Sunday, April 4, 2010

McNabb, Jurgensen, Eagles and Redskins

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2004/writers/reuben_frank/12/08/mcnabb.careerday/p1_mcnabb_getty.jpg
Almost immediately after Donovan McNabb was traded from Philadelphia to Washington, veteran D.C. sportswriter Rick Snider began comparing it to the Sonny Jurgensen trade, from Philly, to D.C., on almost exactly this day in 1964. It was another

veteran Eagles celebrity QB who had been booed in Philly, and was now being traded to Washington with potentially years of productivity still in his future, causing an instant media storm. Here's Snider:
Those who fail to know history are destined to repeat it. The Philadelphia Eagles once traded quarterback Sonny Jurgensen to the Washington Redskins. Sonny went on to reach the Hall of Fame. The Eagles didn't go anywhere with their half of the deal.
Time to go to the archives. Like, way back. April 1, 1964:
Washington Post, A1The Redskins yesterday traded quarterback Norman Snead for quarterback Sonny Jurgensen of the Philadelphia Eagles and exchanged defensive backs, giving up Claude Crabb for Jimmy Carr. In both instances, Washington swapped youngsters for more experienced pros. Bill McPeak, coach-general manager, said it is imperative for the Redskins to win in 1964.
Jurgensen, controversial $30,000 a year man, will be 30 in August as he starts his eighth pro season. Snead, 24, who was paid about $21,000 by the Redskins, has been here three seasons.
Shirley Povich, This Morning
In the second inning of the Senators-Orioles exhibition game today a home run soared over the leftfield fence. In the box seats, Leo DeOrsey asked, 'Who was the hitter?' The hero of the moment was identified as John Orsino, husky Baltimore catcher, and then DeOrsey asked another question. It was the perfect non-sequitor.
'How do you like Sonny Jurgensen?' he asked. If this was not sheer incoherency it had the sound of such because Jurgensen never hit a home run in his life, plays an unrelated game and is the ace quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The temptation was to inquire of DeOrsey something nifty like 'are you nuts, or something?' But suddenly there was the reminder that he was the acting president of the Washington Redskins and apt to talk football out of season. His companion contended himself with saying, 'What is this with Jurgensen?'
'Well," DeOrsey said, 'at 4 o'clock this afternoon we're announcing in Washington that we've traded Norm Snead to the Eagles for Jurgensen. Also Claude Crabb goes to the Eagles and we're getting Jimmy Carr, a defensive halfback, too. This is the big deal we were working on.'

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