I also don't think that trading Brown is a signal the Eagles are rebuilding this year. Remember, the Eagles have a fabulous record of ditching veterans at exactly the right time. Our depth and talent at CB is a huge weakness right now, and perhaps not one that we can fix for 2010, but that doesn't necessarily mean we're going to just firesale all the veterans and rebuild.

Nor does trading McNabb mean rebuilding. I've said it before - Kolb is better than McNabb right now.

Man I hope you're right, but I just haven't seen any evidence that it's true. He started two games last year - he was awful against the Saints but ran up his numbers in garbage time. He was great against the Chiefs, but you or me probably would've done pretty well in that spot too. That's all we've seen of him. I hate to be so skeptical, but I'm just not sure what the Kolb-lovers have seen that I haven't, to the point where you think he's better than a borderline hall-of-fame QB that's aging but still putting up numbers that are close to Pro Bowl level.

lol wishful thinking.

I agree about the Eagles dumping vets at the perfect time. I just trust the team at this point. Have they ever dumped a vet who went on to have very much production at all? Duce was only effective for a few weeks as a Steeler, I guess Troy Vincent wasn't really a huge liability for the Bills but nothing special.

But yet, the city still goes nuts every time the Eagles make a decision like this.

Just saw the trade. Terribad that there isn't at least a high 3rd to show for Brown. Gocong a 5th, whatever I guess. But a quality starting corner for just a 4th & 5th, this was a steal for Cleveland in every sense. I imagine both will be starters this coming year.

Yeah, I mean, I have no problem with them getting rid of aging veterans a year or two earlier than most other teams would. They are really good at predicting when guys are about to fall off a cliff, and that's one of the biggest edges we've had for years now compared to other teams. It sucks to have to see your favorite players leave, but it is often the smart decision. So I don't have a problem with the idea of getting rid of Brown in itself. I just feel that we could've gotten more value than we did out of him.

I think Kolb is a better fit for the team right now, overall is he a better quarterback than McNabb right now, I have no clue.

However, one thing I like about Kolb is that he seems decisive, and I believe is going to more accurate than McNabb on the short/medium routes. We will miss McNabb's creative ability to make plays that shouldn't work work, but I think at this point in their careers their strengths/weaknesses roughly even them out, with preference depending on what system and personnel you have.

he was not awful against the saints at all. did you watch the game and/or the rewind? it was a solid effort against a superior team where things just kind of spiraled in the saints' favor in the second half.

also there was an article about how mcnabb's numbers have been steady, and how those numbers were top 5ish QB in ~2002 but the league has evolved and those same numbers are now top ~15 (rough estimates but you get the idea).

The Saints were also the #1 defense in the NFL in the first part of the season when Jabari Greer and whoever their second corner is were healthy. They tanked in the second half when both got hurt, then both came back and voila, they won the super bowl.

Yeah, seriously. Fink is the man but I'm not sure what's in his head about this. I'll be happy if Kolb becomes an average starter, and I think that's a question mark.

I'm not a huge fan of the Brown/Gocong trade, but I don't think it's awful. Gocong sucks, so basically what we got was in return for Sheldon. I really thought we could have gotten more, but whatever. Sheldon was for sure getting replaced within the next two years anyway, and if we make the switch to Kolb, I don't think we are contending for a Super Bowl in that time frame anyway.

Meh, I didn't think losing Heckert would be a big deal at all, but the way the team has been run since he left has been disappointing. He's made some questionable trades, and the way the McNabb situation has been handled has been pretty poor no matter what side you're on. The front office never let this much go public with Heckert.

My thinking is that McNabb is basically an overrated product of a great system. Is he a good quarterback? Yes. Is he very good? No. He's inaccurate, streaky, injury prone and takes way too many sacks. His pluses are that he generally makes good decisions and doesn't throw interceptions, and his (now diminished) running ability.

This is evidenced by Jeff Garcia, who came in and was just as good as McNabb over a solid sample. Kevin Kolb, granted in a tiny sample, was also just as good as McNabb in two starts last year. He played well against a terrific Saints defense, and then torched the bad Chiefs. Which is exactly what McNabb has done year after year; be average against good teams, and great against bad teams.

I like what I saw of Kolb when he had the chance to start last year. He was accurate. He was poised. He looked like a leader. He looked ready to me. Am I an NFL scout? No. I've been wrong about guys before, and perhaps some of my faith in Kolb is just wishful thinking. But, if nothing else, I think the drop from McNabb to Kolb is a LOT smaller than other people think.

This is a very good point...

I would argue that he would have been even better had he been in a system that fits him better. He isnt a west coast offense qb, he cant 3 step drop and fire. He's a scrambler and play maker, no matter how many times he tries to tell us hes a pocket qb.

I think he would thrive in most systems that are not this one.

The reason you saw jeff garcia do so much better is because in his case, this offense truly is built for the type of qb that he is. Someone that can throw into tight pockets, trust the recievers and get it done quickly. dmac just isnt that guy, never was, never will be.

you're right about kolb being not that big of a drop from dmac, i think the offense will look exceptional with him at the helm, of course they will still go 8-8 cause they are ****ing morons that let go everyone that actually plays hard and they do it for a mother ****ing 5th round pick. This defense is going to be awful, who are your hitters now? I hear recievers are pretty scared of asante samuel and marlin ****ing jackson.

I don't really think a defense needs "big hitters"...just people who can get the job done (prevent ppl from getting in the endzone).

a lot of my belief in Kolb's ability largely comes from the two games earlier this year, the fact that Andy scouted this guy in HS and liked him so much to draft him with the team's first pick in 2007, and the way the team still believes in him after 3 years of practice. the success that AJ and Garcia had in McNabb's absence is another good argument for the real value of a system QB for our team. but our FO is so good at making +EV moves that their confidence in Kolb is almost good enough reason to suspect that he will probably be a solid QB.

Say what you want about McNabb, but I think you'll be fortunate to find a better franchise QB with any one of your next 3 future starters at that position, starting with Kolb. And I say that thinking fairly highly of Kolb.

I think a lot of Philly fans have forgotten what it means to actually have a mediocre or crappy QB (like the majority of the league does). Ok so he's getting up there in age and you want to develop new talent, and you can get some value for the older player... great. But saying he's not a "very good" QB is a bit much. So he's not top 3 or 5 but he's high enough to give a team everything it needs at the position. He might not have any rings but it's not like the guy can't win big games or anything.

Try being one of these teams who have to get by with castoff free agent QBs, draft busts, guys going to jail, and whatever year after year. Then I think it becomes a little clearer how rare a QB like McNabb actually is.... most of these up and coming Ryan/Flacco types will be lucky to do for their teams what McNabb has imo.

Cliffs: Yuh-huh McNabb is so a very good QB

espn ssays eagles agree to trade mcnabb to redskins!??!?!?!?!?!

Yeah just catching that

******ed.

WHY THE F ARE WE TRADING FOR THIS OLD QB WHO IS NOT VERY GOOD ANYMORE

to trade your star player to a rival within your division requires a lobsided deal. They better have gotten a great deal or im going to be even more furious than i was after they got a mother ****ing 5th for sheldon brown. ffs

I assume it's for the 2nd rounder, but that alone doesn't seem enough to trade McNabb within the division... maybe they get a late rounder with it, or some kind of conditional pick or something.

If not, A+ Skins move, and horrible move by Philly.

wow, espn says its for their number 2 this year

jesus christ

I feel ill. were going to have to face this twice a year

fwiw they got a 4th and a 5th for Brown (and Gocong).

though McNabb to the Redskins is ****ed up, yo.

and a 3rd in 2011