's message. "He's a great coach, and last night he was a great salesman."

Vanden Bosch said on WGFX-FM 104.5 The Zone that Schwartz left around 2:30 a.m. with only the final details to be worked out. Schwartz worked with Vanden Bosch when he was Titans defensive coordinator.

The deal is worth $26 million, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Vanden Bosch, 31, will be due $10 million in the first year of the contract, The Tennessean of Nashville reported.

A nine-year veteran, Vanden Bosch spent the past five seasons with the Titans, getting all of his 43½ career sacks. He was a first alternate for the AFC last season despite only three sacks and played in his third Pro Bowl in January. He still ranked fifth with 86 tackles and 20 quarterback pressures.

Buffalo Bills Blitz Top 2010 NFL Free Agency Rumors

The Bears have been quiet the last two years or so of free agency, with their biggest (no pun intended) splash being Orlando Pace. That didn't work out too well.

The Bears, though, have made moves in the past. Arguably their best signing in the last few years was Muhsin Muhammad, who helped their receiving corps at the time.

With a do-or-die year for coach Lovie Smith and possibly GM Jerry Angelo, I wouldn't be shocked if they went on a spree. I also wouldn't be shocked if they didn't.

Let's look at the top prospects for the Bears this free agency period.

Big Targets

Julius Peppers

Sources say the Bears are high on Peppers, but the price might be too steep. Peppers is expected to ask for $15 million, something the Bears might not be able to offer.

Peppers can help this defensive line, which is key in the Cover-2. If the defensive line plays great, the pressure is off the secondary by a lot.

Peppers' numbers have dropped the last few years as he was in a contract dispute, and that could be a bad thing for the Bears. He could also turn out like an Albert Haynesworth, who got a huge contract from the Redskins last year but didn't produce top defensive line numbers like he was paid.

I don't expect the Bears to make a quick signing on Peppers Friday morning, but if a deal were to be made, it will be by Sunday.

Peppers is also rumored to say Chicago is in his top four destinations. Can the Bears compete with the Eagles, Redskins, and Patriots, though?

Antrell Rolle

Rolle is the best safety in free agency this year, and it's clear the Bears need a safety big time. If Peppers isn't signed, Chicago is expected to make a huge play for Rolle.

The converted cornerback to safety can cover, something most in the Bears secondary can't do. Arizona is expected to attempt to re-sign Rolle, which could force Chicago to raise its offer. I expect the best chance for the Bears to land a defensive player is going to be Rolle.

Karlos Dansby

Dansby might be the best free agent that no one is talking about. A play making linebacker that would only be a complement to Briggs and Urlacher. With Urlacher being on the decline of his career, Dansby could shine in this defense.

The Bears seem interested in him, but only if they can get him for a reasonable price. I don't see the Bears shelling out tons of money for this guy, but he might be worth it. The Bears might even be in play for both Dansby and Rolle, which would provide an instant upgrade to their defense.

Will Take a Look At

Brian Westbrook

Released by the Eagles after a couple disappointing seasons, Westbrook said he would love to play for Chicago. In a Mike Martz offense, Westbrook could be a contributor in the passing game out of the backfield. He can also complement a one-two punch with Matt Forte. The Bears will give a look at him, but it's doubtful they will sign him.

LaDainian Tomlinson

A running back released in the decline of his career, much like Westbrook, L.T will have to settle to being a backup no matter where he goes. He could also be a nice complement in a Martz type of offense. He and Forte could be a dangerous duo in the backfield, taking the pressure off Jay Cutler.

Dark Horse
Darren Sharper
Sharper won a Super Bowl with the Saints, but he wants to get paid. Sharper would be a nice fit in a Cover-2 defense. A big physical play making safety is just what the Bears need. I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up a Bear by the end of the weekend.

Long Shot
Thomas Jones
Jones is the best running back available, and a return to Chicago would be really nice. But it wont happen. With teams like Seattle and San Diego needing running backs, Jones would be a better fit in one of those places.