Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid confirmed yesterday that the team is entertaining offers for quarterback Donovan McNabb.
The latest rumor has McNabb headed to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for the #33 overall pick in the draft and FS OJ Atogwe according to beat writer Jeff McLane. According to McLane’s sources, McNabb is willing to go St. Louis if he can reach a contract extension with the team.
Adding credence to the report are recent comments from Andy Reid regarding the new draft format in which only the first round occurs on day one. ”I’d love to have that first pick of the second day,” Reid said, referring to the 33d overall pick. “Where you can sleep on it, regather your thoughts, which you normally don’t get to do.”
A league source said that it was “not yet completed,” in reference to whether or not a deal was in fact on the table between the Rams and Eagles. The comment leads one to believe that not only is a deal on the table but that it is close to being consummated. Rams G.M. Billy Devaney, however, went on record and called the report “utterly false” and “absolutely ridiculousl!”
If this transaction were to go down, McNabb would be reunited with Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, his former quarterbacks coach with the Eagles and St. Louis head coach Steve Spagnuolo who was a defensive coach (secondary, linebackers) for the Birds.
PCPTAKE: In my opinion, late first round and early second round picks are the most valuable selections in the draft, considering the obscene amount of money that goes to the unproven players at the top of round 1. As Reid intimated, the 33rd pick holds even more value, since you’re essentially on the clock overnight. This gives you the ability to not only consider your own pick but evaluate trade offers to move out of the pick for a much longer period of time. Throw in OJ Atogwe, one of the leagues top free safeties (and a need position for the Eagles) and this deal makes a lot of sense.
UPDATE: In a recent segment of PFTV, Mike Florio made two very strong statements regarding the McNabb situation.
#1 He know believes that it is inevitable that McNabb will be traded.
#2 He believes that the Eagles fabricated the Rams trade scenario in order to drum up some trade offers from other clubs.
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say. “The Wildcat offense worked in college,” he said. “It was something that came out last year with some teams starting to do it, but I don’t think it will last that long. I think people look at the Wildcat as a copout,” he said. “(Vick’s) a quarterback. He’s not a utility guy. He’s not a receiver. He’s not a running back. Too many times people focus in on numbers instead of what we’re focusing on, to win the ballgame. Whenever the guy was on the team and they lined up and he had the ball in his hands, they had the best chance of winning. And
that’s what you want to do to great players.” McNabb then completely reversed course by discussing the possibilities of both he and Vick on the field at the same time, “If I get to move to receiver for a play and he steps in and back there with Westbrook and McCoy, now you’re adding another dimension that the defensive coordinators, it provides a problem for because you don’t know who to stop. Then you throw in a little DeSean out there as well and then me at the receiver position, I mean you’re talking about some highly skilled guys out there.”
McNabb’s and Kolb’s contracts are set to expire following the 2010 season. Wesseling suggests that a second rounder might get the job done and that the St. Louis Rams would be a good fit, pointing out that Rams Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur was Kolb’s QB coach in Philly and that incumbent starter Marc Bulger’s time is running short. 
option to utilize them in the future. McNabb is a was due to make $9.2 million this season and $10 million next season. The new deal is reportedly for $24.5 million, with another $1 million in potential incentives.
It had appeared that the Philadelphia Eagles were simply going to restructure Donovan McNabb’s current contract, giving the superstar QB a bump in pay and appeasing him while they try to figure out what in the hell to do with Kevin Kolb. It now appears that the team is set to extend McNabb’s deal, by two years…and with $19 million in guaranteed money! According to 
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