Cutler: The Anti-McNabb
Philadelphia Inquirer Sports Columnist Bob Ford writes about the Eagles, the Phillies, the Sixers and the Flyers.
Cutler: The Anti-McNabb
Bob Ford, Inquirer Sports Columnist
Aside from the fact that it is a spat between guys named Jay and Josh -- which makes it sound more like an argument over a squash hinder at Dartmouth -- there is something we can all learn from the current personnel issues suffered by the Denver Broncos.
As it relates to your Philadelphia Eagles directly, there isn't much there. The chance that Andy Reid would approve or even consider any combination of draft picks and Donovan McNabb for the right to listen to Jay Cutler's whining is so slim that our local head coach would need to squint to see it.
For a good take on the latest goings-on in Denver, read the post from Sam Adams on the site InDenverTimes. We will pause for a moment to ask you to consider subscribing to the site, which is run by former Rocky Mountain News staffers, good journalists who had the poor luck to watch their newspaper fold beneath them. Hey, could happen to all of us. And I know you would support us.
Anyway, Cutler -- who has led the Broncos to zero playoff appearances -- is the anti-Donovan, in many respects. If you wish McNabb were more demonstrative over his career when it comes to taking on the organization, here's a good look at what you've been missing. It is a large ego, surrounded by a football player who has achieved exactly nothing.
And why is Cutler able to create such havoc? Because there is a new coach who doesn't have much leverage yet, so he is being tested. Those who would like to see Andy Reid move on have to remember that the next guy, whoever that might be, would need a couple years to settle into the job. And during that time, there could be chaos. And beyond that time, too.
Say what you will about Reid. Aside from the very brief 2005 acid trip that was Terrell Owens, there is never chaos here. Not a lot of Super Bowl trophies, either, one must admit. But never chaos. The inmates don't run the asylum, the rats don't chase the cat.
And nobodies like Jay Cutler don't hold a franchise hostage.
Ox... your mention of the text messaging is way too good of a point to be brought up here! McNabb is somebody that we fans (or writers... or the talking heads) just cannot understand. Good guy, but his "whatever man" type of personality just p***** people off who want him to be Brian Dawkins. That's why I think it's funny when people say Cutler would be a mismatch for this city. What about the guy we have now? I think most of the fans are just sick of losing (NFC Championship, Dawk, etc.), and we haven't seen anything besides our two knee-brace additions to temper any of that. GET BOLDIN! Just DO something already. We're sick of hearing that some kid in the draft is going to be great in 5 years!— jjvas1- The texting thing is interesting, I know Dawkins went to Denver and didn't come back. Not sure where Tra Thomas' golf tourney was.— G
- For Christ' sake JimG. McNabb's been in the league since 1999 (TEN YEARS), Cutler's been in the league since 2006 (THREE YEARS). When you factor in those critical numbers, Cutler's stats begin to look quite impressive. I'm sure the "McNabb bashers" have taken note of that little omission.— essell
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Jay Cutler is a Cade McNown clone, right down to the whining. I wouldn't trade an 8th Round pick for Cutler. And yes, I realize there are 7 rounds in the draft. Therein lies the humor. Losers.— PhillyPhantastico
- Some of you want to bring that whiny cry-baby here? After you complained about McNabb and called him one? Multiply that ten times, and you get Cutler's level of "diva." Don't need it, don't need him. Wolfpup, you always say stats are trash, but now you're touting Cutler's. Sure, he puts up pretty numbers with a lousy D, but great receivers. I do recall, though, that the Eagles went from no playoffs during #5's rookie year to 5 playoff seasons in a row. Donovan didnt put up pretty numbers throwing to FredEx and James Thrash, nor watching Pinkston cut routes short so he wouldn't get hit. But they won. And he was/is a big part of WHY they win, WHY they're always in the hunt. So, if we're comparing the first 3 seasons, I'd rather watch the team look ugly on 'O' and win than have the QB putting up pretty numbers and watching other teams in the playoffs going for the title. McNabb, hands down, any day of the week. By the end of his fourth season, he'd been to the NFC title game twice and had taken the Eagles from last in the division to 2nd, his second year, and first the next two season. And Cutler...enjoys his seat on the couch watching the playoffs. Denver was a playoff team annually...until Cutler took over. Bad luck, bad D, make excuses. You're just a Jay Cutler apologist.— thealphawolf
- LONEWOLF IS THE STPIDEST MAN TO EVER POST ON HERE, I DONT EVEN WASTE MY TIME READING YOU POSTS ANYMORE CAUSE U R A MORON: MCNABB IS A TOP FIVE QB IN THIS LEAGUE AND HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND SNOOK U AINT NO BETTER CUTLER SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!HIS WINNING PERCENTAGE WILL GO UP, WHAT WINNING PERCENTAGE HE HASN'T PLAYED A SINGLE PLAYOFF GAME YET, DONOVAN HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST INT PERCENTAGES IN THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE. ONLY FOUR QBS BEEN TO MORE CONFERENCE TITLE GAMES AND ONLY SEVEN HAVE MORE PLAYOFF WINS!!!!! OH YEAH, MCSOFTEE I SEEM TO REMEMBER A GUY THROWIN FOUR TD PASSES ON A BROKEN ANKLE! YEAH, REAL SOFT JACKA##, LET ME SEE U GO TO WORK ON A BROKEN ANKLE THEN AGAIN I DONT THINK BURGER KING ALLOWS THAT— jimmyc3453
- I have been a McNabb fan since the beginning. He is a great quarterback when he is'nt throwing at the laces. I knew if he did'nt get hurt this year, he would put up great numbers. Here's my problem: Kolb has been terrible and the likelyhood of McNabb getting injured again is pretty high. While I was sad to see Dawkins go as my all time favorite Eagle, I think now might be a great time to sell McNabb high. It is a business after all. We don't need to waste another high draft pick on a QB in the next 2 years, we need a WR, RB, TE & various D positions not necessarily in that order. I would give up Mc Nabb and a 3rd or 4th round for Cutler.— fej
- fej i thank god u r not in charge cause u make no sense CUTLER SUCKS he throws way too many picks and is extremely erratic, LISTEN UP LADIES: yes donovan throws some passes at the feet of receivers butNO ONE COMPLETES EVERY PASS i would rather him throw a couple in the dirt then have someone takin them back for six the other way, basically HE HAS THE LOWEST INT RATIO OF ANY QB IN THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE SO I THINK A COUPLE BALLS OIN THE DIRT IS BETTER THAN INTS, MCNABB WILL WIN A TITLE IN 2 YEARS GUARANTEED CUTLER SUCKS— jimmyc3453
- yes. straight up right now Mcnabb is better. But in his first 3 seasons his TD-INT was 54-32 and right now cutler is 54-37. I know there is no guarantee that he will settle down like Mcnabb did but I feel like we have to address the fact that Mcnabb has not gone through any of the last 4 seasons without an injury. He is getting older. At some point someone will take over. Hell he might go the next 5 seasons without injury (No one would love that more than me) but chances are he won't. Are we going to waste more picks trying to find his replacement with no guarantees?— fej
- McNabb didn't miss a start in 2008 and suffered no serious injuries.— thealphawolf
- Anyone that wouldn't trade McNabb for Cutler is an idiot.— Bob Loblaw
