With the National Football League's trading period to begin in fewer than three weeks, the Minnesota Vikings still have had no indication from quarterback Brett Favre whether he'll return next season. If Favre's status remains unclear, it would seem the Vikings might have to begin talking about ways to trade with Philadelphia for QB Donovan McNabb, who would seem, at this juncture, their best possible replacement. Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press
Said it before, I'll say it again. The Eagles will not trade what some would consider a franchise QB to the second best team in the conference.
If we traded for McNabb (please no), Favre could probably still come around late August and tell Chili whats up.
Good thing we have Rodgers if he retires. Granted we do have to think of a back-up to Aaron through FA or the draft. Man, brent leaving us hanging like this sure messes up our off season and the planing for the most important part of the team. Oh wait, not the Packers head-ache anymore. Enjoy Minny!
The Vikings really shot themselves in the foot by never really drafting a QB to groom as their eventual starter. Tarvaris Jackson, Tyler Thigpen and John David Booty were not the answer(s) and the best of the trio (Thigpen) has been moved around the league time and time again. The Vikings really need ot ask themselves what the QB position is worth to them and then ante up if they want to remain as an elite team. Otherwise it will be a quick descent to being a 8-8 or 9-7 team teetering on barely missing out on the playoffs.
The Vikings haven't been quite the same at the position since Daunte Culpepper tore his ACL, MCL and PCL against the Panthers in 2005. But by that time, Culpepper was really struggling throwing just six touchdown passes with 12 interceptions and 1,564 passing yards in his first seven games before going down. The Vikings haven't groomed a long term successor since Dante's departure. They could look into the draft route for one, but by that point, the Vikings may be reaching a little to find one at #30 overall. Texas Colt McCoy could be an option. He wouldn't be such a terrible reach, he can go somewhere in the early to mid second round. With some seasoning, he can become a solid long term starter for some team.
I think that the time for seasoning a young QB is over. If they want to win a title the time to make a move is now. They took a chance with Brett Favre and if they want to compete for a title next year they need to roll the dice and get a franchise QB. Making a move for McNabb would keep them in the Super Bowl hunt for the next couple of years. The defense isn't getting any younger.
There going to have to at some point in the long run. They can't keep playing musical chairs at the position. Getting a veteran quarterback is good for short term success, but eventually there going to have to groom another rookie in hopes to be competitive for a longer period of time. Do I think Colt McCoy could be that guy? He was the winningest college quarterback in history at a major program at Texas, but his game won't translate as well in the NFL. But time will tell. With proper coaching, he can be very decent. Or they could go get someone like McNabb and hang with him for awhile, then a couple years down the road, draft his successor that they'll be more comfortable with.
See the problem with drafting someone to groom them now is that the team is ready to win NOW. Not two or three years away. I think winning a Super Bowl is enough of a risk to mortgage the future for a chance at the ring now. You go for it now and deal with rebuilding after. There are also political reasons for the Vikings to go for it now. Can you imagine Minnesota's love fest with the team if they bring home a ring? Think a new deal for a new stadium will be hard for them to land after they bring the Lombardi trophy home? This decision could affect their long-term future.
I'm not even sure the Eagles would want to trade McNabb within their own conference, especially to another contender. The Vikings could pull the trigger on a vet to remain competitive, then still draft his successor and groom him for a couple of seasons and have him watch from the bench. A guy like McCoy could really benefit from that. It worked wonders for Aaron Rodgers, he sat for three seasons under Brett Favre in Green Bay, then when it was Aaron's time, he already became among the upper echelon of quarterbacks in the NFL in his first two seasons as the starter. Of course not every team has that luxury. I'm just a firm believer of stability at the quarterback position. There the face of your franchise.
