Mock Draft 2.0 (The Final Hour)

Well Football fans we are only hours away from the draft and it is shaping up to be a very action packed evening.  I would expect no less than five trades within the first round (probably closer to seven).  With all the expected activity, most mock drafts will look silly but hey, here's my best effort assuming the teams hold their picks.  I also added a 'should pick' comment to the top 10 to outline my personal opinion as to who they should select.  Enjoy!  Follow me on Twitter at JansenWS for instant analysis on every pick.

#1.  St Louis Rams – Sam Bradford QB

The pick here has to be Bradford. I don’t blame the Rams for taking Chris Long or Jason Smith because both seemed to be quality picks but the reality is the Rams passed on Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez.  They can’t afford to not pick a quarterback here because who knows when they will be in position to select one again.  I’ll go on record saying that I believe Jimmy Clausen will be a better NFL player than Bradford but the Rams seem to prefer Bradford and must pick a QB. 

Should pick: Sam Bradford

#2.  Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh DT

If the Lions don’t trade their second round pick for either Albert Haynesworth or Jared Gaither, then they should pick Okung and take the best defensive player available at #34.  I believe the Lions will lean towards Gaither/Suh over Haynesworth/Okung because of the financial cost of acquiring Haynesworth.  The bottom line is the Lions MUST deal the #34 pick if they want to be taken seriously as a franchise.  (See Lions Must Pounce at Rare Opportunity).

Should Pick: Ndamukong Suh (But MUST trade 2^nd rounder for Jared Gaither.  If not, Detroit deserves to continue losing)

#3.  Tampa Bay Bucaneers – Gerald McCoy DT

With Suh off the board, the decision is made for the Bucs as they acquire this disruptive force who, for all intents and purposes looks like Warren Sapp 2.0.  

Should Pick: Geraldy McCoy

#4.  Washington Redskins – Russell Okung OT

The trade for Donovan McNabb filled the void at Quarterback and shifts the entire focus to replacing Chris Samuels at LT.  This is the only pick the Redskins have in the top 100 which means they can’t afford to miss here.  Some analysts believe Trent Williams is a better fit in Mike Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme but Okung was a four year starter at tackle and was the consensus #1 tackle prospect going into the 2009 NCAA season.  He maintained this grade and will do a great job protecting McNabb’s blindside. 

Should Pick: Russell Okung

#5.  Kansas City Chiefs – Bryan Bulaga OT

Selecting a tackle here will have a trickledown effect that will result in a much improved offensive line.  I believe the pick will be Bulaga given the history between Kirk Ferentz, Iowa’s Head Coach, and Scott Pioli.  For those of you who don’t know, they worked on the Browns staff together where Ferentz was an offensive line coach.  If Ferentz believes in Bulaga, I suspect Pioli will as well.  Bulaga is a polished technician who can be inserted into the left tackle position from day one.  This will allow current LT Branden Albert to move back to his natural guard position. 

Don’t rule out Eric Berry as the Chiefs are also in need of a safety. However, we saw last year that Pioli prefers positional value over the best player available strategy when he picked Jackson over Curry.  Upgrading the line is essential if the Chiefs want to know exactly what they have in Matt Cassel.

Should pick: Eric Berry

#6.  Seattle Seahawks – Trent Williams OT

Seattle has a lot of needs, the most pressing being OT.  Trent Williams’ stock has been rising since the combine and his athleticism and upside is intriguing.  He is a perfect replacement for the aging Walter Jones.

Should Pick: Trent Williams

#7.  Cleveland Browns – Eric Berry S

The Browns need to add more playmakers on both sides of the ball, period.  Eric Berry fits the bill and is considered one of the top prospects in this class.  The fact that he is a safety might keep him out of the top five but I’d be shocked if he slips past Cleveland here.  Berry will immediately upgrade the secondary, an area of weakness, and give the defence a young leader. 

Should Pick: Jimmy Clausen

#8.  Oakland Raiders – Jason Pierre-Paul  DE/OLB

Ok I caved.  I really thought the Raiders would treat this draft with a little more caution that in the past but considering how blindly confident Al Davis seems to be in his ‘workout warrior’ strategy, I can only assume he will take an athlete here.  Pierre-Paul is a better pick than Bruce Campbell as he has a higher grade and is widely considered one of the top three DE/OLB’s in the draft.  If he can play to his potential he will be a nice addition to the Raiders front seven.  NOTE: Don’t be surprised if this pick is traded for Ben Roethlisberger within the next 24 hours. 

