Donovan McNabb’s benching against Detroit was talk of the town.

The Eagles will try to avoid all the distractions that are swirling around the Washington Redskins, their opponent Monday night (ESPN 8:30 p.m.).

From Andy Reid to the deepest sub in the secondary, questions are being posed as to the situation surrounding former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

With just under two minutes remaining and trailing by five points in the fourth quarter of their game against the Detroit Lions, McNabb was benched by Redskins coach Mike Shanahan in favor of backup Rex Grossman in an effort to pull out a victory.

Just as he was two years ago when Reid benched McNabb at halftime of a game against the Baltimore Ravens, McNabb did not complain, saying all the right things.

Just as it was in Baltimore the move proved to be a complete disaster.

McNabb though, returned with a vengeance two years ago, leading the Eagles to the playoffs and to the NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals, falling one defensive stop from a spot in the Super Bowl.

Will that happen again? Will McNabb come out with a chip on his shoulder the size of former Eagles tackle Tra Thomas’ new suit jacket?

“I expect nothing but the best out of him regardless of whether he got benched or not,” safety Quintin Mikell said on Thursday. “Not only playing us, but him as a competitor, and him as a player, I know we’re going to get his best shot. I’m already geared up for it. We’re going to be ready for it. They are coming off the bye week so they are going to be energized, but we’re going to be ready to play.”

Reid was also asked what he expected from the first player he ever drafted.

“Well, listen, everybody here knows Donovan is a good player, so that’s the way we approach it,” said Reid, who raised his post-bye week record to 12-0 as a head coach after defeating the Indianapolis Colts 26-24 last Sunday. “That’s the way we approached it last time and that’s the way we’re going to approach it this time. We also know that Donovan is a part of a very good football team. He has a big part of being the quarterback of that football team. It’s important that our team, really, concentrates on the Washington Redskins collectively and making sure that we get ready for a heck of a battle on Monday night.”

One of the bizarre statements made by Shanahan the day after his team’s loss to Detroit was that McNabb was having problems with stamina at the end of the game and that was the real reason he was pulled. Shanahan had originally said he pulled McNabb because he felt Grossman knew the Redskins’ two-minute drill better than McNabb.

Of course, Reid was asked if McNabb’s cardiovascular system ever an issue in Philadelphia like it’s being questioned in Washington.

“Listen, I don’t know all that,” said Reid, who seemed irked by the question. “He was phenomenal here. So I don’t know about all that. I can’t waste my time on that. We’re focused on the Washington Redskins and Donovan’s a part of that at the quarterback position, he’s a big part of that. So you know I’m not checking out all of that stuff. I’m looking at him as a player and ways that we can score touchdowns and not allow them to score touchdowns. I mean, that’s what we do. So they have a good football team. He has a great supporting cast and that defense flies around and makes plays, and they’re physical and so on.”

Another questioner asked Reid if McNabb’s practice pace ever an issue in Philly.

“No,” Reid said without hesitation. “Listen, the best thing I can tell you, as we sit here today, this was the greatest quarterback to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. I said it when he was here, I said it when he left, and I feel that way. So listen, every situation is different and I understand that. But I’m not going to spend a lot of time on that. I don’t really care. I don’t care about that. I care about making sure our football team is ready to play their football team.”

It would not be a stretch to say Reid will be glad when this game is over for a number of reasons on many levels.

Notes: The Eagles enter the game with a 5-3 record and with the top-rated quarterback in the NFL in Michael Vick. The Redskins are 4-4.

Predictions:

Al: Eagles 21, Redskins 17

Rock: Eagles 28, Redskins 14

Lou: Eagles 21, Redskins 16