National Football League

Eagles aren't obsessing about McNabb

Published Oct. 2, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

Alex Marvez

Donovan McNabb will enter familiar territory Sunday when facing his former team.

But there is something the star quarterback won’t recognize on the first trip to Lincoln Financial Field since his stunning offseason trade from Philadelphia to Washington: Roughly one-third of the players wearing green and white jerseys.

The franchise has 20 new faces on its 53-man roster. To put this mass turnover in perspective, only one other 2009 playoff squad – Arizona – has tinkered as extensively.

Another nine Eagles joined the club in 2009. All totaled, 55 percent of Philadelphia’s active lineup never played with McNabb or has no extensive history of doing so.

A mere four starters remain from the McNabb-led 2008 offense that reached the NFC championship game. Familiar faces like Brian Westbrook, Tra’ Thomas and Jon Runyan are elsewhere or retired. That doesn’t even speak to the defense, most notably Brian Dawkins. The eight-time Pro Bowl safety and defensive leader left to Denver in free agency last season after 14 years in Philadelphia.

The changing of the guard, combined with genuine affection for McNabb among former teammates and coaches, explain why media comments from inside Philadelphia’s locker room haven’t matched the national hype surrounding Sunday’s contest.

In other words, this isn’t the Favre Bowl.

“It’s more with the fans than the players,” Eagles right tackle Winston Justice said after practice. “Even the players who played with Donovan, they’re more focused on the Redskins.”

They should be. With first-year general manager Howie Roseman now working in lockstep with coach Andy Reid, Eagles brass is showing no hesitation ditching anyone it believes can’t help win what has proven an elusive Super Bowl title.

“The hardest part about the job is to let veteran players go,” Reid told FOXSports.com. “You develop relationships. You know they’ve sold their souls here to win games. But they also understand that’s part of the business. You kind of roll with it and everybody goes their way.”

Continuity was once instrumental to Reid’s success. He had the luxury of McNabb as Philadelphia’s starting quarterback for 11 seasons – an eternity by NFL standards. The Eagles reached the playoffs eight times in that span with a familiar cast of characters year after year.

The Eagles were known for signing good young talent to long-term contract extensions well before rookie deals expired. Reid admits such transactions are now much tougher to execute.

“Everything changes in this business. That’s how it is,” Reid said. “You’re just not seeing the second-, third-year player(s) redoing deals like before.”

Like Indianapolis, the Eagles now have their eyes on grooming replacements for those who could eventually leave for more lucrative free-agent offers. Eleven of this year’s 13 draft choices and two college free agents are on the club.

“If you’re lucky enough to stay in a place as long as we have, you’ve got to be able to keep replenishing,” Reid said.

The Eagles also have upgraded their defensive athleticism, particularly at the linebacker, free safety and pass-rusher positions. This year's two top draft picks – defensive end Brandon Graham and free safety Nate Allen – are starters. Philadelphia also made trades for Darryl Tapp (Seattle) and Antwan Barnes (Baltimore). Like Graham, both ends make amends for being undersized through their speed. Another three-way swap landed starting weak-side linebacker Ernie Sims from Detroit.

“We have a lot of hungry players here,” said defensive end Trent Cole, a six-year Eagles veteran. “When you’ve got hunger, you’ve got quickness and everybody wanting to get after the ball. Even if they mess up on a play, they’re still going to be causing problems and making plays. We’re going to ride on it.”

Philadelphia’s offense has taken a different road. Kevin Kolb -- the youngster projected as McNabb’s heir apparent – is now the backup to a veteran who some (including me) considered washed up. Michael Vick has added a spark while leading the Eagles to two straight wins.

The unexpected transition and all of the roster movement are proof of a team still in flux. Any fallout will soon become evident in the won-loss columns.

“Michael will put his own mark on the offense and do the same thing with his contributions to the team, leadership and so on,” Reid said. “But with a young team, any team really, you’re kind of working into your identity as you go. We’re young in the season right now. Time will tell.”

Eagles defensive end Juqua Parker said the Redskins game will “let us know where we stand. I think we’ll be ready for this challenge.”

“Any time you have a quarterback who’s played here for 11 years, you know it’s going to be rough at the start,” Justice said of the transition. “We’re trying to find our identity.”

We already do know what it isn’t: McNabb’s Eagles.