Should Pick: Anthony Davis

#9.  Buffalo Bills – Anthony Davis OT

I think this is a reach for Anthony Davis but last season the Bills chose not to ‘reach’ for Michael Oher and look how that turned out.  In no way am I comparing Davis to Oher but this is a situation where need has to outweigh best player available.  Gailey has recently made some comments regarding the need to upgrade the offensive line and his commitment to running the ball.  Taking the fourth tackle on the board at #9 overall is a tough pill to swallow but I think it’s the pick.  With the way the AFC East is shaping up, I would be shocked if the Bills won a divisional game this year and I suspect they can address their quarterback next year with a top 3 pick. 

Should Pick: Dez Bryant

#10.  Jacksonville Jaguars – Earl Thomas S

Having been a Jags fan since 1997, I have watched the ups and downs of this franchise very closely.  The biggest reason this team could not build on its success from a few years ago is their inability to hit on picks in the first round (See Leftwich, Reggie Williams, Matt Jones, Derrick Harvey, Marcedes Lewis). 

Rashean Mathis’s play has declined in the last two seasons and when you’re looking to unseat the Colts, you better be able to rush the passer and cover receivers.  I had Joe Haden here in my previous mock but I think Earl Thomas gets the slight edge here because he seems to be the safer pick while also providing the upgrade to the secondary that Haden would.  Had Thomas decided to return for his senior season, Mack Brown was planning on moving him to corner, a testament to his athleticism and cover skills.  

Should Pick: Earl Thomas

#11.  Denver Broncos – Dez Bryant WR

A Josh McDaniels pass happy offense does not look very threatening with Jabar Gaffney and Eddie Royal as the starting receivers.  Dez Bryant is a top ten talent and adding him would allow Royal to play the slot, where he is more effective. 

The Broncos do have needs on defence, primarily at NT, ILB and S, but with two second round picks they will have enough ammunition to move up and take a Terrence Cody, or one of the solid backers pegged in the second round such as Sean Lee or Brandon Spikes. 

#12.  Miami Dolphins – Dan Williams NT

At age 35, Jason Ferguson’s play has already started to taper off.  A good nose tackle is vital to the success of any 3-4 defence and Bill Parcells knows this.  Upgrading the OLB position is important but I think they can address this need in the second or third round. 

#13.  San Francisco 49ers – Joe Haden CB

Joe Haden is the top corner in the draft and a great value pick here for the 49ers.  His stock fell after running slow at the combine (back problems) but alleviated concerns at his pro day when he clocked in the 4.4 range.  Getting the best corner in the draft at #13 is a steal and fills a pressing need for San Fran.

#14.  Seattle Seahawks – CJ Spiller RB

By satisfying the need at LT with the #6 overall pick, the Seahawks turn their attention to playmakers.  Julius Jones is at best an NFL backup and Justin Forsett has explosive ability but is more of a change of pace back.  Spiller is a top ten talent who will immediately bolster the Seahawks offense both running the ball and in the passing game.  Combining him with Forsett gives the Seahawks a dangerous tandem in the backfield. 

#15.  New York Giants – Rolando McClain LB

I’ve had a change of heart with this pick and believe the Giants will take McClain over Derrick Morgan.  He is the top inside linebacker in the draft and sets a physical tone, something Tom Coughlin will like.  Questions about his speed make him a better fit for a 3-4 defence but he is great value at #15 and his smarts will make-up for his lack of elite speed. 

#16.  Tennessee Titans – Derrick Morgan DE

If either Pierre-Paul or Morgan are on the board when the Titans pick, they will be sprinting to hand in their draft card.  Morgan is a great against the run and can rush the passer.  He projects as a solid NFL starter.  The Titans may elect to take the risk on Pierre-Paul.   He has a rare blend of size and speed and there is no limit to his upside. 

 

#17.  San Francisco 49ers – Jimmy Clausen QB

I’m having a hard time placing Clausen and if he gets past the 49ers here, the next logical team that could pick him is the Vikings at #30.  I would bet that Clausen is picked as a result of a trade up, but since we are going with the pick order, Clausen goes here.  Upgrading the offensive line is also a need but taking the hometown kid is a great long term move for the franchise. 

