Another day and more rumors about Donovan McNabb’s future with the Eagles.
It seems that the asking price for D-Mac was finally revealed Thursday.
Teams interested in acquiring McNabb would have to part with a top-42 draft pick to get him, a person familiar with trade discussions involving McNabb told the Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team doesn't comment on potential trades.
After months of saying McNabb would return for another year, Eagles coach Andy Reid acknowledged earlier this week to the Inquirer’s Ashley Fox that he was listening to offers for McNabb, Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick.
McNabb is expendable because he's entering the final season of his contract and Kolb is considered the quarterback of the future. The 33-year-old McNabb has led Philadelphia to five NFC championship games and a Super Bowl in 11 seasons. But, he has never won the big one.
Oakland, Buffalo and St. Louis are considered to be most interested in McNabb. Each team has two picks in the top 42.
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McNabb reportedly spoke with Reid Thursday to let Big Red know that he wanted to stay in Philly, ESPN's Adam Schefter Tweeted.
But, it seems that McNabb would like to land with former offensive coordinator Brad Childress in Minnesota, according to the Inquirer’s Jeff McClane.
This isn’t the first time the Vikes and McNabb have flirted with one another. The Vikings called the Birds about McNabb last season but were turned off by the high asking price, according to Minneapolis’ Star Tribune.
The major stumbling block for D-Mac landing in Vikings horns is Brett Favre. The 40-year-old signal caller is again waffling (at least publicly) between returning and retirement (so what else is new?).
Favre has the starting QB spot in Minnesota if he wants it, so in the meantime it would be unlikely that the Vikes would pay a hefty price tag for another QB.
As for D-Mac, he could be traded anywhere but he could hold up a deal by not agreeing to an extension.
A rumored deal that would've sent McNabb to St. Louis for the 33rd pick and safety Oshiomoghe Atogwe was reported by the Inquirer Wednesday but was later strongly denied by several Rams officials, including coach (and former Eagles assistant) Steve Spagnuolo.
Of course all of this could be posturing by Philly.
"The McNabb rumors benefited the Eagles by creating the impression that a strong market might exist for McNabb," said ESPN's Mike Sando.
And, there could be a dark horse that bites on the bait the Eagles have laid. Teams like Seattle, Cleveland and Carolina are far from settled at quarterback.
Also, don’t be surprised if the Steelers enter the fray considering that starter Ben Roethlisberger could face NFL sanctions even if he doesn’t face criminal charges for the alleged incident in Georgia.
It is possible that even though D-Mac asked for the Eagles to make up their minds about his future “quickly,” that the Birds could string him (and all of Eagles Nation) along through the draft.
Stay tuned.
