This time, Eagles might really deal McNabb if price right

It's never a dull moment with the Philadelphia Eagles, and usually the intrigue surrounds the team's quarterback, Donovan McNabb. So here we go again, people, only this time I'd pay attention.

Because this time it appears there is something to reports that the club is willing to listen to trade offers for McNabb. In fact, according to two league sources, the Eagles have spoken to teams about him and "definitely" are willing to talk about a deal.

Will Donovan McNabb be still wearing green this fall? (Getty Images)

But that's where the intrigue comes in. It's one thing to talk; it's another to talk seriously, and both sources said they thought it would be "very hard" for the Eagles to make a trade because "they're tough trading partners."

Meaning? Meaning, they said, they want nothing less than a first-round pick -- and more -- for McNabb, as in more draft choices.

That will make a deal difficult.

But so will this: Coach Andy Reid wants to retain his quarterback, which is nothing new. Reid acknowledged as much back in January when he said McNabb was his starter for 2010. With Reid the head coach, De facto GM and veto holder, it will be tricky to consummate a trade. Reid has strong emotional ties to McNabb, and he should: Without McNabb the Eagles wouldn't have been one of the NFL's dominant franchises the past decade.

"I saw them against Dallas at the end of last year," one scout said of the Eagles, "and Donovan McNabb was not the cause of that team's problems. If they trade him they're not as good a football team."

But McNabb turns 34 this season, and there may be a feeling that the Eagles can't go any farther with him. There also may be a feeling that the time is right to peddle him, particularly because he still has trade value and because he has one year left on his contract.

All I know is that when he wanted an extension a year ago the Eagles gave him a raise instead. Now they're talking about what to do next with him. Put the two together, and you have a story worth following.

"Honestly," said one league source, "I'd be surprised if he's not with Philadelphia another year. I don't know that they're doing anything other than just gauging the market."

Asking for a first-round draft pick doesn't strike me as unreasonable, but a collection of picks -- including a first-rounder -- is probably a no can-do. It's not just that McNabb is getting up there in age, but he has a history of injuries, with a fractured rib costing him two starts last year. Plus, there's a long-term contract that needs to be resolved, which means another big pay day.

Nevertheless, Donovan McNabb is one of the game's most successful and decorated quarterbacks, with five conference championship games in eight years and eight playoff appearances in 11. Plus, he was 10-4 during the regular season last year, and his passer rating of 92.9 was the third best of his career.

Teams should be interested in him. The only question is: How much are they interested?

When Green Bay traded Brett Favre to the New York Jets in August, 2008, it gained a third-round pick in return. But Favre was about to turn 39, and the Packers were desperate to make a move, pulling a deal together within a matter of days. This is different, with the Eagles not desperate to do anything.

"We'll look at all of this," Reid said of his quarterbacks at a news conference in January. "I haven't gotten to the point where I'm comparing players and contracts. We like Kevin Kolb. We like Michael Vick. We like Donovan McNabb. It's a pretty good situation as we go into the offseason."

Ah, yes, Kevin Kolb. The backup quarterback is another factor that could be driving talks. He, too, is in the last year of his contract, but there are a growing number of people who think he's ready to assume a starting role for the Eagles. In fact, in the first two starts of his career -- both last season -- he threw for over 300 yards in each game, one of which he won.

"My feeling," said one source, "is that the Eagles believe he's ready. The question is: Could they live with the growing pains? Because there are going to be some, which means the team won't be as good."

It all depends on what happens to McNabb. Reid is and has been a staunch supporter of McNabb, and his allegiance hasn't wavered, insiders tell me. That the Eagles are checking their options with McNabb is significant -- I mean, I never recall them talking about the possibility of a trade before -- but it also makes sense.

Forget about McNabb's age. If he plays this season without gaining an extension, he becomes a free agent when his contract expires this time next year, available to the highest bidder. So why not listen to trade offers, especially if someone out there is willing to meet your demands?

Here's why: McNabb is the Eagles' best quarterback. If you trade him now you gain something while you can. OK, swell. But you also take a gamble, hoping Kolb is the quarterback you think he can be. You can do that, or you can let this one ride -- figuring the window of opportunity is open another year and you'll take your best shot at it.

It's a difficult decision, and one the Eagles can't avoid.

But let's say they make the second choice, and let's say McNabb has another solid season and leads them to the playoffs. Then what? His contract still expires, with Philadelphia unlikely to do an extension before he walks away. This is a club that doesn't make a habit of giving long-term extensions to 30-somethings, with former All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins learning the hard way a year ago.

Sure, the Eagles could make an exception for McNabb because he's the face of the franchise, but I know several persons close to the organization who can't believe they will. That makes Donovan McNabb the topic of discussion in Philadelphia again, only this time the talk is going on within the Eagles' building.

And, yes, that is news.