Donovan Lands in D.C. and Shakes Up the NFC East

So let me get this straight - Donny Mac is a Redskin, Butler played in the National Championship (and came inches away from winning the thing!), the most dominating pitcher of his era picked up an opening day victory in a Phillies uniform and Tiger Woods actually answered questions he didn't know were coming... What kind of bizzaro sports world have we wandered into?

If you're a sports fan, the past 72 hours have been very kind to you. A dizzying series of events on and off the playing field have shook things up. Golf, basketball (men and women's), baseball and football each took turns playing hot potato with the national spotlight. Even our old friend HGH - the equivalent of "weapons of mass destruction" in the sports realm - made an appearance during Tiger Woods' press conference on Monday.

To make matters better, we are finally beginning to reap the benefits of global warming! (Welcome to New Brunswick: the new Myrtle Beach!). Though there are plenty of tremendous topics to examine from this flurry of happenings, our focus shifts to the exodus of a superstar from the City of Brotherly Love.

Mercifully, the awkward game of "will he stay or will he go?" has come to an end in Philadelphia. The Eagles shocked many by dealing Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins - a hated rival. The franchise's all-time leader in career wins, pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns will swap green for burgundy next season and has the opportunity to begin what he calls "a new chapter in the book of Donovan."

Philly receives Washington's second-round pick - 37th overall - in the upcoming NFL Draft, along with a conditional fourth-round selection in 2011. That fourth-round choice can become a third-rounder if one of two conditions are met: 1) McNabb is selected to the Pro Bowl or 2) the Redskins win at least 9 games with McNabb playing at least 70 percent of the snaps.

The price seems fair. Ignoring his injury history, McNabb is easily worth a first-round draft pick. But that baggage is undeniable, and you can't demand full value for a guy with wear and tear. Reports surfaced that Washington initially would have preferred to send $100 million man Albert Haynesworth to the Eagles in return for McNabb. The mammoth defensive tackle is just one season removed from his 2008 MVP-caliber campaign but supposedly there is already a rift between the star and new head coach Mike Shanahan - who is shifting the defense to a 3-4 scheme. The Eagles opted to decline the offer and demanded draft picks instead due to Haynesworth's hefty contract and a commitment by the organization to carry on with its youth movement.

Last week, a very wise man compared the career paths of McNabb and Hall of Fame QB John Elway (see article below). It didn't take long for Shanahan to do the same. During Monday's press conference, the former Broncos head coach recalled his time with Elway and said he saw many parallels in McNabb. Shanahan inherited a 35-year-old Elway upon his arrival in Denver. At that time, many Broncos fans had grown weary of their star quarterback's ability to bring the team so close to greatness only to come up short each time. Four years later, Elway was riding off into the sunset as a Super Bowl MVP and two-time world champion.

The foundation of Shanahan's offensive strategy is an overpowering zone blocking scheme that keeps defenses off balance with misdirection, cutback runs and a mobile quarterback. He provided Elway with his first quality rushing attack in 1995 and the rest is history. This offseason, the Redskins added veterans Larry Johnson and Willie Parker to a backfield that already featured the aged Clinton Portis. The trio would have formed a dream team in 2006. Today, each of the backs are at a career crossroads. But if there's one thing we know about Shanahan, it's that his running backs always produce. His game plan made 1,000 yard backs out of Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Ruben Droughns, Tatum Bell and Portis. You have to imagine at least one of the Redskins' running backs will emerge from the group and have a resurgent year (my money is on LJ).

The Redskins now have a playoff-caliber defense, an above average backfield and a Pro Bowl quarterback under center. However, Washington's offense does have two glaring weaknesses - offensive line and wide receiver. The team's pass protection would be helped tremendously if the 'Skins grab Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung with the fourth overall pick in the draft on April 22. Okung is a prototypical left tackle who could keep the 33-year-old McNabb upright and pain-free. Rumors have Washington toying with the idea of pursuing receiver Brandon Marshall, who Shanahan coached in Denver. Marshall would provide McNabb with his best weapon since Terrell Owens, but the Redskins likely do not have the ammo to pull of yet another bold trade.

