Bears Trading for McNabb is Absurd

I wanted to comment on one of the more ridiculous rumors that has been floating around the league lately: Donavan McNabb being traded to the Bears. Now I’m sorry, but the absurdity of the idea makes me wonder where some of this stuff starts. This one, I hope, was front-office due diligence in mocking the future of the organization – you know, a “what if?” scenario meeting.  

 Of course, the trade could easily happen in theory. Think
Chicago really wants to go into next season with Grossman under center? For that matter, do you think they really want Griese under center? Not a chance. But the pendulum swings both ways, and the Eagles don’t want Kolb under center next year, either. Nor do they want someone like Feely there. If the trade was to take place, look for it to be a multi-year deal, not a Briggs-for-McNabb swap as many are opining. That just doesn’t add up.
Philadelphia would love to pair Briggs with Jeremiah Trotter and Takeo Spikes, don’t get me wrong. But So far we have little to say that Briggs is the type of linebacker the Eagles need – they don’t exactly play the Tampa-2 like
Chicago. But, a trade along the lines of Briggs/Griese (don’t weigh out Grossman, instead) for McNabb, a young linebacker and possibly a late pick is certainly achievable and would work well for both teams.  

 What does each team gain? Well, Griese is easily a serviceable, well-rounded position player. He could step in for at least a year and do the job – possibly fill the Trent Dilfer role? – while the brass sees whether Kolb really is the answer they’ve been looking for. And, they get Briggs to bolster their defense for several years while they find more linebackers to replace Trotter and Spikes. The Bears get a franchise quarterback, a pick and a linebacker that isn’t Lance Briggs. A bad thing? After all, getting rid of a headache is usually good, and this will bring in some cap-space (which will be gobbled up by McNabb, remember). The Bears are probably under the assumption that they’ll be without Briggs anyways, so why not try to get a linebacker that might fit well with the team? And then, there’s the franchise quarterback they’d be getting, which 95% of the time outweighs any linebacker any day (don’t believe me? If you had an expansion team, would you start it by picking Briggs, Urlacher, Merriman, Brooks, Lewis or another linebacker? Or would you go with a Manning, Brady, Palmer? The last three give you an immediate chance to win. The previous five don’t; although, Merriman is tempting). 

 And that’s why the idea is so absurd: The trade may actually work for both teams. Not just work, but make both teams stronger and in a better position to contend.