Quarterback Donovan McNabb had plenty of great moments in 11 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, but some say he was never fully embraced in the City of Brotherly Love.
That won't be the case in Washington, former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann said this week.
Theismann believes that Redskins fans will show McNabb an overwhelming level of support.
"Donovan is going to finally be someplace where he's going to be appreciated," Theismann said on ESPN 980 on Monday. "The second Donovan walks out on to that football field at FedExField, he's going to feel something that he has never felt in Philadelphia, and that is a true warmth and appreciation for what he is as a football player."
Theismann, who played for the Redskins from 1974-85 and guided the franchise to a Super Bowl XVII championship, believes McNabb brings instant credibility as a leader.
He compared McNabb's arrival in Washington to Brett Favre joining the Minnesota Vikings last year.
"When Brett Favre stepped into the New York Jets two years ago, he was an instant leader, but the Jets really didn't know how to deal with a great leader," Theismann said. "The Minnesota Vikings added the leadership and the enthusiasm and the passion for the game that Brett Favre brings and you saw how far it took them [to the NFC Championship game].
"I think [coming to] the Redskins will do the same thing for McNabb, with his work ethic, his love for the game, his appreciation for his teammates."
Theismann, who served as a radio show host on ESPN 980 last year, called the Redskins' acquisition of McNabb the "blockbuster trade of the last five years."
The timing was right for the Eagles to trade McNabb because they have had young quarterback Kevin Kolb waiting in the wings since 2007, Theismann said.
The timing also may have been right for the Redskins, he added.
"It's not shocking that the Redskins were out looking for a quarterback," Theisman said. "When you look at the quarterback market in free agency, the best quarterback out there is the quarterback of the Redskins, Jason Campbell."
Campbell is a restricted free agent this offseason. He has not signed his tender, however.
Campbell was a regular at Redskins Park this offseason until the McNabb trade this week.
It's safe to say his status in Washington is uncertain.
Theismann believes Campbell could be traded next.
"This basically puts Jason on the move, to be honest," Theismann said. "With Donovan in the last year of his contract, Jason a restricted free agent, the Redskins would leave themselves open to nothing if they did not sign some people to long-term deals."
The Redskins' acquisition of McNabb puts the team in position to draft an offensive tackle in the NFL Draft, Theismann said,
The Redskins hold the No. 4 pick in the first round of the draft, which kicks off on Thursday, April 22.
"I still believe the fourth pick in the draft could be the young kid out of Oklahoma State, [Russell] Okung," Theismann said. "Now you can address what seems to be the most glaring problem from a year ago, and that was help up front.
"And then you start to say, 'Wow, all of the pieces of the puzzle have come together.' It's pretty exciting."