A more likely scenario would be for Washington to nab a receiver later in the draft. Sure-handed Texas wideout Jordan Shipley would be a nice addition to a receiving corp that includes veteran Santana Moss and second-year men Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly. Remember, the Redskins also have talented tight end Chris Cooley for McNabb to target. McNabb has been successful with far less in years passed and if Shanahan can shore up his offensive line, there's no reason why McNabb shouldn't establish himself as Washington's best QB since Joe Theismann.

From the Eagles' perspective, a fresh start has arrived. Andy Reid's squad now has just three players - safety Quintin Mikell, center Jamaal Jackson and kicker David Akers - remaining from the group that went to Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005. Back then, the team's core was made up of McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Brian Dawkins, Terrell Owens, Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan. Flash forward five years and the starring roles are occupied by DeSean Jackson, Trent Cole, Asante Samuel, Jason Peters and suddenly Kevin Kolb.

Kolb's career trajectory is reminiscent of Houston's Matt Schaub, who played very well in limited duty as Michael Vick's understudy in Atlanta before being shipped to the Texans. Reid is no idiot - though some Philly fans would love to debate the issue. If he has enough faith in Kolb to unload the only franchise quarterback he's ever coached, then you probably should as well. The Eagles' offense will likely remain unchanged with Kolb running the show - which means a whole lot of passing. Expect him to rack up a ton of yards through the air in '10. The important thing is that Kolb protect the football - something his predecessor excelled at for much of his career in Philadelphia.

How is No. 5 feeling in the wake of this stunning blockbuster deal? Well, apparently he's taking it pretty well - and he should be. Of all the teams mentioned in connection with McNabb - Buffalo, Oakland, Seattle, Cleveland - the Redskins are by far the best landing spot. Washington owner Daniel Snyder is known as a player's guy - sometimes to a fault. He treats his stars extremely well and has already begun working with McNabb on a new multiyear extension. Shanahan and his son Kyle, the Redskins' new offensive coordinator who did wonders in Houston, are known for their ability to put quarterbacks in a position to succeed.

Ultimately though, the best feature of playing for Washington from McNabb's standpoint is that he gets to catch up with his old pals twice a year. He says playing against the Eagles will be no different than taking on any other NFL team, but is anyone buying that? This won't be Brett Farve vs. Green Bay, but it's the closest thing we've seen to Farve Mania in recent memory.

Things have become very interesting in the already dramatic NFC East. The Cowboys should improve simply because of continuity - a rarity in Dallas. The Giants will surely be motivated following an embarrassing end to 2009. Washington was a lock to remain in the division cellar until the Easter Day trade. Now it would be a disappointment if the Redskins don't win nine games. And then there's Philadelphia - which ran the roost in the division for the better part of a decade. The Eagles shouldn't fall off much by swapping McNabb for Kolb and are now armed with five draft picks in the first three rounds. Those selections will be used to fill holes at defensive back, linebacker, safety and guard.

The NFC as a whole has quickly become ultra-competitive. Only Detroit, Tampa Bay and St. Louis appear resigned to use 2010 as another step in the rebuilding process. The hunt for the conference's two Wild Card spots should be epic - with McNabb and Reid likely at the forefront once again. I believe two playoff teams will reach the postseason from the NFC East. Dallas appears to be in the driver's seat for now - meaning the Giants, Eagles and Redskins could be left to duke it out for the final playoff spot.

Can't you just picture it now? A bitterly cold Monday night in late-December at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Reid and Kolb scheming on the home sidelines, while Shanahan and McNabb work together across the field. Nearly 70,000 green-clad fans passionately cheering against a man who is arguably the greatest Eagles player of all-time. Sixty minutes of emotional football for a shot to join the Super Bowl chase. Four quarters to determine who got the better of one of the most jaw-dropping trades in league history.

Whatever happens after Sunday's swap between division foes will define the remainder of Reid's tenure in Philly and the beginning of Shanahan's in Washington. Make no mistake - both gambled with a lot on the line.

I have a strong feeling that in three years, one of these highly-respected coach will look like an absolute fool for making this deal. I'm just not sure whether it will be Shanahan or Reid.

McNabb's 14-second scramble vs Cowboys in 2004:

No. 5 to "Fred Ex" on fourth and 26 vs Packers in '04 playoffs:

McNabb's 62-yard go-ahead TD pass to DeSean

Jackson in '09 NFC Championship:

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