Eagles almost took Akili

[BlainThePain]

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/109...07-1330712.html

A former Eagles scout was in the war room the day the Eagles drafted unpolished but unbelievably gifted quarterback Donovan McNabb. The scout recalls dissenting opinions among his colleagues and the Eagles braintrust.

“You can't believe how close that was,” he said. “We had people in the draft room that wanted (quarterback) Akili Smith.”

Akili Smith is now playing in Canada. Running back Ricky Williams, many Eagle fans' first choice in '99 — as evidenced by the booing McNabb received upon selection — is hoping to return to the NFL from Canada following his one-year suspension for substance abuse.

[jjakq27]

I find it hard to believe that the Eagles considered McNabb "unpolished" at that point. He played four years at Syracuse, while Mr. Smith played all of 8(?) games his senior season.

Makes you wonder how different things might have been if McNabb was there instead of Smith.

[chrishcovga]

THATS WHY , WHEN A CRAZED FOOTBALL COACH OFFERS HIS ENTIRE DRAFT, 1ST AND 3RD ROUND PICKS IN THE NEXT YEARS DRAFT, A FIRST IN THE YEAR'S DRAFT FOLLOWING AND A 2ND ROUNDER IN THE LAST YEAR OF THE DEAL FOR A TOTAL OF 10 PICKS TO DRAFT

1

PLAYER...

You take the deal !!

[jjakq27]

THATS WHY , WHEN A CRAZED FOOTBALL COACH OFFERS HIS ENTIRE DRAFT, 1ST AND 3RD ROUND PICKS IN THE NEXT YEARS DRAFT, A FIRST IN THE YEAR'S DRAFT FOLLOWING AND A 2ND ROUNDER IN THE LAST YEAR OF THE DEAL FOR A TOTAL OF 10 PICKS TO DRAFT

1

PLAYER...

You take the deal !!

Amen to that. I still think with a little creative manuvering the Bengals could have traded a few picks to get back up in the top 6 or 8 and Akili still would have been there.

[Stripes]

Without the Bengals refusing that deal, there's a very good chance we don't get Carson Palmer.

Whether that's a valid point or not is up for debate.