2/12/08 Quarter Back Questions Where will quarterbacks such as Donovan McNabb and Derek Anderson be playing this season?
If your a team in need a of quarterback this off-season, your in luck. The Philadelphia Eagles may be parting ways with franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb, as well as the Browns may be doing the same with Derek Anderson. I guess it depends what your looking for. Are you seeking the proven veteran who will protect the ball, or the young gunner who may make a stupid play or two. Both these players just might be on a different team come 2008, and the question should be, is this the smart thing to do? Would it be smart to get rid of these guys? This man doesn't think so.
First, the Eagles. Why would you get rid of the man that took you to four straight NFC Championship games? It was bad enough you booed him at Draft Day, the least you could do is give the man a chance to recover from his injury. It's obvious hes got "it" back, considering he led Philadelphia to a 3 game win streak to end the season. What good what it be trading him? They would be putting their trust into a very unproven Kevin Kolb, ruining any chance to make a run at the Super Bowl this season. They have the talent to earn a playoff spot this season, but it will be tough escaping that tough NFC East. Three teams made the playoffs in 2007, and one won the Super Bowl. The key though is this; trust Donovan McNabb.
If Philadelphia WERE to part ways with Donovan, possible suiters i could see grabbing him would be Minnesota, Chicago, or possibly Tampa Bay. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the Vikings made the biggest push to get him. The Vikings are possibly an average quarterback away from being a serious Super Bowl contender, so the run at McNabb would make a lot of sense.
The Derek Anderson is a much tougher decision. Here, you have a quarter back who just won you the most games your franchise has had since re entering the league in 1999, yet he is still trade bait? Why? Simple, because they traded a first round pick in 2008 in last years draft to move up and take a quarterback of the future, Brady Quinn.
Though Quinn has yet to see the field, Cleveland has a lot banking on their home town boy and are already paying him a lot of money. What about Anderson though? Regardless, Anderson did cost them quite a few games last season, as well as winning a lot. His biggest failure came at the end of the season when throwing multiple interceptions against the Bengals to cost him team a playoff spot. You look at the team around him, and you see a lot of players who stepped up such as Braylon Edwards, Jamal Lewis, Kellen Winslow, and the entire offensive line. Did all of these players improve their game all because of Anderson? Not likely. I think that offensive line, who allowed the lowest amount of sacks all season, are high and above the MVP of that team.
I say let Anderson walk, and give Quinn a chance with that beastly line. How is this different from the Donovan situation? This is highly based on my though Anderson throws away as many games as he wins, Donovan doesn't. Also, Kolb isn't making nearly as much money as Quinn is. The time is now Cleveland, just trust Brady. I did predict a down season for the Browns in 2008, but that's because the glass is half empty for me. The sky is the limit with him under center. Sure there are lows like I predicted, but I see very bright things if that 50/50 chance succeeds. With Anderson under center, I see another 9-7 or 10-6 season, but yet again no playoffs. He just doesn't seem to have "it". Brady may or may not have it, but they'll have to find out soon. We don't want another Aaron Rodgers sitting out four seasons situation now do we? Well, that's a different situation all together.
So what have we learned? Keep Donovan, and let Derek walk. Will this happen? Probably not, but it will be fun to look back on this and see how stupid they were. Or how stupid I was, but that rarely happens...
Other Articles:
2008: End of a Dynasty?
