Thanks Donovan

This post isn't about the trade. Ultimately, we can't evaluate that until we see what the Eagles do in the draft, how McNabb plays with the Redskins and whether or not Kevin Kolb is any good. Ideally, or perhaps selfishly, I hope all three go well with the Eagles being better than the Redskins of course.

But we'll get to that later. For now I think it's more important to honor the past 11 years and everything Donovan McNabb has brought us. Yes, there was some bad. He threw too many passes into the ground. He had trouble shining in big moments. He puked at the Super Bowl. He got hurt a lot. Sometimes he pissed us off beyond belief.

However, the good far outweighs the bad. In 11 seasons, McNabb won 92 games. The Eagles went to five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl. Our Eagles, after years of mediocrity and uneven play, finally became a consistent winning franchise.

For 11 years, we haven't had to worry about the quarterback position. We've honestly been spoiled, not having to start players like Ty Detmer, Bobby Hoying and Doug Peterson anymore. For that, we should all be thankful. McNabb gave us plenty of good years and even a few great ones. He changed the feeling around the Eagles, a feel that had been hard to shake in the 80's and 90's. We started to expect winning and in sports I honestly think the best thing an athlete can do is change the attitude of his sports town. McNabb did that, he helped turn the Eagles into winners. Maybe not Super Bowl winners, but winners still. I thank him for that. A few more:

I thank him for owning the Cowboys, more often than not.

I thank him for 4th and 26.

I thank him for getting to the Bowl, even if it was just once.

I thank him for those razzle-dazzle runs of his first few years.

I thank him for that crazy 15 second "run around like crazy and throw 80 yards to Freddie Mitchell" play.

I thank him for leading me, twice, to the finals of fantasy football championships.

I thank him for never getting in trouble for sexual assault, killing dogs, choking coaches or beating his wife.

I thank him for beating the Giants in the playoffs.

And I thank him for 11 fun years of Eagles football.

Ultimately, it was time to move on and see what Kevin Kolb is all about. That doesn't mean we won't miss Donovan. We will, at least most of us. In a few years, we'll look back and evaluate the McNabb area of Eagles football. I think, in the end, we'll all look back and remember it with fondness (just like Randall). For now, I just say thank you and good luck.

But not too much good luck, he does play for the Redskins now (that still sounds ridiculous).

Thanks #5.