McNabb's return will fall short

Donovan McNabb is going to be back in Philadelphia, but he will be wearing the opponent’s jersey and trying to beat the Eagles.

On the other side is Michael Vick, the prison deadbeat turned overnight sensation with two very good games.

McNabb will be trying to prove he still can play, and Vick is trying to prove he is back to being a superstar. Vick will be doing so against one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL. The Redskins have allowed 977 yards through the air already.

Prediction: Philadelphia 34, Washington 28

McNabb will have a good game, but the Redskins defense will ultimately be the problem. Vick should pass and run at will, and the Eagles will survive a shootout.

Other NFL action:

Atlanta over San Francisco 24-13

New Orleans over Carolina 34-13

Cincinnati over Cleveland 27-23

Green Bay over Detroit 31-13

N.Y. Jets over Buffalo 17-10

Pittsburgh over Baltimore 14-13

Tennessee over Denver 24-17

Seattle over St. Louis 24-14

Indianapolis over Jacksonville 38-13

Houston over Oakland 28-17

Arizona over San Diego 20-14 (UPSET)

Chicago over N.Y. Giants 27-20

New England over Miami 30-27

Redskins should trade down for more draft opportunity

The Washington Redskins made headlines when they traded with the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Donovan McNabb.

The all-pro QB is certainly an upgrade over Jason Campbell – and backups Rex Grossman and Colt Brennan for that matter.

In the same off-season in which the team brought in a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback, the team has kept up its reputation of signing used up free agents.

Washington already had running back Clinton Portis on the roster and decided to add Larry Johnson and Willie Parker to the squad. Johnson and Parker don’t have a good set of legs between the two of them.

The Redskins love to overpay for over-the-hill free agents from Deion Sanders to Jason Taylor to Albert Haynesworth – not ridiculously old, but $100 million dollars for a defensive tackle?!?

The signing of Parker and Johnson mar the trade for McNabb, but the Redskins can atone for it by drafting to protect their backfield players. Mock drafts suggest Washington could go after offensive tackle Russell Okung of Oklahoma State.

That would be a decent selection, but it may be wiser to draft down. Trading with a team like Cleveland – who has already expressed interest in moving up could produce multiple draft picks to select offensive lineman or a more suitable running back.

There is far more opportunity for the Redskins - who don’t have a second round pick from the McNabb deal – with multiple mid-round picks than one No. 4 overall pick.