[sportscurmudgeon]

Look at starting QBs in the NFC this year and ask yourself if Donovan McNabb is better or worse than his peers - - in 2010. His "Peers" are QBs who have been starters on NFC teams in 2010...

Philly:
Michael Vick - - better than DM
Kevin Kolb - - not better than DM

Dallas:
Tony Romo - - not better than DM
Jon Kitna not better than DM

NY Giants:
Eli Manning - - better than DM

Atlanta:
Matt Ryan - - better than DM

New Orleans:
Drew Brees - - better than DM

Carolina:
Jimmy Claussen - - not better than DM
Brian St. Pierre - - not better than DM (he DID start for the Pantloads this year)

Tampa:
Josh Freeman - - PUSH with DM

Green Bay:
Aaron Rodgers - - better than DM

Detroit:
Matt Stafford - - not better than DM
Shaun Hill - - not better than DM
Drew Stanton - not better than DM

Minnesota:
Brett Favre - - not better than DM

Chicago:
Jay Cutler - - PUSH with DM (better the last 4 games; not as good the first 8 games)

SF:
Alex Smith - - not better than DM
Troy Smith - - not better than DM
David Carr - - not better than DM

St. Louis:
Sam Bradford - - better than DM

Arizona:
Derek Anderson - - not better than DM
Max Hall - - not better than DM

Seattle:
Matt Hasselbeck - - PUSH with DM


In the NFC there have been 24 starting QBs counting DM. 6 are better;
3 are a PUSH; 14 are not better. That makes him solidly ABOVE average.

I could do this for the AFC too but it would probably come out the same.

The bottom line is that Donovan McNabb is not the best QB in the league or the conference - - but it would have been abjectly stupid to count him as such on the day the Redskins traded for him. He is better than a majority of his peers - - his peers are other players who have started at QB in 2010.

Back in the spring of 2010, the Skins had three choices; (1) they could keep Jason Campbell as the QB; (2) they could trade for a QB who had NFL experience or (3) they could draft a QB. Shanahan clearly did not want to stick with Campbell so trade or draft were the REAL options.

Look at some of the QBs who changed teams last year:

McNabb
Delhomme
Anderson
Troy Smith
Rosenfels
Losman
Quinn
Bulger
Sorgi
Leinhart
[and probably a couple of others too]

Which QB on that list of "available via trade/free agency' would you want on your team in 2010? If you say anyone other than McNabb you just have not been paying attention...

There was NO WAY the Skins could have drafted Sam Bradford. So, which other rookie QB is lighting it up in the NFL this year to the point that you would say he is better than Donovan McNabb right now? Colt McCoy is a possibility but he has really only played 3 games. Tim Tebow? Max Hall, John Skelton, Rusty Smith?

Am I disgusted with McNabb's play in 2010. HELL NO!!

Could he play better? OF COURSE!

Could the Skins be worse off at QB? YOU BET!

Was there a better option available to the Skins for 2010? NO...