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Answered Prayers

From: Mike Ginnitti | April 5, 2010 | Comments(0) | Print | Share |

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After years of speculation, annual offseason drama, and dozens of he-said, she-saids, the Donovan Mcnabb era in Philadelphia is finally over. His departure comes as no surprise, with multiple reports in the past month of 5-6 teams seriously bidding for the long time all-pro. The shock comes from the receiving team : NFC East division rival, Washington Redskins.

There are many analysts and experts bagging the Eagles this morning for what they are calling mistreatment of their long time leader. Some feel removing Mcnabb from an offense of this caliber is deafening to a franchise, and a fan base.

I like to look at this story from the eyes of the only person who really matters within it, Mcnabb himself. Reports came in parallel to this transaction that Donovan had serious trade offers and contract extension offers from teams such as the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills. He listened, and gracefully declined. And what did he receive for doing so? The competitive athlete's dream of a lifetime.

Mcnabb now has a chance to play for a team with hypothetically an unlimited bank account, a wealth of young talent, a proven coach, and a schedule with two games against the Philadelphia Eagles. It won't matter how clean a breakup this trade may have looked on paper, Mcnabb has been tossed around the city of Philadelphia on and off the field for the past 3-5 years. He's handled it with a boyish smile, and a level of maturity only fit for superstars.

He'll walk back into Lincoln Financial Field in the 2010 season, and he'll be booed, he'll be cheered, he'll be loved, he'll be jeered. But having seen him walk through the whirlwind that has become his career already, Mcnabb won't be responding with fiery words, sarcastic looks, or any other vice that lesser athletes have used in the past with similar situations. The Eagles may have done their long time champion the greatest favor of all: giving him new wings to soar with, and the chance to prove directly back to them, they were dead wrong in doing so.