Why the Eagles will not trade McNabb to the Bears
A columnist in the Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer put forth the idea that the Eagles could trade Donovan McNabb to the Chicago Bears for LB Lance Briggs before the season starts. It’s not going to happen.
The reasoning behind this rumor is that the Bears need a quarterback and the Eagles still could use a little help on defense. Briggs, a very good linebacker, has vowed never to play for the Bears again. So, the thinking goes, why wouldn’t Chicago trade him and get something for him.
Well, for one thing McNabb is still rehabbing his ACL injury. Speculation varies a bit but no one will know for sure how health he is until he plays some real games which will not be until the pre-season games at the very earliest. And even then I’m not so certain Chicago would make the trade since McNabb would then have very little time to learn the Bears’ offense.
From the Eagles point of view, they do not want to trade him because they feel they can compete for the Super Bowl this season. Without McNabb the Eagles will not contend this season. Also the Bears stand in the way of the Eagles reaching the Super Bowl this season, why make them stronger? Finally Lance Briggs would not make the Eagles defense that much better. Certainly the not such a dominating force that they could win with A.J. Feely at quarterback. A quarterback can make or break a football team, not so much a weak-side linebacker.
The 2007 may be McNabb’s last with the Eagles however I doubt very much that he will be traded before the season even starts, mostly due to his ACL.