#18.  Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Iupati OT

If Iupati and Kyle Wilson are on the board at this point, it could be a coin toss for the Steelers.  Wilson fills the biggest need on the team while Iupati would help satisfy Art Rooney Jr.’s desire to return to the old smash mouth Steeler way.  Back to the basics for the steelers.

#19.  Atlanta Falcons – Brandon Graham DE/OLB

The Falcons need to get to Drew Brees if they want to contend for the division title.  Graham is a solid player who works hard, can rush the passer and is stout against the run.

#20.  Houston Texans – Kyle Wilson CB

Unfortunately for Texans fans this pick is not an upgrade but rather a necessary replacement for Dunta Robinson.  Kyle Wilson has great cover skills and didn’t get as much national attention playing for Boise State.  When you play in the Colts division you better be able to cover.

#21.  Cincinnati Bengals – Jermaine Gresham TE

I think Gresham was a better prospect last year than Brandon Pettigrew and he went 21^st overall last year.  If the Bengals are serious about winning a championship they need to give Carson Palmer the tools to succeed.  He is a top quarterback in the NFL and has rebounded nicely from his serious knee injury.  The NFL is a passing league and adding Gresham will give Palmer the best supporting cast since he had TJ and Chad.  There has been talk of Taylor Mays going here because he fits nicely into Mike Zimmer’s scheme, but it’s time the Bengals spent a first round pick on helping Palmer. 

#22.  New England Patriots – Sergio Kindle DE/OLB

Here is where the Patriots long term strategy is going to pay off.  They have three picks in the second round which gives them a lot of assets that they can use to move around in the draft.  Kindle will provide Belichick’s defence with some much needed pass rush ability.  I still think the Patriots are closely targeting Jared Odrick.

#23.  Green Bay Packers – Maurkice Pouncey C/G

Charles Brown is a bit of a stretch here and does not fit Ted Thompson’s best player available strategy.  Upgrading the offensive line is a must and adding the versatile Pouncey accomplishes that goal and satisfies the BPA strategy.  Kindle or Graham are also options if they are on the board. 

 #24.  Philadelphia Eagles – Kareem Jackson CB

Kareem Jackson has been rising as we get closer to the draft and the Eagles do have a need in the secondary.  I would be very surprised if the Eagles don’t trade out of this spot given the amount of picks they have and the rumours that they want to move up and take a safety.  

 

#25.  Baltimore Ravens – Jared Odrick DT/DE

The Ravens look to add depth along the defensive front and Odrick has been rising on draft boards lately.  He fits well in the 5-techniqe spot and improves the Ravens front seven immediately.  I will add that I think it will be beneficial for the Ravens to take a top notch inside linebacker in either this draft or 2011.  Letting a guy like Brandon Spikes learn from Ray Lewis for a few years is a great long term plan.

#26.  Arizona Cardinals – Sean Weatherspoon LB

Losing Karlos Dansby to the Dolphins leaves a big gap in the Cardinals defence.  Signing Joey Porter will provide them with solid production on the outside for at least two seasons, but they still need help on the interior.  In my opinion Weatherspoon is a steal here and his versatility will be beneficial in Billy Davis’s scheme, especially when they play their ‘amoeba’ defence.

#27.  Dallas Cowboys – Demaryius Thomas WR

The Cowboys rush to the podium to make this selection as they acquire the perfect vertical threat to pair with Miles Austin.  I’m not sure Thomas will be much more than a guy who can stretch the field as I’m not convinced his route running/run after the catch skills are up to par.  If Ray Sherman, the Cowboys wide receiver coach, can harness Thomas’s raw talent, the sky is the limit.  People seem to think OT is the need after the Cowboys released Flozell Adams but I expect him to sign back with the Cowboys after the draft. 

#28.  San Diego Chargers – Terrence Cody NT

Terrence Cody has a unique skill set that 3-4 teams value.  His weight at the Senior Bowl was a little concerning but since then he has dropped weight and seems to be taking his conditioning seriously.  He is the ultimate space eater and San Diego needs to replace the void they created when they released Jamaal Williams.  Ryan Matthews will get strong consideration here but the Chargers can find a quality back in the second round.

