It seems like we were talking about this at this time last year. Oh yeah, we were.
Then-[intlink id=”374″ type=”category”]Philadelphia Eagles[/intlink] quarterback Donovan McNabb was clearly on his way out of Philly and [intlink id=”41″ type=”category”]Brett Favre[/intlink] was giving every indication he planned on staying retired, which, in hindsight would have been a tremendous idea. So, why not reunite McNabb with his former offensive coordinator, then-[intlink id=”35″ type=”category”]Minnesota Vikings[/intlink] coach [intlink id=”66″ type=”category”]Brad Childress[/intlink]?
Obviously, a lot has changed since then.
McNabb got shipped to the Washington Redskins, where he more-or-less sucked it up before getting benched in favor of former [intlink id=”13″ type=”category”]Chicago Bears[/intlink] dud, Rex Grossman. McNabb has to be the first dude in history to get benched in favor of Rex Grossman, but that’s not what’s important here.
On the Vikings side, Favre came back, played like crap, got hurt and finally retired, while Childress got canned before the season was even over. So, the Vikings, who are the biggest steaming pile of shit organization in professional sports, are looking for a quarterback again.
Every indication is they plan to draft one early in this year’s draft, but starting a rookie quarterback in the [intlink id=”527″ type=”category”]NFC North[/intlink] isn’t likely to go well. That leaves the Vikings with two choices — either go with incumbent Joe Webb to open the season or sign a veteran signal caller to start while they prepare their new guy.
The latter route makes more sense. The Vikings are going to be in the lower half of the division regardless, but bringing in a veteran at least gives them a chance to compete, which is why some are saying McNabb makes sense… again.
“He would be plugged into a system where they have Sidney Rice -– they’ll find a way to keep him there — and he would have a lot of weapons, with Adrian Peterson in the backfield. With everything they have going offensively, they’ll be able to plug in McNabb and have success,” NFL Network analyst Jon Jansen said.
Jansen is right about one thing. Whoever the quarterback is, he’ll have at least two decent weapons in Peterson and receiver Percy Harvin. The big question is Rice.
Rice will be a free agent when the new collective bargaining agreement is signed. The Vikings chose to use their franchise tag on linebacker Chad Greenway, so there’s no guarantee Rice will be back.
Perhaps the bigger question is, does McNabb have anything left?
Marshall Faulk echoed Jansen’s sentiment.
“I believe that Donovan will go to Minnesota, and he’ll help this team out, being the veteran quarterback that he is.”
Personally, I couldn’t disagree more.
McNabb has played only one full season in his last seven (2008). He threw more interceptions than touchdowns last season, for the first time in his career. His touchdown total (14) and quarterback rating (77.1) were the lowest they’ve been since his rookie season, when he only started six games.
Those are not the numbers of a quarterback that frightens me.
McNabb may be an upgrade over Webb, but that’s about it. Either way, the Vikings are going to suck and it tickles me pink.
Donovan McNabb has always been one of my favorite players, putting up with all that shit in Philadelphia with all the class in the world…i mean, the dude got booed on draft night, he was never really accepted. I think the Redskins day was more of a fluke than anything, the Redskins are a pretty dysfunctional franchise, so Im not ready to declare him done yet. If i was anybody but a Packers fan who wants to see the Vikings fall flat on their face then I would say make this move in a heartbeat. While he may not be the best option, he’s the best out there and theres a far bigger chance that he’ll at least show a form of his older self with more offensive weapons and a slightly better offensive line than regress like Washington…and this is a reason I dont want it to happen haha. I dont neccessarily think McNabb makes them a contender, but I would hate to see one of my favorite players go to one of my most hated teams.
I can see the Queens making a move like this. The Vikings have become the quarterback retirement home of the NFL. Might as continue that traditional and continue the tradition of choking. Either way (Webb or McNabb) our secondary is going to have a field day with them.
As a Packer fan, I’m all for this. Minnie is the home of washed up QBs so why not? Let’s give McNabb a try. My greatest hope would be that they pick up McNabb and then don’t even draft a QB in the 1st round. That would be hilarious.
While I have always been a fan of McNabb, because of his class as a person, I opposed the trade that brought him to Washington. Having said this, I caution those who wish to judge his remaining value, based on what he did last year. Consider the following: (1) he had no offensive line; (2) he had no real recievers; (3) he had no running game; (4) he had to learn a new offense; and, (5) he had an idiotic egomaniacal coach who thought that, after 12 years in the league, DM should change his mechanics. It’s a little late for that – don’t you think? If Minnesota put up with Favre’s mechanics, I am sure they will be okay with DM’s. I am not saying that he can still play – what I am saying is that it is impossible to judge based on his experience with Football’s Funny Farm.
The 4 reasons you listed are the common excuses for why mediocre quarterbacks are mediocre. But I am not basing my opinion off last year. I am basing it off all the mediocre years preceding last year.
I agree that Donovan could have some success with those weapons around him, but I would also expect the same McNabb, meaning an 8 or 9 game season, at best, where he plays 3 good games and half ass the rest.
Hopefully the Queens waste picks on trading for McNabb and/or drafting Cam Newton.