McNabb to Start; What Now?

One day after pulling the rug out from underneath his franchise quarterback, Andy Reid is ready to put Donovan McNabb back in.

Reid announced today that McNabb, and not Kevin Kolb, would be the starting quarterback this Thursday when the Eagles take on the Arizona Cardinals. This is a surprise, because Reid probaly lost McNabb's loyalty and trust after pulling him yesterday.

When Reid decided to make the switch to Kolb yesterday, it was a huge move. Not only did it change the game, it changed so much about this orgainization and the outlook.

First, from the perspective of trying to win the game, it was a bad call. McNabb was playing poorley, with two interceptions and 1 fumbel. But the fumbel was not his fault, as the Raven was allowed to freely get a hit on McNabb as he threw the ball. And the first interception, even though he did make the throw, should have been defended better by DeSean Jackson. The second interception was purely his fault, as he threw it right to Ed Reed.

But despite all of that, the Eagles were still only down 3 points. It was a must win game in which the defense was dominating the Ravens offense. The 10 points allowed were more the offenses fault, as they put the Eagles defense in a bad situation off turnovers. So the game was still very much winnable. And on the road, in pretty much a playoff, must win situation, who do would you want under center? The 10 year, pro bowl, experienced quarterback, or the 2nd year, never played a meaningful snap quarterback? Reid went with the latter.

As we all know, the choice completely backfired. Kolb threw two interceptions, including one that was ran back for a touchdown. The Eagles ended up being blown out. You could tell there was no chance the Eagles were going to win the game. The Ravens were not afraid of Kolb. The game was over the minute McNabb was put on the bench.

So as poor as a descion it was from a game management perspective, it was a worse call from a franschise perspective. Everyone knows if the Eagles don't make the playoffs, McNabb is likely gone. But at this point, how do you get anything in a trade for him? When Reid told McNabb to sit down, he threw all of the blame on McNabbs shoulders, and killed any value he had. If he would have let McNabb play it out, maybe McNabb turns it around. But by pulling him, you ruined his confidence. How does he not look over his shoulder knowing he can get pulled on Thursday night?

I personally believe that when Reid decided to bench him, he was trying to save his own job. Alot of the talk this week was about Reid and how he could be gone after the season. McNabb caught alot of heat for the Bengals game, but Reid caught more. By benching McNabb, Reid threw all the blame off of him, and onto McNabb. He pretty much made McNabb the scape goat for the whole season. Reid and McNabb have allways had each others back, and neither ever really critizced each other. It was an unspoken truth that McNabb and Reid were a pair, and they would go down, or rise up together. But yesterday, Reid stabbed McNabb in the back. Despite all the poor coaching choices, and making McNabb play with the likes of James Thrash and Todd Pinkston, McNabb never threw Reid under the bus. Not only did Reid throw McNabb under the bus yesterday, he pretty much put him on the bus out of Philly.

So lets say McNabb is gone after this season, which is looking more and more likely. I think the only reason Reid put him back in as the starter for Thrusday is to get something for him via a trade in the off season. With McNabb gone, what does this mean for the orgainization? This is not a young team by any means. Westbrook is looking more and more like a broken down player. At no point this season has he looked like a player then can carry this team by himself. Plus, Reid will allways want to throw it. The only reason he has had some success is because of the play of McNabb. Teams used to fear McNabb. No one is going to be afraid of the Kevin Kolb- Reggie Brown connection next season. If your going to get rid of McNabb, you need to blow the whole thing up.

With McNabb gone, your going to have major holes at quaterback, left, and right guard next season, since Runyan and Thomas most likely won't be back. Those are arguably the three most important positions on the offense. And that is not even mentioning the complete lack of a fullback. Reid pretty much decided just to no have any one of the roster for that position this year. So theres a need for a fullback to.

If McNabb goes, Reid needs to go to. Start this thing from the ground up. You have two first round picks next year, so that is a place to start. Do you want Andy Reid making those picks? This Eagles team needs a young, enthusiastic coach to come in here and light a fire under this team. Changing the quarterback does change the face of the team, but changing the coach changes the franchise. Which team has a better chance to win next season: A team with McNabb at quarterback with a new coach, or a team with Kolb at quarterback and Andy Reid?

I think McNabb does. When Reid pulled McNabb, it was an attempt to save his own butt, to show he knows more then we do, and to save the season he's runied. But all it did was prove that he needs to go. McNabb has played poorly this season, but Reid has cost the Eagles more games. This season, all Reid is doing is running this once pround franchise into the most mismanged, worst team in the city.