When reading ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter's breaking news report that the Eagles have traded Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, the first thought that came to mind was that this deal had shades of a 2002 Patriots trade.
That deal sent quarterback Drew Bledsoe to the Bills for a 2003 first-round draft choice.
If a team is confident and secure enough in its own evaluation of a player -- or his replacement -- it does not hesitate to trade within its own division, knowing it has to face that player at least twice a season.
The Patriots did it with Bledsoe, and now the Eagles have reportedly done it with McNabb. That was the first thing I thought of when I read about this trade.
EXTRA POINT: One additional thought is that this also helps the Patriots in terms of McNabb not ending up with the Raiders. The Patriots own the Raiders' 2011 first-round draft choice, and when reports surfaced about the Raiders' interest in McNabb, the thought was that if McNabb landed in Oakland it would lessen the value of that pick.