Shocking, I think not

By John Gottlieb
Phanatic Magazine

So Donovan McNabb finally came out from hiding and talked about the Eagles surprise selection of Kevin Kolb in the second round of the NFL draft.

It seems as if McNabb was caught unawares that the franchise might be planning for life after Donovan.

He made an appearance on everyone's favorite fur-flinging, Burger King look-a-like talk show host on WIP and said, "It was shocking."

I always thought that McNabb was given a raw deal by Philly fans, who always expected him to be something more than a quarterback that got his team to four conference title games and a Super Bowl. But what's so shocking about the Eagles planning for the future?

It was certainly shocking that the Eagles traded their first round selection to the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys. It was also shocking that Philadelphia decided to trade out of the first round when they need a lot of help on defense. (DE Anthony Spencer went to the Cowboys, DT Alan Branch went to Arizona and OLB Paul Posluszny went to Buffalo before the Eagles made their pick, while CB Chris Houston and ILB David Harris were both still around.)

I have no problem drafting the best player available but does anybody think that that was Kevin Kolb with the 36th selection overall? Kolb wasn't even rated the highest when it came to second-round quarterbacks.

That being said, McNabb has played in a total of 19 games in the last two seasons for a total of 673 yards with 34 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. McNabb's not getting any younger and he certainly isn't becoming more durable.

Who knows how he'll come back after a devastating knee injury last season. Daunte Culpepper still isn't 100 percent after a similar type of injury two campaigns ago.

"I don't think I'm close to the end of my career," said the Philly QB, who will turn 31 in November. "People say when you hit 30, it goes down hill. I think it gets better after that. It's unfortunate I've been hurt the last few years, but things happen."

McNabb's best days on a football field are behind him, and those weren't good enough for many Philly fans. Is he all of a sudden going to shut down the naysayers? It's clear that the Eagles are regretting the hefty 12-year, $115 million contract extension they gave McNabb in 2002.

The Eagles are paving the way to get out of this contract. It won't happen this year but it's coming. Rumors swirl that McNabb isn't liked by his teammates, who conside him to be a yes-man with upper management rather than siding with the players (especially when it comes to salaries), he can't stay healthy, and he's always on the firing line.

I'm not sold on Kolb being the answer at quarterback but it's clear that McNabb's days at the helm are numbered. Anyone that thinks that McNabb will be an Eagle until 2014 is completely insane.

McNabb shouldn't be shocked but he should be prepared.