McNabb: I've Played Great
Donovan McNabb, asked to assess his season, replied: "I've played great."
McNabb: I've Played Great
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Every now and then, somebody says something in a NovaCare news conference that brings you up short.
So it was Wednesday, when a questioner mentioned to Donovan McNabb that he was closing in on his own franchise record for passing yards in a season. The reporter asked how McNabb would assess his year, for the 8-6-1 Eagles.
"I think I've played great," McNabb said. "I don't look at the stats aspect of it, but if you do, then it is better than it has been in years. Offensively, we've been able to do some good things, and some things, obviously, we would love to change. I don't regret any of the things that I've done this year. I'd love to do better in this game coming up ... Certain things are just an inch away, not getting a first down here, or whatever it may be. Obviously, if we were able to get that done, we wouldn't be sitting in this spot right now."
The quarterback of a team that just lost a game that probably doomed its season, by a score of 10-3, just can't say that he feels he has played great. Even if the rest of the answer implied that McNabb does see some things he could have done better, it was a silly thing to say. Nobody will remember the rest of the quote. As McNabb has done so many times, he needlessly handed his critics an ax with which to bludgeon him.
Knowing McNabb, what we were seeing was that hard shell of defensiveness that has built up over 10 seasons of withering scrutiny. He has to know he has been up-and-down this season, better than his harshest critics give him credit for being, but far less than "great." At a critical point in the season, those Cincinnati and Baltimore games, he played the worst seven quarters of his life, turning the ball over seven times, before being benched. In several previous games, he seesawed between being unstoppable and completely ineffective. He was not good enough at Washington, even factoring in the terrible drops. He has to know all that, even if he thinks playcalling was a factor, even if he doesn't agree that he should have been benched.
McNabb probably feels that he can't betray any weakness, show any vulnerability, before a media corps he feels treats him unfairly. He learned that stubborn, willful refusal to engage on a human level at the feet of the master, Andy Reid.
But it is such a disastrous strategy. People -- even reporters -- respond to honesty. If McNabb had said: "Overall, I've been healthier and more productive than I've been in years, but I haven't been as consistent as I would have wanted. The offense hasn't quite gotten it done in some crucial spots, and even if that isn't entirely my fault, it reflects on me, as the quarterback. So it has been a mixed season. I'm proud of a lot of the things I've been able to do, but I wish I could have done more, so we would be in a better spot."
Say that, everyone nods in agreement. Say "I think I've played great," and people sharpen the knives.
Of course, there's an awful lot at work here behind the scenes. McNabb reiterated Wednesday that he does not want to go anywhere. He wants to fend off the transition to Kevin Kolb. He wants, he made plain Wednesday, a new contract, though he has time left on his current deal.. McNabb didn't say so, but that desire is not because he doesn't make enough money, it's because the signing bonus amortization on his old deal is just about up, which makes him easy to get rid of. A new contract, with a new signing bonus, would ensure he won't be traded or released.
All indications right now are that the Eagles plan to come back with McNabb in 2009.(Asked if he feels he's seen enough of Kolb this season, Reid Wednesday gave a lukewarm, "I've seen what I've seen, yeah.") But as we've noted before, McNabb is part of that equation. If he really insists on a new deal, on a commitment, he could write his ticket elsewhere, in a sort of passive-aggressive way, while proclaiming that he really wants to stay. That would be disappointing. Just as this season has been.
Meanwhile, Reid said Wednesday that DE Victor Abiamiri's Lis franc sprain will keep him out of Sunday's finale against Dallas, and should the Birds make the playoffs, Abiamiri won't be available for about a month. LG Todd Herremans (ankle), RT Jon Runyan (knee) and TE L.J. Smith (shoulder) sat out the afternoon practice, as did RB Brian Westbrook, as is usually the case when practice is held indoors.
Reid said whether the Eagles are eliminated before the kickoff Sunday or not, he will play everyone and approach the game the same as if his team was alive.
And Happy Holidays, by the way, from your Eagletarian.
