As I read articles like this one from Les Bowen as well as watch clips of NFL Live on ESPN, I’m tired off this meeting between McNabb and Banner/Reid being blown way out of proportion.  Everyone is reading way too much into this.

Here is what’s going on in my opinion: McNabb has two years left on his current contract, McNabb has stated that he wants to retire an Eagle, McNabb would like an extension that would pay him nicely and keep him in Philadelphia for the remainder of his career.  The Eagles are possibly using his age/injury history as leverage to give McNabb less money.  McNabb, upset with the way the front office is playing ball, decides to return the ball back to the front office’s court and uses his latest statements to give him the leverage in the contract negotiation.  McNabb is saying before he considers signing an extension, he wants to see how the Eagles improve the team.  If the Eagles don’t improve the team, McNabb will either demand a trade or not sign the extension and wait until he is a free agent in two years.

What I’m sick of is this “poor McNabb hasn’t gotten any weapons from the Eagles front office.”  Did the Eagles attempt to acquire Randy Moss last year?  Yes, but Moss took less money to stay with Brady.  Did the Eagles attempt to trade for Tony Gonzalez last year?  Yes.  They didn’t get him because the Chiefs would not listen to any offers.  Did the Eagles not draft DeSean Jackson, arguably the best rookie wide receiver out of the class of 2008?  Yes, he is amazing.  Why is he not being mentioned as a weapon for McNabb and why is the front office not getting any credit for drafting him?  Could the Eagles do more for the offense and McNabb?  Sure they can.  Last year, there were no premier WR free agents.  This year, they have a shot at acquiring T.J. Houshmandzadeh.  If that doesn’t work, they could attempt to trade one of their first-round picks for Anquan Boldin, but I’m sure the Cardinals would balk at any offer.  They would be stupid to trade Boldin when he’s locked into the best offense in the league for two more years.  As a last resort, the Eagles could get Marvin Harrison on the cheap to please McNabb, but I wouldn’t expect more than 40 receptions, 500 yards, and 4 TDs from the veteran.   At least it’s a band-aide solution for one to two years.

Bottom Line: Start recognizing the genious of the front office to go out and draft the best wide receiver in the 2008 draft class, DeSean Jackson!

Let’s see what’s going on in Eagles Nation.  First you have McNabb saying that before he even considers a new deal, he’ll have to see what the Eagles do to improve the team through free agency, which begins this Friday at midnight, and the draft.

Stay tuned for Eagles to sign Brian Dawkins and Tra Thomas soon.  The Eagles also locked up Joselio Hanson for 5-years, $21 million.  Great move!  The secondary is set and Lito Sheppard is now expendable for whatever we can get for the guy, 3rd-round pick perhaps?  I’m sure the Lions or Chiefs will want/need him.

The news from the Combine: Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry whooed the hell out of scouts with his workout and he may go as high as #3 to the Chiefs; Andre Smith, the highly coveted Alabama OT, who was set to be a top-10 lock, had a mental/physical meltdown and left the combine without telling anyone, thus killing his stock and his paycheck dramatically; there’s an impressive list of 40 times from WRs, so the Eagles have some solid options outside the first round, and the RBs (notably Beanie Wells and even Knowshon Moreno) posted poor 40 times.

But the big buzz lately is Marvin Harrison.  The Colts cut Marvin Harrison and Harrison will be a free agent.  Yes, he’s 36 and his production has declined after his knee injury, but a return to his hometown with his college quarterback is the feel-good story floating around and the Eagles need another WR to make McNabb happy.  He’s a cheaper option that Houshmandzadeh, so this may work out quite well.  Here’s some supplemental reading on Marvin Harrison/Eagles talk:

Eagles Rumors: Marvin Harrison homecoming? [Recliner GM]

Eagles Would be Smart to Make Push For Harrison [Eagles Gab]

Schefter predicts Marvin Harrison to the Eagles? [Bleeding Green Nation]

Oh, and Ray Lewis want to play for the Cowboys.