#29.  New York Jets – Everson Griffen DE

The Jets have been the clear winners of this offseason so far.  Adding Tomlinson, Holmes and Cromartie addressed a number of team needs.  Upgrading the front seven and adding a replacement for Alan Faneca seem to be the two biggest needs at this point.  Rex Ryan picks an athletic freak in Griffen giving him one more toy to use in his pressure based defensive scheme. 

#30.  Minnesota Vikings – Taylor Mays S

Even with all the questions regarding his cover skills, I think the Vikings  are thrilled he is still on the board at this point.  Mays has a freakish blend of size and speed and if things don’t work out for him at Safety, I still see him contributing potentially at linebacker the way Thomas Davis made the switch for the Panthers.  The Vikings will also look at Patrick Robinson here and if they feel he is the better player to upgrade their secondary, he will be the pick.  Jahvid Best has some value here after the Vikings lost out on the Tomlinson sweepstakes. 

#31.  Indianapolis Colts – Brian Price DT

The Colts need help on the offensive line but Peyton Manning is so good at sensing pressure that he rarely gets sacked anyways.  The Colts offensive style allows for smaller offensive linemen to excel and therefore they can target someone in the 2^nd round that may not fit other teams style.  Brian Price occupies space, will immediately improve the run defence which will result in more passing downs allowing Freeney and Mathis to wreak havoc.   

#32.  New Orleans Saints – Carlos Dunlap DE

Like the Colts, the Saints could trade down from this position.  If they hold onto the pick, I think they go with Dunlap.  He is very athletic and New Orleans can afford to take a risk on a player here.

Lions Must Pounce at Rare Opportunity

Detroit Should Act Quickly to Fill Needs

As usual, trade rumours are beginning to heat up as we approach the start of the NFL entry draft. Teams often create false rumours to generate smoke screens and effectively hide their true draft intentions from the other 31 teams. Of all the rumours, two players that appear to be on the trade block are, or should be of particular interest to the Detroit Lions. These players are Albert Haynesworth of the Washington Redskins and Jared Gaither of the Baltimore Ravens.


Haynesworth has fallen out of favour in Washington due to his lack of commitment and his reluctance to play nose tackle in the Redskins new 3-4 defence. Mike Shanahan voiced his concerns with Haynesworth and I truly believe he will lobby Bruce Allen to move him to control his locker room from the start. Because of Haynesworth insane contract, any deal will likely involve a second round pick and some sort of financial arrangement that allows the Redskins to recoup some of their lost investment (considering they recently paid him a $21 Million roster bonus).

Gaither and the Ravens have been locked in contract disputes to the point where it seems the Ravens are willing to part ways with their starting left tackle for an early second round pick. Gaither just turned 24 years old and is a franchise calibre left tackle. Need Proof? Here’s an excerpt from an article by ESPN’s KC Joyner:


Gaither has allowed only seven total sacks in 27 games and only one of these was a one-on-one sack (defined as when a defender beats a blocker in a one-on-one environment and tackles the quarterback in the pocket within three seconds of the snap). That illustrates Gaither's dominant pass blocking skills, but his run blocking numbers are also quite notable. Gaither was at the Point of Attack (POA) on 300 running plays the past two years and he won his block 255 times, or 85 percent of the time. That is a solid number on its own, but his 2009 POA win rate of 89.0 percent is even more noteworthy. To put that total into perspective, consider that in a typical NFL season, a little less than one out of ten offensive linemen will crack the 90 percent POA win mark.

Now back to the Lions. Detroit’s front office has done a great job working trades and free agency to try and fill the roster with more talent. Looking at the draft there has been lots of debate from football analysts as to whether the Lions should take Ndamukong Suh or Russell Okung with the second overall pick in the draft. Both DT and LT are positions of need for the Lions which has spurred much of this debate. The question seems to be what is more beneficial: upgrading the entire defence by selecting a force on the interior of the defensive line or protecting franchise quarterback Matt Stafford’s blindside. The trick is, by the time the #34 pick rolls around, the top offensive tackles and defensive tackles will be gone, essentially forcing the lions to choose between one need or the other. I think you see where this is going.


