ED HILLE / Staff photographer
Quarterback Donovan McNabb works out with assistants.
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John Smallwood: It's a no-win situation for Eagles QB McNabb
I AM ISSUING a disclaimer to start this column.
Just so there is no misunderstanding, I am not channeling Donovan McNabb. I'm not trying to read between the lines of his news conference yesterday or interpret his body language.
I'm not speaking for McNabb. I'm just saying what I would be thinking if I were the Eagles quarterback.
"Are you #@&* kidding me?"
Here I am entering the most important year of my career as an Eagle - one in which I basically have to get to the Super Bowl, and probably win it, or buy a plane ticket out of Philadelphia.
My team president announces to the world that he's assembled the best roster in the NFL for me, putting more pressure on me.
Two years ago, the coach who I believed would always have my back drafted my heir-apparent, and now, he's brought in a quarterback who has as much ability, if not more raw skills, than me.
Sure, I lobbied, but you know what will happen in Week 7 if I'm struggling and he's sitting on the bench looking healthy and back in game form.
Who wants to put with that stuff?
But that's not the real issue, because if I'm struggling, it won't matter who the backup quarterback is because he will get a lot of love.
I'm just pointing out what's at stake for me, and here I am entering the third preseason game, and 80 percent of my projected offensive line hasn't been able to get off the sideline, my most dangerous weapon - running back Brian Westbrook - is just starting full practices, and my most experienced receiver, Kevin Curtis, doesn't appear to be as healthy as we're being told he is.
Does somebody in football heaven hate me?
That's what I'd be thinking if I were McNabb.
Fortunately for Eagles fans, the real McNabb is a bit more practical about the current status of the Birds' offense.
McNabb has seen enough during his decade in the NFL and in Philadelphia to know that no matter how dire the situation may look, 3 weeks before the season opener is no time to lose composure.
"Confidencewise, I think we definitely have it there," McNabb said about the Eagles' state of being after starting 0-2 in the preseason. "Our first two games we've done some positive things, a lot of things that obviously you would love to have back, but every offense in the league has that.
"I think we're excited about what we can do on the offensive side, and I think this game right here is another way of getting that experience and getting guys an opportunity to catch balls and run and pick up blitzes and see things that they will see during the year."
Again, the issue is that the guys who will see these things during the year aren't seeing it right now.
And you have to wonder how much that will affect McNabb.
If he's not getting work with an offensive line consisting of Jason Peters, Stacy Andrews, Jamaal Jackson, Todd Herremans and Shawn Andrews, how will he truly have confidence that they'll be able to protect him when the games really count?
And while he is used to Westbrook, even used to not having Westbrook at practice, there is something to be said for quarterback and running back redeveloping a sense of timing before the season starts.
Really, it's a no-win situation for McNabb.
The players he has are the ones he has. They very well could end up being the ones he has to start the season.
It would not serve positive purpose to question their competence.
Besides, if this season doesn't live up to expectations, it will be McNabb, not any of them, who takes the most flak.
Of course, there is little chance of this season reaching those expectations if those players aren't out there with McNabb.
"I think it will be good for us to get some of our guys out there who are going to be out there during the year," McNabb said, "but offensively, we're excited in what we've been able to do so far.
"I'm kind of looking for the other guys to step in, so we can get a chance to work together, but for the guys who are out there, with the experience that they've had through practice and also through these games, if something were to happen, I know they can fill in and do the job.
"These guys have really flourished in their opportunity to be able to play to the best of their ability, make the right reads, make the right blocks and do the job."
I'm not Donovan McNabb, but if I were, I'd probably see things a little differently.
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