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McNabb to the Vikings? Don’t count on it being this year.

Thanks to Andy Reid’s admission that the Eagles are at least entertaining trade discussions with other teams about all three of their quarterbacks, Donovan McNabb has become a hot topic over the last 24 hours. (And more specifically, where McNabb could wind up if he is traded.)

The latest buzz comes from the Philadelphia Inquirer, which notes that the Vikings are atop McNabb’s trade wish list if things don’t work out in Philadelphia. Minnesota makes sense given that McNabb once played under head coach Brad Childress and is therefore familiar with the Vikings’ West Coast Offense. They’re also a contender, which is what McNabb wants to join if he is dealt.

But there’s a simple reason why McNabb won’t be a Viking in 2010: Brett Favre.

All right, so I don’t know for a fact that Brett is coming back. But the lack of buzz surrounding his decision this year is an indication (to me anyway) that he does plan to return. And the fact that Childress has said on multiple occasions that Favre can take his time with the decision is another indication that Brett is indeed coming back, but only on his terms (i.e. he’d rather crawl through a pit of used paper diapers then go to training camp). It seems to me that if Childress didn’t know whether or not Favre would return, he would be more unsettled in his comments to the media. After all, this is the same man that went through hell and high water to insure that the 40-year-old QB would play last season. So I’m not buying his newfound calmness.

McNabb seems like more of a fit for the Vikings in 2011. Even if he is traded this offseason, there’s no guarantee that he’ll sign a contract extension with whichever team he winds up with. Therefore, if he wants to play for Minnesota next year, he could sign a free agent contract with them in the offseason.

But as far as 2010 is concerned, I highly doubt we’ll see McNabb suiting up for the purple and white.


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Friday morning reaction

Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati Enquirer: We’ll just say Kansas State 101, Xavier 96 in double overtime was among the best NCAA tournament games you’ll ever see. And that’s saying quite a lot. Xavier and Kansas State stole the Madness out from under this event. It’s all theirs now, no arguments. There are only so many threes to be made in the crucible, only so many times to come back from the bottom of the well. It should be enough to say this was among the finest games played in a very long time. Maybe everywhere but Xavier, that is so. It really is too bad one team is going home today. What was your favorite cardiac-arrest moment? Terrell Holloway, calmly draining three free throws to tie the game in regulation? Jordan Crawford’s three from the right wing, with four seconds left in OT No. 1, to tie it again? Or, if you can stand it, Jacob Pullen’s three from the top of the key in OT No. 2, to clinch the longest day? There was a more lonely place on earth than that free throw line at about midnight last night, we’re pretty sure of that. It just doesn’t leap to mind. Terrell Holloway made the free throws. All three of them. Net-net-net, five seconds left in regulation, to tie the game. That was as bloodless an exhibition of basketball as we’re likely to see. At least for the next day or so. The NCAA Tournament is, after all, in the business of topping itself. Regularly.

Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star: Thursday night, with the Kansas State basketball program on the brink of greatness, fate, bad officiating and a gutsy Xavier squad brought back memories of 1998, Bill Snyder and a football meltdown with a spot in the BCS championship riding on the outcome. From the moment the refs ignored Denis Clemente’s intentional foul at midcourt in the final seconds of regulation, Xavier-K-State felt like K-State-Texas A&M. Your heart dropped, tears welled in your eyes, and anger consumed your body. Fortunately for us, Martin and his Wildcats never buckled, never complained and never wasted a moment feeling sorry for themselves. Kansas State is not a team of destiny. It’s a team of preparation and determination and concentration and resolve. K-State basketball is Frank Martin. It’s a perfect storm exploding at the right time of the year. It’s a team that has refused to make excuses, a team that Thursday night survived a devastating foul call at the end of regulation and found a way to win.

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Eagles want a top 42 pick for McNabb

NBCSports.com is reporting that the Eagles are willing to trade quarterback Donovan McNabb, but only for a top 42 pick.

After months of saying McNabb would return for another year, Eagles coach Andy Reid acknowledged Wednesday he was listening to offers for McNabb, Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick.

Oakland, Buffalo and St. Louis are considered to be most interested in McNabb. Each team has two picks in the top 42.

It’s unlikely any of those teams would give up a first-round pick for McNabb. The Rams have the first overall selection, the Raiders pick eighth and the Bills are ninth. In the second round, however, the Rams have the 33rd pick, Raiders are 39th and Bills are 41st.

A rumored deal that would’ve sent McNabb to St. Louis for the 33rd pick and safety Oshiomoghe Atogwe was strongly denied by several Rams officials, including coach Steve Spagnuolo.

Outside of needing a quarterback, none of the three teams mentioned above make sense as a suitor for McNabb. Even if the Eagles were to accept a second round pick from the Raiders, Bills or Rams, what makes any of those teams believe that McNabb would be the missing link between them being the doormats in the league and a playoff contender?

Not to mention, McNabb’s contract expires at the end of the year. So unless whatever team acquires him can convince him to sign an extension, he’ll be on lease for one season. Is that worth giving up a second round pick? If said team can sign him to an extension then my opinion changes a bit, but it still doesn’t make a ton of sense for the Raiders, Bills or Rams to take a flier on McNabb when he clearly won’t be a long-term solution.

Either way, if the source in the report is telling the truth, then maybe the Kevin Kolb era in Philadelphia is going to get kicked off sooner rather than later.


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Butler upsets #1-seed Syracuse

The Orange led 54-50 with about three minutes to play when Ronald Nored’s deep three and an inside bucket by Matt Howard gave the Bulldogs a one-point lead. Syracuse turned the ball over on the next possession, and Willie Veasley got a kind bounce on a corner three to push the lead to four. From there it was fouling and free throws and the Bulldogs held on to win, 63-59. Butler closed the game with a 13-5 run.

The difference in the game was Syracuse’s inability to hold onto the ball. The Orange committed 18 turnovers compared to Butler’s seven, and that gave the Bulldogs four more shot attempts and seven more free throws.

Two #1 seeds gone, two remaining.

Here are the highlights:

2010 MLB Preview: NL East

In order to help get you ready for the MLB season, we’re doing division-by-division rankings with quick overviews on how each club could fair in 2010. Next to each team, you’ll also find a corresponding number written in parenthesis, which indicates where we believe that club falls in a league-wide power ranking. Be sure to check back throughout the next two weeks leading up to the season, as we will be updating our content daily. Enjoy.

All 2010 MLB Preview Content | AL East Preview | AL Central Preview | AL West Preview | NL East | NL Central | NL West

Next up is the NL East.

1. Philadelphia Phillies (2)
Much like the Yankees in the American League, it’s hard to find bad things to say about the Phillies. They’re the three-time defending NL East champions and considering they’re ready to bring back the same core of players that got them to the World Series the past two years, there’s no reason to doubt them. Oh, and they added Roy Halladay. Roy, I’m going to dominate your face for nine innings, Halladay. If Cole Hamels rebounds and J.A. Happ’s 2009 wasn’t a fluke, the Phillies won’t suffer a setback this season. In fact, the pitching doesn’t even have to be that great with the likes of Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez taking up the first six spots in the order. The problem, however, is that Hamels might not bounce back and Happ’s ’09 season may have been a fluke. There’s also that nagging Brad Lidge closer issue that could haunt this club as well. That said, odds are that the Fighting Phils will be right back at the top of the NL East again this season. They’re too good, too talented and too experienced to fold and they have a great chance to reclaim their title back from the Yankees.

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