Donovan Returns
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Donovan Returns
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
There were current Redskins, ex-Eagles and current Eagles wearing Donovan McNabb clinic T-shirts on the sun-soaked Evesham Township field Saturday afternoon, as the Eagles' deposed franchise quarterback held his annual youth football clinic, aimed at raising diabetes awareness and raising money for the McNabb neo-natal unit at nearby Virtua Hospital.
The host of the event was in a mellow mood, in his return to the area where he starred for 11 seasons, before being traded to Washington a little more than two months ago. There were a few instances where sharp feelings seemed to lurk below the surface, most notably when McNabb was asked a question about what last season was like, if he'd felt he was being phasaed out in a locker room of young offensive stars.
"When you're an older guy, it not only happens with me, it happens to Peyton (Manning) it happens to Tom (Brady). Everybody talks about you," McNabb said. "You win, everybody talks about you. You lose, everybody talks about you. Some young guys always want to get the credit, until they get in the shoes where they're the ones getting the criticism, then all of a sudden, people don't like to be criticized. I can handle that. Some people can't. Until they get hit with that type of buzz, then they really realize the shoes that I was in. From afar, everybody wants to be who you are. But the fun thing about it is, that's part of the game. That's something that I've taken on, and I know the role, and I love it. I loved it here, and I'm going to love it again in Washington."
McNabb didn't say exactly who or what he was talking about, and there was no opportunity for a followup, during a hurrried onfield media session with Philadelphia news outlets, after the QB sat down and talked at length invidually with the Washington media. But a good guess might be that these were his thoughts concerning wideout DeSean Jackson's remarks in praise of the move to new starting QB Kevin Kolb -- and to previous reports that some of the Eagles' young stars were (perhaps understandably) closer to Kolb last season than to McNabb.McNabb also was widely criticized at the end of last season for agreeing with a questioner that the team showed its youth in back-to-back season-ending losses to Dallas.
But the overall tone was far from bitter. McNabb, in his remarks to campers, even made a joking reference to Eagles players present who were his teammates "before I was traded and booted out of here."
McNabb previously has held this event -- part of a charity weekend that includes a formal party tonight -- at NovaCare. McNabb PR rep Rich Burg emphasized that the Eagles never told McNabb he couldn't use NovaCare this year, but that the QB decided to move on to an Evesham municipal complex. Evesham's mayor, Randy Brown, is a former special teams assistant for the Eagles. Burg said the Birds supplied footballs and a punting net.
McNabb said he anticipates keeping the clinic in South Jersey, though some of his charitable endeavors will be moving to D.C.
"When you've been a part of a city, family, for 11 years, obviously there is a lot of attachment. What we've been able to do over the years with this charity, it's continued to grow. We had a hundred kids; suddenly we've got more than 300," McNabb said, many of them provided the opoortunity through charitable organizations.
"I'm going to move some stuff to Washington, because Obama and his wife do a lot of things dealing with health and education -- it's a big diabetes draw there ... But I've been here for a long time. I feel like this is part of my home, and I want to continue here."
"You just want to be an inspiration in their lives," McNabb said, whether they root for the Redskins or the Eagles.
What's it like, two months into being a Redskin, after so many years with Andy Reid and his system?
"It's fun. I always love challenges. Learning a new offense and getting the personality of a new coach and new guys in the locker room, I enjoy that challenge, and it's been fun."
McNabb thanked a long list of attendees, and noted that Redskins running back Clinton Portis flew in from Miami.
Both Brian Westbrook and his Redskiins cornerback brother Byron attended. The Redskins have discussed a contract with Brian Westbrook but McNabb said he didn't know if that would happen. He said he would love to have Westbrook come join him.
Overall, now, his outlook on the move, he said, is: "I just look at it as an opportunity to continue on a dream -- a dream of trying to hoist up that trophy at the end and get hit with the confetti. I wanted it to happen here. It didn't happen here. Now I have another opportunity to do that in Washington. If I can do it, that'd be great. It's a dream to play this game, a privilege, and one that I don't take for granted."
Asked about assimilating himself in a new locker room, McNabb said: "I try to be genuine. I've always just tried to be myself, and no one else, tried not to be fake, tried not to do something that's not me ... they understand the type of person I am, my rap sheet, but the whole thing about it is, I want them to know me as a person. Forget about what I've done, what I've accomplished, it's all about a new chapter right now, what we want to do as Redskins."
Asked if there were any lingering hard feelings toward the team that traded him to a divisional rival, McNabb said: "Not at all.I've talked to Jeffrey (Lurie), I've talked to Joe (Banner), I've talked to Andy. I've thanked them ... for giving me the opportunity to display my talents and do it on a wonderful stage, to display my talents."
Among the other players and former players present were Devin Thomas and Bobby Wade of the 'Skins, ex-Eagles Bobby Taylor and Chad Lewis, and current Eagles Jamaal Jackson, Todd Herremans, Leonard Weaver and Jeremy Maclin. Kolb had hoped to attend but had a conflict, he said last week.
