Harbaugh on McNabb's November Benching
For reporters, the best part of the NFL owners meetings are the AFC and NFC media breakfasts, where you get to sit around a table in a relaxed atmosphere and pick the brains of the league’s head coaches for an hour as they shovel down huevos rancheros and cheese blintzes.
Harbaugh on McNabb's November Benching
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
For reporters, the best part of the NFL owners meetings are the AFC and NFC media breakfasts, where you get to sit around a table in a relaxed atmosphere and pick the brains of the league’s head coaches for an hour as they shovel down huevos rancheros and cheese blintzes.
Andy Reid may not be very forthcoming on post-game Mondays. But he’s really been very good over the years at these media breakfasts. Haven’t had to do a What Andy Said, What Andy Meant yet from one of these.
But you’re going to have to wait until tomorrow to hear from Reid. The NFC coaches don’t chow down with the media until Wednesday. Today, it was the AFC coaches. While much of the media crowded around Josh McDaniels’ table to see if the Broncos coach might say something else to infuriate his whining quarterback, Jay Cutler, I spent most of the hour session on the other side of the room with Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh.
Talked to him about a lot of things, including the Ravens’ mid-November 36-7 win over the Eagles in which Andy Reid benched his struggling quarterback, Donovan McNabb, at halftime, and replaced him with Kevin Kolb.
``Andy did something that he thought was best for his team,’’ said Harbaugh. ``When you’re a coach and make a decision like that, there’s probably a lot of things going on. For a lot of reasons, he chose to do that at that time.
``It’s hard to second-guess it because it turned out to be a great decision. Maybe it unified the team a little bit. Maybe it rallied guys behind Donovan a little bit. Maybe it got Donovan’s attention. Whatever, Andy knew he had to do something, and he did it, and that was the right move.’’
If Kolb had played well and led the Eagles to a victory that day, there’s a good possibility he would’ve replaced McNabb as the team’s starting quarterback. But he threw 2 interceptions, including one that was returned 108 yards for a touchdown by Ravens safety Ed Reed. McNabb started four days later against Arizona, got his act together and helped lead the Eagles to the playoffs where they made it to the NFC Championship Game.
McNabb will be back as the starter again this season, contract extension or no contract extension, and Kolb will again back him up. But Harbaugh said there’s no doubt in his mind that Kolb has the right stuff to be a successful NFL quarterback.
``All I know is I saw Kevin Kolb every day in practice for the year I was the secondary coach when he was the guy going against the defense as the scout team quarterback,’’ Harbaugh said. ``When we did red zone, we couldn’t defend him. I mean he’d run the red zone offense for the team we were going to play. We had the No. 1-ranked red-zone defense in the league 2 years ago. And we couldn’t stop Kevin Kolb. Throwing to Mike Gasperson every day in practice. He picked us apart.
``(The coaches) love him. He’s got all the tools. He’s a leader. He’s tough. He plays the game the right way.’’
Some other Eagle-related thoughts by Harbaugh:
* On the perception that Andy Reid is stubborn: ``It’s not stubborn if you’re right. That’s having conviction. He listens a lot. The perception that he doesn’t listen to anybody would be completely incorrect. Andy listens to his coaches, listens to his scouts. Tom (Heckert) has a ton of impact on their draft.’’
* On Tra Thomas’ comments that Reid needs to be more fiery and emotional: ``Did anybody tell Tra that he should show more emotion? No. Andy told Tra to let his personality show. Andy coaches with plenty of personality inside those four walls (at the NovaCare Complex). Those players know what Andy’s all about."
*
For our earlier post regarding an apology to Correll Buckhalter from a convicted drug dealer in Delaware County, click here.
At the very least we all found out that Kolb was not ready for prime time. And there is no doubt that the team rallied at that point. McNabb did about as well as you could have expected in handling that. He could have gone negative. And speaking of going negative- did Cutler do exactly that now in Denver? But Josh McDaniels threw his guy under the bus after about 10 days not 10 years. I fault McDaniels completely. He made a mess real fast in Denver! Amateurish move by him. Look at how smooth John Harbaugh is by contrast.— Chuckle Berry
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Kevin Kolb set a record that day - for Ed Reid! A 108 yard interception return for a TD! Longest in NFL history! Kolb threw the interception to start it and missed the tackle to finish it off! Bill 1966, I can't wait to see more of that!— Chuckle Berry
- Lets trade McNabb for Cutler— NitnyLion
- You ppl are morons, Kold over Mcnabb, I don't think so. They need to send him packing like they did Lewis and Smith. FIRE BANNER AND REID.— bow
- The fact Philly was only down 3 at halftime makes the Reid move to Kolb ridiculous. You see how the game went from there. I know the spin is nice but the loss nearly cost Philly a playoff spot and you hypocritical fans and media would be even more disgusted with Mcnabb and Reid's usually consistent support of a black QB. Also grasping at practice highlights proves how pathetic and desperate the Philly media is for a replacement for Mcnabb.— mongoS
- Kolb nearly made Ed Reed a MVP winner. Of course Harbaugh likes Kolb. LOL— mongoS
- Benching McNabb was definitely the right thing! That move turned the season around! McNabb should be traded, he can't produce when the pressure is on him. Look at his entire time with the Eagles and you see him choke up when the pressure is on him. Move him while you can get something in return.— fred13
- "Philly.com comments are intended to be civil, friendly conversations. Please treat other participants with respect and in a way that you would want to be treated. You are responsible for what you say. And please, stay on topic." - haha, finally noticed this at the bottom.— sohagan28
- hey bill66 i'm guessing you were born in 66 right?In all your 42or 43 years have you seen a better or more successful qb than "mcbadd-mcchoke guess not right then shut your mouth. aight— bdawkisgod
- Why is Harbaugh still the authority on the Eagles?— bag853
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- The real "news" of this blog......"Tom (Heckert) has a ton of impact on the eagles draft". Hey Domo, please at your earliest convenience ask Tommy how many draft prospects he's seen with his own eyes this year.— Onlineps2beast
