McNabb: Westbrook retirement talk is false
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
McNabb: Westbrook retirement talk is false
Daily News staff
Amid all the talk about Donovan McNabb’s future with the Eagles, McNabb also discounted the suggestion that Brian Westbrook is planning to retire.
“All the talk people are saying on retirement or whatever it may be, it’s all false,” said McNabb, adding that Westbrook is looking to bounce back from last season.
Westbrook’s season was marred by a pair of concussions. A report after the season indicated that Westbrook’s left knee could lead him to retire and that he had a number of doctor’s visits lined up.
McNabb also seems undaunted by all the speculation about his future as he began practice with the NFC for the Pro Bowl today at a high school in Fort Lauderdale.
“I don’t even get into that, until if that was to happen," McNabb told reporters, including Daily News correspondent Andy Kent. "But you know what? I love being in Philly. I’ve been there 11 years, we’ve had a lot of success over the years and I don’t believe in starting somewhere and going somewhere else to finish your career. I believe in starting somewhere and finishing what you started and my goal is to win a Super Bowl, bring it back to Philadelphia because I think they deserve it. We’ve given them some great years but we just haven’t been able to finish and I think good things are to happen pretty soon.”
Meanwhile, McNabb's status remains a part of the discussion at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala, A key official of a team often linked to McNabb trade speculation told the Daily News that his team would be interested, but he does not think the Eagles are going to deal McNabb.
McNabb was asked if he ever wondered what it would be like if he were to be traded and play for a team other than the Eagles after 11 seasons in Philly.
“No. I let other people think about that," McNabb said. "For me, the grass being greener is really what field we’re playing on and when you’re in Philadelphia obviously there are ups and there are downs and I’ve been a part of it for 11 years so it doesn’t affect me at all.”
McNabb enters the final year of his contract with the Eagles, as does backup Kevin Kolb.
“I think we shouldn’t really focus on that," he said. "I love playing the game and that’s what it comes down to and I am under contract for a year. So we don’t know what’s going to happen in 2011. We just don’t know and if I have to come back and play, hey that’s great. I would love to because I love this team. I love being around these guys and competing and I think that things can happen for us.”
Eagles coach Andy Reid has said McNabb will be his quarterback next season.
"Why wouldn’t I be? We’ve been going through this the last two or three years and I’ve been in one spot," McNabb said. "I don’t want to be anywhere else but Philly and Andy came out to say it and the guys want me back and that’s the most important thing.”
More from McNabb in tomorrow's Daily News, plus a report from the Senior Bowl.
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The Eagles have promoted Barry Rubin to head strength and conditioning coach and added Ken Croner as assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Rubin spent the last two seasons as the Eagles strength and conditioning assistant and has 13 years of NFL experience on his resume. Rubin served as the head strength and conditioning coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1999-2005.
Croner joins the Eagles from Athletes Performance based in Phoenix, where he worked primarily with NFL athletes during their offseason training regimen. He also trained players preparing for the NFL Combine.
Only in Philly is McNabb not a top 10 QB or a pro bowler. On a national stage experts, fans and the media know what kind of talent he brings to the table.— tmoon51- i cant wait for the headline "mcnab traded". he's had 10 or 11 years to win a title and has come up short. time to move on to kolb and see if he can grow into this offense. mcnab had a great run. now go puke somewhere else. And dance in a tunnel while yelling . he's so nervous in the big games that he has to dance it off. what a schlub. focus..............— pop pop
- He said "bring the Super Bowl back to Philly"...has it ever been there?— PeaceFrog1969
- According to John Clayton(ESPN), until the Vikings make a decision on Favre(or vice-versa), McNabb will probably remain an Eagle in 2010. The Eagles could do a lot worse.— 76erfn
- I agree with Will69. No matter who is behind center next year if that line isn't fixed and they can't control the clock then it's the same result. 3 and out and our D on the field all afternoon isn't helping.— NorthEagleFan
- Have you guys heard ESPN mocking Philly fans for voting 62% to 38% Donovan should be let go? They're saying "typical Philly fans...un-believable". I swear, playing for Philadelphia teams probably takes 2 years off of an average career just from strain of dealing with BS from the fans...— KNuff
- McNabb is coming back for one more year (unless a team offers a 1st rd pick). Than it will 12 years w/o a superbowl WIN and more excuses from you lowlifes.— mkmholla
As soon as he felt a little pressure Romo crumbled again. He has yet to prove he is anything but a choker and a crybaby. Shawn is a two time pro-bowler and he and Stacy are both still young.- Eskin wouldn't have spread the Westbrook rumor without his bosses at the Eagles telling him to. Banner's not going to pay Brian $7.5 mil next year, so they are just trying to grease the skids. For all you 5 apologists, yeah, the o-line was beat up this year. What was his excuse for all the other years when Thomas and Runyan anchored and there were no injuries. McNabb is the greatest Eagle qb playing against inferior teams. His,and Reid's record against winning teams is pitiful. Jaworski and Cunningham had much better records against the NFC East back when it was the top conference in the game. Now the the Cowboys are better, the Giants have improved, Washington will improve under Shanahan, and the Cardinals are no longer in the East, McNabb and Reid can't count on 6 or 7 easy wins anymore.— mike l
- Josh moneyman is right ! McNabb will be under center for 5 years. Jelly donut Reid will be on the sidelines too. And at age 58 my shot at buying an Eagles Super Bowl Champion T-shirt is a joke ...— Gringo4
- mkmholla, "then it will be 12 years without a Super Bowl WIN"? Excuse me, did I miss all those parades down Broad St. the past 11 years? Knuff, who cares about ESPN fans? They know nothing of the kind of guy McNabb is, only what they want to show him as. Why are several sports reporters saying that they expect 5 to be outta here next year? Ask any of the Phillies if Philly fans have taken any years off them. Those guys are heroes for life around here. The Flyers who won the Cup 35 years ago are still hailed. The '83 Sixers are beloved. Those who can still remember the '60 Eagles still love them. Maybe if McNabb were the true leader he tells everyone he is, and won something instead of choking (literally) and blaming eveyone else, he'd hear a lot more cheers.— mike l
Comment removed.- Please McNabb don't come back I couldn't take another season with you. We need good picks trade Vick, McNabb and anyone else who can't contribute toward a bowl WIN. Super Bowl Wins in the NFC East, Dallas 5, Washington 3, Giants 3, Eagles 0 (thats Zero) A big goose egg. What the super bowl 44 year old and the Eagles aren't even close. Hoot McNabb been playing 11 years that 25% of the Super bowls with just one loss, even the other NFC east teams lost as much as the birds. We need help.— Joe Vegas
- Who cares we got shady, and we need another backup..Really how much can you expect from BWEST?— Lotsh
- Unless McNabb learns how to hit a receiver in stride on a crossing pattern or any other pattern... we are going to have the same. We all know that Andy is not going to beef up the running game. The Eagles have to learn to get past that hump of winning the games that count.— roque32