Jim Schwartz needs to decide which of these two player pairings he likes best: Haynesworth/Okung or Suh/Gaither. Haynesworth played his best football under Jim Schwartz, the head coach of the Lions, when he was the defensive coordinator for the Titans and Schwartz runs the 4-3 defence that Haynesworth prefers. The trick with Haynesworth will be the financial implications of this deal and how much the Lions are willing to compensate the Redskins. Acquiring Haynesworth for the #34 pick would allow the Lions to pick Okung at #2 and give them a stud LT to grow alongside Stafford. As I mentioned earlier, Gaither is a franchise calibre left tackle who would immediately upgrade the Lions offensive line by allowing current LT Jeff Backus to move to right tackle. Acquiring Gaither would allow the Lions to pick Suh who is widely regarded as the best prospect in the draft.

Trading for either Gaither or Haynesworth allows the Lions to address both the DT and LT position with high quality players. By keeping the #34 pick, this will not be the case. The decision between Gaither or Haynesworth, Suh or Okung, will likely come down to how Schwartz feels about Haynesworth and the financial implications of both moves. I would lean toward Gaither because he is a proven LT and I think it is prudent to pick a for sure talent to protect Stafford as opposed to risking Okung being a bust (although I don’t believe that will be the case). Either way, the Lions need to recognize that there exists an opportunity here to significantly upgrade their football team and must pull the trigger on one of these deals....soon.

-Jansen-

That's G

Making the NFL case for Two former High School Gatorade Players of the Year

Three weeks from now the likes of Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen and Tim Tebow will hear their names called by Roger Goodell at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, symbolizing the start of their NFL careers. Bradford will likely sign the largest rookie contract in NFL history but for the quarterbacks likely to be picked later in the draft, a career in the NFL is by no means guaranteed. Greg Paulus and Ryan Perrilloux are two intriguing players that fall into this category.


Greg Paulus was born in Medina, Ohio but moved to Manlius, New York and attended high school at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse. While at Christian Brothers, Paulus played both football and basketball and excelled at both. As a senior, Paulus was named Gatorade National Football Player of the Year as well as Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year for his performance in both football and basketball. He was invited to the US Army All-American game and was the ninth ranked quarterback prospect in the country according to Scout.com. Paulus was even better in basketball and was the #1 ranked point guard prospect in the country. When the offers started pouring in from Notre Dame, Miami, Duke and Florida to name a few, Paulus had to decide which sport he would pursue. Ultimately he chose basketball and accepted a full scholarship to Duke University.

Paulus enjoyed a very successful four year career at Duke, but saw his minutes cut short in his senior season due to the development of younger players. After his final game as a member of the Duke Blue Devils, Paulus began contemplating a return to football. After a workout with the Green Bay Packers last spring, Paulus chose to attend Syracuse University and was named the Orangemen’s starting quarterback only weeks after joining the team. In his only season of Division 1-A football, Paulus broke Syracuse records for completion percentage and completions in a season. Take a look at how his numbers stack up against two other excellent first year quarterbacks this season (keeping in mind that both Barkley and Forcier did not take four years off from competitive football and have more talent on their respective teams than Paulus):
 
 

Paulus took part in Syracuse’s pro day earlier in March and showed that he has been hard at work since the football season ended. He measured just under 6’2 and weighed in at 210 pounds, 30 pounds heavier than at the start of the season giving some insight into his work ethic in the gym. Scouts point to a lack of poise in the pocket and some questionable decision making on film as the main reasons he will likely go undrafted this April, but to me those critiques are common to most first year starters as they try and adjust to the higher level of competition. In my opinion, the fact that he spent four years away from the game and had a higher QB rating than USC’s Matt Barkley this year is reason enough to take a chance on this kid. He doesn’t have a rocket arm but he is extremely accurate and would fit very well into a west coast offence. This kid is well worth a seventh round pick where he can sit on the practice squad and try and make up for lost time. He has the athleticism, size and smarts to play in NFL. He just needs time to develop.

If Paulus sounds like he was a great prospect coming out of high school, Ryan Perrilloux was even better. He was the top quarterback prospect of the 2005 high school class alongside a guy named Mark Sanchez (Yup, that Mark Sanchez). Perrilloux’s yardage totals for passing and rushing ranks second on the all-time Louisiana State list. He was named Offensive Player of the Year by USA Today and Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year. After a bizarre recruiting process he accepted a full scholarship from Les Miles to play for LSU.