Kolb "hoped to attend".....for what; he has the position; no more acting like you are #5's friend...Thanks McNabb= we did appreciate you and HOPE you retire and Eagle but I wouldn't....— RoastedBird- tpizza....great to see you again, man! Hope all is well. Now about these Eagles.....I'm both hopeful and petrified....but it just seems there are storm clouds on the horizon....can't explain it...just a feeling. Oh, which screen name is actually Lonewolf now? I see Puke is called DooDoofresh....and still obviously under nurse Rachet's care. But where is the one and only Lonewolf??? no surprise to see donnie's apologists panpizza and 49cent jump at the chance to bash KK,,they are real eagle fans--Right..wolf.— wolf 4
- tpizza....great to see you again, man! Hope all is well. Now about these Eagles.....I'm both hopeful and petrified....but it just seems there are storm clouds on the horizon....can't explain it...just a feeling. Oh, which screen name is actually Lonewolf now? I see Puke is called DooDoofresh....and still obviously under nurse Rachet's care. But where is the one and only Lonewolf???— philly449
- "... people don't like to be criticized. I can handle that. Some people can't" Same old Donovan. He can handle criticism? Since when? He was the biggest, most thin-skinned, whiner this town has had.— bartfr
Hey wiff, too bad KK couldn't make it. Guess he had more important things to do other than raise money for a neonatal wing of a hospital right? Musta thought he'd be back to holding the clipboard again so he didn't want to show up? Or maybe he was off trying to keep the wild boar population in Texas under control. Heard there was a boar stampede in San Antonio last week. Wouldn't want to get anyone trampled now would we? Hey, fist things first, right wiff? Oh, and that's a boar stampede, not a bore stampede so no need for you to go there. Hey maybe we could have a new sport, we could call it Running with the Bores like in Pamploma? Sound good to you? Eagle fans could chase you through the streets of Laredo? A little exercise wouldn't hurt ya, now would it? You keep swingin' there slugger. Sooner or later you'll say something intelligent...by mistake.— tpizza- Tough to buy into Kolb leading us to the promised land.....Dmac will be a tough act to follow....I thnik Kolb will lose starting job by week 6 or 7.....but I'll still support him and root for him because I'm an Eagles fan! I believe we're in for two tough years.....— philly449
Comment removed.- McNabb is a class act!— alex.blasscyk
such class...thank god he's gone.- The article specifically discusses his commitment to charitable causes, including one in this area, and the only thing some people can say is "so glad he's gone". No class.— beegal99
- Jibberjabber, no joking nor sarcasm in you world? You haters need to get a life. Wonder if your opinion would change on McNabb if you or a family member was directly helped out by one of his charities. If so, you'd prolly still complain. Alot of miserable people in this town, fo sho.— beegal99
- NOT EVEN GONNA COMMENT ON THIS....I'LL JUS SAY....THANK GOD THIS GUY IS GONE!!!!!! GONE I TELL YA!! GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO KOLB!— BIRDSFAN4LIFE16
- Donnie is a Bitter ex-Bird,shoulda-coulda-woulda is all he is and ever will be,good luck with the deadskins and his diehard apologists..LOL..wolf.— wolf 4
- McNonsense, when you come back to Philly, just be quiet. Go about your business and don't say nothing! No matter what the media asks you, don't say nothing! We all know that you are bitter about being "booted out of town" just like you were when you were booed when you came here. You just can't let go. And I KNOW you aren't talking about De-Jax when you talk about people that can't handle boos! PLEASE! De-Jax could care less about boos as long as he's getting his bread and his TDs/yards. This is a new Eagles team now Donowhine, where the QB can throw accurately and where the receivers will get more yardage without getting their feet taken out or their heads taken off. See Dummyvan. We don't need you anymore. Just do your business with the kids and GO HOME!!! Peace out!
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- Oh, yes...McNabb will return. Early October, isn't it? Brilliant move by Andy and co. Let's trade our best option at QB to a division rival, who also happens to have a HC with two super bowl rings. Andy is an idiot.— stink-gull
- TRULY a Class Act and so much better than some of these typical Philly a-holes ever deserved. Glad to see the support from his former teammates and not at all surprised Bobby Hoying had a "conflict" (yeah...sure). I just wish he had refused anything whatsoever from the Eagles...glad I have Sunday Ticket so I can watch something other than the "gold standard" this fall......I am (no longer) Oppressed.....( I owe him royalties....)— whocares?
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- donovan is the man!— thinkdontspew
- [IDIOT]jiberjabber[IDIOT]....did you read that McNabb jokingly said that?— CHUCK JR
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- You guys give 5 way too much press. He's not even an Eagle anymore. On to the next one................— mthamess
- "Before I was booted out of here....." Sad and bitter. Bye-bye, Donovan. Please don't go away mad, just go away.— jibberjabber
- Passive aggressive as always.— Dtownfan
- Real Funny DerbyBound, bet you stayed up all night thinking of that one! LOL!— taycom
- I'm guessing that 5 can hit the kids on the numbers, them being shorter and slower.— DerbyBound
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- We need to distinguish the really great person McNabb is from the gopher killing quarterback he was often on the field. Years from now we'll remember his charitable efforts very fondly and his on-field performances wistfully.— cyclenut
- Don't know what you got, until it's gone.— The Champ76
- class act indeed— raoool
- I will be watching two teams this season.. the skins and the eagles! Im thankful for McNabb and whats he's done. We've been heart broken and weve been spoiled as well. Many teams have beem at the BOTTOM for a while. McNabb being a good qb that he is.. helped us not to be a bad team for a long time. Much love.— twistedmetalone
- Good call Phillyaviator37. These haters can harp on and on about what McNabb did or didn't do, but they can't argue that McNabb has been a pillar in the Philly community. His health initiative is very admirable. I'm glad the media is covering something positive for a change.— JayDuce
- Class act.— Phillyaviator37
- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz— lukebonbon
