The irony of Donovan McNabb’s return to Philadelphia on Sunday vs. Michael Vick and the Eagles is the two quarterbacks easily could be playing for the opposite team.
The Redskins passed on Vick last year when he was released from prison after serving 18 months on dog fighting charges. Washington wasn’t alone — 30 other teams also didn’t want the heat that came with signing Vick. Only Philadelphia was willing to risk picketers, knowing the controversy would eventually pass given that American attention spans are shorter than Tom Cruise.
And now the Eagles look awfully smart. Vick has McNabb’s old job and Philadelphia is the surprising NFC East frontrunner. Jeers turned to cheers just like they always do when an athlete finds redemption on the field.
Oh, what a strange series of twists.
McNabb returns to his “home” of 11 years sure to be roundly booed. Philadelphia chat room threads about “McStabb” are home to passionate debates normally reserved for election-eve politics. Eagles fans don’t remember McNabb fondly even though he led Philadelphia to one Super Bowl and five NFC championship games before being traded to Washington in March. Americans remember Benedict Arnold more fondly than Eagles fans recall McNabb.
Lincoln Financial Field will be home to the loudest round of boos the Redskins will hear this season — well, at least until they return to FedEx Field the following week. Vick has quickly replaced McNabb — ironic, because he’s only on the Eagles because McNabb vouched for him last year.
The Eagles traded McNabb because they believed Kevin Kolb was ready to start. But Vick replaced the injured Kolb in the season opener and blossomed into the Vick of old. His passer rating has been 100-plus in all three games. He has thrown 118 straight passes without an interception, energizing the Eagles’ offense.
Frankly, this isn’t surprising. Vick remains a great talent. He simply needed last season just to get his head back into the game. After all, who goes straight from a prison to a ball field without needing some adjustment period? But 14 months later, the new Vick has made Philadelphia forget the old McNabb.
Should Washington have grabbed Vick last summer — eliminating the need to trade for McNabb? In hindsight, it’s a definite yes. However, Redskins vice president Vinny Cerrato — whose legacy continues to condemn this team for what feels like an eternity — didn’t want Vick. Meanwhile, Eagles coach Andy Reid proved why he’s one of the NFL’s smarter personnel guys by gambling on him.
The Redskins can’t complain about McNabb, but Vick would have been the smarter play, especially if Washington doesn’t re-sign McNabb after this season. It’s just another reason why Philadelphia annually contends and Washington can’t escape the NFC East cellar.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