Perrilloux redshirted his first season and then saw very limited playing time as a freshmen playing behind JaMarcus Russell and Matt Flynn. Before the start of his sophomore season, Perrilloux was suspended by Coach Miles for using a fake ID to try and get on a gambling boat. He was reinstated before training camp and subsequently lost the starting job to senior Matt Flynn. He started two games that year due to injuries to Flynn and was 40/55 for 541 yards with 4 touchdowns and only one interception. One of those starts was in the SEC Championship Game in which he led the LSU Tigers to a win and was named player of the game by CBS Sports. Following the season, Perrilloux was dismissed from the team by Les Miles for “not fulfilling his obligation as an LSU student-athlete”. Reports indicated that he tested positive for marijuana, missed classes and was late for team events.

Perrilloux transferred to Jacksonville State University, a Division 1-AA program, and excelled in both his Junior and Senior seasons. As a senior he completed 58.5% of his passes for 2345 yards while throwing 23 touchdowns to only 2 interceptions. He was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2009. Perrilloux was suspended once at Jacksonville State but head coach Jack Crowe stressed that it was a team issue and did not accurately reflect his accountability during his time at JSU.


At Jacksonville State’s pro day, Perrilloux showed off his NFL calibre arm strength and accuracy. He has NFL size at 6’2 ½ 230lbs and ran a 4.79 40 yard dash. There is no doubt that he has the physical skills to be an NFL superstar, but the big question remains about his maturity and off field issues. It appears as though he cleaned up his act while at Jacksonville State and given he will be playing for his livelihood, I suspect he will make every effort to be a model teammate. It is also worth nothing that he has a two year old daughter and anyone with children knows how that can impact a person’s maturity. Coach Crowe likened Perrilloux’s ability to a former player of his. “Ryan is a Bo Jackson,” Crowe Said. “I coached them both and they are different from the rest.”

Perrilloux is slated to come off the board in the sixth or seventh round of the draft, while it is unlikely Paulus will be selected at all. Teams with established starters would be wise to consider both of these former superstars in the late rounds as developmental players. Although these former high school superstars’ careers progressed very differently and not a-typically, they have the talent and athleticism to play at the next level. In the NFL all decisions are business decisions and these two projects are definitely worth the risk.

-Jansen-

A Friendly Affair

Compassionate Eagles Send McNabb to Rival 'Skins For Draft Picks

The Philadelphia Eagles have traded quarterback Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins for the 37th overall pick in this year's draft and a 3rd/4th round pick in 2011 depending on performance. 

We will never know what other offers the Eagles entertained for Donovan McNabb but trading him within the division makes you wonder whether any other teams had competitive offers. One thing is for sure, Dan Snyder, Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan should all be arrested for stealing a pro bowl quarterback from a division rival while at the same time filling their biggest team need. It is almost a lock now that the Redskins will draft an offensive tackle with the fourth overall pick in the draft to replace the retired Chris Samuels. Russell Okung will be in Washington unless Detroit takes him at #2 in which case the Skins will likely decide between Trent Williams and Bryan Bulaga. Either way the Redskins have put themselves in a position to compete right away in the tough NFC East.

The ramifications of this deal for the Philadelphia Eagles could be catastrophic. Kevin Kolb clearly has the confidence of everyone in the organization and did play very well last season in his two starts. But that’s all we have to go on. Two starts. He also has very high expectations to live up to considering this is a team that has gone to the NFC Championship five times in McNabb’s eleven year career. That combined with a very volatile fan base puts an enormous amount of pressure on Kolb to perform well right away.

I watched Andy Reid’s press conference last night and he mentioned numerous times that they took Donovan’s wishes into account and tried to make a deal that was right for them and McNabb. Reid also alluded to the fact that there were other offers on the table but reading between the lines it seemed clear that these were from teams McNabb was not very interested in. While I respect Reid and the Eagles organization for trying to do right by a player who has clearly earned it, I think the Eagles made a big mistake trading him within the division. This gives McNabb the opportunity to play his former team twice a year and you can imagine how badly he’ll want to put a whooping on the Eagles. If McNabb plays well and the Redskins finish ahead of the Eagles, the Philly fans will be calling for blood. The NFL is a business and personal feelings should’ve been put aside here by the Eagles and Reid. Trading him to the Raiders, Rams, Bills etc. would’ve likely yielded similar compensation and ensured they would rarely have to face McNabb. The fact that they took his wishes into account is admirable but in a cutthroat league, the Eagles may have lit the powder keg that is the Philly fan base. Only time will tell.

-Jansen-