As football fans in the Delaware Valley go, Basil Kuzio is about as objective a judge of the Donovan McNabb dealings as they come.
Kuzio, who resides in Moorestown, N.J., is not an Eagles fan. His favorite team, the Oakland Raiders, isn't located within 3,000 miles of Philadelphia and doesn't play in the NFC.
But with all the talk about McNabb possibly heading to the Bay Area, Kuzio kept a pulse on the trade talks. When the news broke last night, Kuzio was both relieved and surprised.
"I was honestly shocked that they would trade him to a division opponent," Kuzio said. "I'm a Raiders fan and I've been a Raiders fan for 40 years. We've had some tough days recently but I don't really think he [McNabb] would do much of anything for anyone.
"The Raiders don't have anyone better, but I don't think he was the answer."
The one constant in fan reaction wasn't the surprise that McNabb was finally dealt, but rather where he was sent. While the Redskins haven't been the Eagles' top concern in the NFC East for most of McNabb's tenure as an Eagle, they are now.
Just take the first comment from Eagletarian, the Daily News' Eagles blog, on Philly.com. From soulman386: "Oh my god!!! I'm so glad the Kolb era will begin. But to the Redskins? NFC East foe? Oh my god!!!"
Bill Bradley, a 34-year season ticketholder from Blackwood, N.J., felt the same way.
"I think Donovan's time here came and went," Bradley said. "When Andy Reid said at the end of the year that Donovan was his quarterback, I didn't think he would be traded. But it's been a wholesale housecleaning since then. First, it was Sheldon [Brown] earlier in the week and now this.
"It's been a complete change of guard between Donovan, [Brian] Dawkins, Lito [Sheppard] and Sheldon."
Both Bradley and Kuzio said they thought the Eagles received fair value for McNabb with the No. 37 overall pick in this month's draft and a conditional pick. Bradley, coincidentally, hoped the Eagles sent McNabb to Oakland for cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha as rumored.
"I just hate that it's a division team," Bradley said. "They have always been a tough division team. Now they will have an extra incentive twice a year.
"I'm excited for Kevin Kolb, I want to see how he handles his shot. I'm just not sure on him. The jury is still out."
