As Donovan turns

Welcome to D-Day, the sequel.

The Eagles took Amtrak to the nation’s capital yesterday, not for the lame-duck session of Congress, but for what very well may be the lame-duck term of Donovan McNabb as quarterback of the Washington Redkins.

When last seen, McNabb was doing one of his classic sulks on the sideline after being pulled in the final minutes of a brutal loss to the Lions.

Since then, all hell has broken loose in Washington, with Coach Mike Shanahan trotting out all sorts of explanations for his dubious move in yanking the guy he traded several high draft picks to get, then showered with praise on his arrival in D.C.

First he said McNabb wasn’t familiar enough with the Redskins’ playbook to run the two-minute drill. Then he trotted out something about his quarterback’s cardiovascular shape not being up to snuff.

It’s been almost comical to watch all this play out after everything McNabb and Eagles fans went through over the past decade. Donovan and Gang Green always had something of a love-hate relationship. Fans wanted a Super Bowl championship that Donovan could never deliver. McNabb always felt unloved because his selection was booed by Eagles fans at the NFL Draft and he never got over it.

McNabb always seemed to be ready to point to all the success the Eagles had over the years with him at the reins, but never quite seemed to get over the hump.

Now it appears McNabb might literally be playing for his job tonight in a nationally telecast Monday night matchup with his old team.

McNabb exalted in beating the Birds at the Linc back in Week 4. A lot has changed since then.

One thing has not. McNabb remains a conundrum, a soap opera regardless of what jersey he happens to be wearing.

Don’t be surprised if he you see him again, standing on the sideline looking glum, with that “woe is me” look plastered all over his face.

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