Filed Under » Donovan McNabb

The Minnesota Vikings announced today that they have acquired Donovan McNabb to be the team's new starting quarterback. The team also announced at the end of the press conference that McNabb has been benched indefinitely.

"I'm sorry, but as the press conference went on, I just realized that McNabb wasn't a good fit and that I really would prefer almost anyone else playing quarterback for us," said Vikings vice president Rick Spielman. "Nothing against Donovan. He's a good guy."

McNabb, who was smiling and excited when he was first introduced, sat stone-faced beside Spielman at the end as he learned that he had already lost his job.

"It's tough. It's a tough situation," said McNabb, minutes after the event. "I've been kicked in the teeth a lot during my career, often times out of nowhere and completely unprovoked. But this is probably the worst one. I didn't expect to get benched until we played two or three preseason games at the earliest."

Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb isn't sure what kind of reception he'll receive from Eagles fans on his first game back in Philadelphia, but he says he feels it's "about 60-40" that no one will "pour a bag of feces on my face."

"I had some really good years here and Eagles fans are smart fans who know that," he said. "So pouring feces on my face? That seems unlikely to me. Now a ton of people are going to boo me. And, sure, it's very likely I get pissed on. Multiple times. And feces may be thrown at me. But an actual full bag of human feces dumped on my face? Fresh feces, so it sticks? I would be surprised."

After 11 seasons, five NFC title game appearances and one Super Bowl appearance, the Donovan McNabb era is over in Philadelphia. And for many Eagles fans, the end couldn't have come soon enough.

"I hate to say 'I told you so,' but I told you so," said Donny Nichols, a caller into Philadelphia sports talk station WIP this morning. "This trade is management finally admitting that Donovan wasn't a good fit with the Eagles. As I booed at the '99 draft, Ricky Williams was the better pick. I just wish it didn't take them this long to come to their senses."

Eagles fans wanted Williams, the star Texas running back, and not McNabb in the first round in 1999. Fast-forward to today and McNabb is traded off in the division for a mid-second round draft pick, while Williams is coming off a season in which he scored 13 touchdowns and averaged 4.7 yards per carry for the Miami Dolphins. Williams is also a year younger than McNabb and has a significantly lower salary.

"Game, set and match," WIP caller Ron "Big Ron" Mackey told show host Howard Eskin. "I've been saying on these airwaves for years that I could run this team better, and now it's proved. McNabb is gone. Even Brian Westbrook is gone. And look: we need a running back. Could it be any more obvious now that we should've drafted Ricky back in '99 like I said. Sometimes I wish I rooted for a team run by people who were smarter than me."

Big Ron also advised during his call that the Eagles create some competition for Kevin Kolb at the quarterback spot by drafting Sam Bradford and offering running back LeSean McCoy and a draft pick to the Patriots in exchange for Tom Brady.

"That's a move I think the Patriots make," said Big Ron.

Meanwhile, sources within the Eagles front office give no indication that the team plans to acquire Williams.

"Show your displeasure at the draft," Eskin advised his listeners. "Whoever they pick, boo him. Remind Andy Reid that you know better."

According to sources close to NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens, the six-time Pro Bowler has been unable to stop laughing over reports that former Eagles teammate Donovan McNabb may soon be dealt to the Oakland Raiders.

The laughter has gone on for so long now that Owens' friends are starting to worry about his health.

"He hasn't eaten anything for 24 hours," said Owens' assistant, Tony Mivens. "He hasn't had anything to drink. It's not healthy. He's tried to drink water, but every time he takes a swig, something about McNabb going to the Raiders scrolls across the screen and he does a spit take and starts rolling around on the floor laughing again."

Those who have seen the receiver in the past day say he looks skinny and weak, but incredibly happy.

While Owens was forced to toil for the Buffalo Bills last year, the prospect of his Eagles nemesis having to close his career on the most comically inept franchise in the NFL — perhaps in all of sport — has brought delight to an offseason in which Owens, too, looks for a new employer.

"Terrell definitely wants to play next year," said his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. "And we have plenty of suitors. But right now he is weighing his options. He is seriously considering taking a year off so he can put his full attention into watching Donovan McNabb play for the Raiders. He has even said he may buy tickets for all of their home and away games and be a sort of failure roadie."

Rosenhaus says he hasn't had the heart to inform Owens of the one team who has shown serious interest in his services for 2010.

"It's the Raiders. I can't tell him. He's obviously very emotional right now," said Rosenhaus. "If that's our only option, that's our only option. Maybe I can sell it to him as an opportunity to sabotage McNabb one more time. He may even play for the league minimum for that chance."