the Informer

Longtime Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was traded to the Washington Redskins Sunday for two draft picks. (Courtesy of ESPN.com)

Every year in the NFL there is that one offseason deal that completely changes the outlook and appearance of a team. Even though it doesn’t work out the way that team intended it to, it still is a big deal at the time. For some reason, that team is most of the time the Washington Redskins.

Last year they pulled out that big checkbook Dan Snyder has and signed big defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. What a bust that deal was, Haynesworth sat on the sideline a majority of the year. There have been several other examples before last year of when the Redskins have thrown money down players’ throats to see them completely fail once they arrive at Washington.

However, this year is different. The main office is making big money deals, but now they are deals with more thought. No more going out into the free agency market and getting the biggest name in the league simply by giving them the biggest contract. Snyder and Bruce Allen, the money and brains of the organization, have gone out and gotten an experienced, successful quarterback, the most important component of a team Washington has failed to find within the last decade.

I’m talking about the Redskins acquiring quarterback Donovan McNabb. A respected quarterback can provide the leadership and poise the Redskins have been missing seemingly forever, especially after seeing the turmoil previous quarterback Jason Campbell went through last season. McNabb has six Pro Bowls and five NFC championship games under his belt. This is exactly what the Redskins have needed since Snyder made his first bonehead decision in not keeping Brad Johnson. Having a quarterback of McNabb’s status means the team can finally address other issues.

As mentioned earlier, Campbell had a terrible season last year, thanks in large part to the offensive line. It was terrible, resulting in every single game having Campbell being knocked to the ground. With McNabb, the team now does not have to draft a quarterback and worry about what would have been either Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen becoming a bust.

An offensive lineman would also be ideal. McNabb may be good, but no one will succeed behind the offensive line of the last season’s Redskins.

If not an offensive lineman, then a tall wide receiver would be a welcome addition through the draft. Aside from Santana Moss, the Redskins really have no wide receivers for McNabb to look for. Even with that, Moss does not have the same electrifying game pace as he once did when he arrived at the nation’s capitol. Sure, Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly had some impressive moments, but McNabb still needs a big threat to unleash his cannon too.

Regardless of what the Redskins do with their fourth overall pick, the fact that they have satisfied their overdue need at the quarterback position means they can move on to other things. The quarterback is the most important position of the offense. He is the field general physically, emotionally, cognitively and in so many other ways. Not having a reliable quarterback can lead to several problems, as you can tell by the recent history of the Redskins.

That is no more though. Donovan McNabb has arrived in Washington and solved their problems. Seriously, do not be surprised if the Redskins end up taking a wildcard playoff spot. McNabb could very well be that big of a difference maker for the team.