By ANDREW P. SHAY, The Patriot-News

April 05, 2010, 12:53AM

All week it felt as if the Eagles were bluffing about trading loyal veteran QB Donovan McNabb. 

Can you believe the Eagles? ... Oh who cares about the Eagles? 

The Redskins have a quarterback! Thank goodness the 'Skins finally have a legitimate, honest to goodness NFL QB again. 

Somehow the Philadelphia football brain trust, whomever that might be — and bless you by the way — felt compelled to get rid of McNabb before the final year of his contract. 

Some in Philly will be selling the sloppy seconds company line. 

Whatever your line is for tossing the guy aside, we’ll take gladly accept the charity. We need all the help we can get since we just happen to be in the same division.

Bottom line is the 'Skins new starting quarterback had a 92.9 passer rating last season, threw for 3,553 yards and 22 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. 

And we had to give up what for him, again? 

From what I’ve read it’s a couple of draft picks over the next two years ... and what? Is there another anvil dropping from the sky, or am I missing something here? 

This has to be one of those smoky backroom deals where Daniel Snyder pays Jeffrey Lurie $10 million under the table over the next three years. 

Donovan McNabb for two draft picks, and we still get to keep our No. 4 overall first-round pick in the upcoming draft? 

This little nugget from Eagles coach Andy Reid, "we thought this was the best for Donovan and the compensation was right." 

A six-time Pro Bowl selection who took his teams to five NFC championship games and a Super Bowl in 11 seasons for the end-of-year clearance rack price of two draft picks. 

Can you say Golden Ticket in the Wonka bar? 

McNabb is professional, honest, battle-tested and performed better than Eagles fans realize. Get ready to discover McNabb’s value the hard way. 

Trust me, as a loyal Redskins fan I fully appreciate how this guy has killed us over the last decade. 

New GM Bruce Allen and head coach Mike Shanahan should be arrested for stealing a quality NFL quarterback. 

Looks like the Redskins caught a major break — more like a gift. And it came at the expense of the Eagles. 

Is this some cruel April Fool’s joke or a gift from the Easter Bunny?