ESPN Floats McNabb Trade Rumor

ESPN has jumped on the daily Donovan McNabb trade rumor bandwagon, with a reporter hinting that the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback is heading to Oakland.

On further review, writer Adam Schefter doesn’t quite say that, but still the headlines about McNabb and Oakland were featured all over the Web and sports talk radio on Monday and Tuesday morning, based on Schefter’s report.

What Schefter does says is that the infamous “league sources” are speculating that Oakland would be the leading candidate to get McNabb in a trade, because of the Raiders’ alleged refusal to care about a contract extension for McNabb or paying his $6.2 million roster bonus.

Oh, and McNabb and Al Davis both went to Syracuse.

Two Raiders sources told the San Jose Mercury News early on Tuesday that the Raiders have not discussed McNabb with the Eagles.

“Two Raiders employees remain steadfast that the Raiders haven't even spoken with the Eagles about McNabb, who is in the final year of his contract,” said reporter Steve Corkran.

Schefter does not say that a source with the Eagles or Raiders has confirmed an offer has been made. He just confirms people in the NFL outside of the Eagles or Raiders organization are talking and that “One source familiar with trade discussions said no deal was done with Oakland.”

Schefter is also an avid Twitter user and often Tweets out breaking news on the NFL. Several weeks ago, he re-tweet a message accusing the Philadelphia Inquirer of “rumor mongering.”

Several weeks ago Schefter also re-tweeted a message from John Clayton that the Raiders were the leading candidate to sign Terrell Owens.

So would McNabb and Owens reunite in Oakland with Al Davis? Hardlly.

We went nearly three days without a “sourced” NFL McNabb trade rumor until Schefter wrote his story.

We'll keep tracking the McNabb trade rumors but as of Tuesday, Donovan remains an Eagle.