Extra Eagletarian points if you can identify this, the best of all televised Christmas specials:
Comments (75)
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this guy and andy reid are both drinking some funny kool-aid— jazztafari- McNabb has had a good season. May be if everyone else on the offense should up, even Westbrook, and if Reid called a better game, the outcome would have been better. Remember the QB is only 1 of 11 players on the field. How about some WRs, another RB, a better TE, and a healthy younger O-line. Stop throwing McNabb under the bus. When he's gone I don't want to hear anyone's mouth. There better not be a complaint. When McNabb is gone, then all of a season there'll be a rush to improve the skill positions on the offense. Pitful. McNabb is a great NFL QB. I wish someone would check how many multiple INT games Drew Bresse had. He's on a losing team and he's supposed to be an MVP candidate. It takes more than a good QB to win games!!!! Wake up and stop prejudging McNabb. Evaluate him like all the other QBs in the league. Be fair, not biased!— thinkAgain
- He never takes responsibility. Same as the coach. No consequences. No introspection. No one is ever to blame. If you can't look inside yourself, accept the failings and come out stronger you have no right to say you are playing or working to your potential - for anything in life. It's the ultimate reason why Reid's personal life was destroyed, and why these guys have lost the repsect of the fans.— Bob1
- QB Rating=16th, Completion%=18th, 4th in attempts and only 8th in yards per game. I'd say he's mediocre at best.— Bill R4
- Bill Walsh held a series of teaching sessions. Reid missed the one entitled "How to draft WINNERS" because Bob's Big Boy had a special menu that day.— MichaelZoe
- Since McNabb is the best QB in the history of the Eagles and he's closing in on a career year in passing, I don't know how you could catagorize it as anything other than great. What, he didn't hand off the ball well enough? The guy has been carrying this offense for years and to a greater degree this year. Apparently, the sports writers of the Inq/DN can't figure out what caused plays to fail, Reid won't explain it to them, so they're going to rip the Eagles. Pretty lame. I've read and heard numerious journalists who have a pro football background say that McNabb is playing at a high level and he's covering for the shortcomings of his teammates. Just because Brown didn't make sure that he was in the end zone as per the design of the play, that's McNabb's fault. McNabb made the tough pass. Brown lost the game. You guys are idiots.— MikeP
- somehow people don't think their records matters, stats lie, and that McNabb is a GREAT quarterback? please, he is middle of the road. Now Jim Kelly and Marino are perfect examples of different talent levels who both made it to the Super Bowl and didn't win because of their overall team's play. TO, Westbrook, and Trotter should have rings...but their captain, McNabb choked in the Super Bowl and the rest is a sad, sad, history on paper, in the games, and in the stats. There is no disputing that.— MichaelZoe
- How many years are we going to hear these phrases. There's a lot of games we could have won." "There's a lot of games we were in." Say these phrases all you want, sole fact of the matter is, you didn't win these games. McNabb and Reid don't perform in the clutch time, its been quite obvious the past decade, time and time again. McNabb has a world of talent, but talent doesn't mean a thing when you're just not a winner.— robkaos
- That says it all. I am glad he is happy with his season. Just goes to show you that he could care less about winning. Get that loser out of here.....P L E A S E Pleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssseeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!— joker1
- I have thought again, think again and McNabb is not being prejudged. His stats are so-so. He's on a losing team because he cannot inspire them to win. After 10 years you'd think he'd be able to call his own game, especially while he has to wait for Reid to make up his mind. As for interceptions, McNabb doesn't throw that many because he waits until his receivers are mostly wide open before throwing the ball or he dumps short passes. Hard to throw interceptions on three-yard throws. Won't take a chance to make something happen. I don't know if we're ready for Kolb, but, if Reid's back, we'll get the same old McNabb.— mike l
- rose COLORED glasses? hahaha i crack me up— mariomick
- A winner(or a leader,for that matter) wouldn't say that he played great when the team is on the verge of missing the playoffs.— psu05
- i'd rather see mcnabb stay then see kolb take over. i've seen nothing from him that makes me think that he can be a starting quarterback. And AJ Feely is only good for a few exciting losses.— franknbeans
- With the exception of a couple miscues here and there he HAS played great. It's a shame he has to play under a coach who doesn't believe in supporting his QB with the running game.The other great player Reid has hung out to dry is Westbrook. Imagine a 5-8 200 RB is all you have in the backfield to shoulder the load.No matter how tough he is. I blame that on big boy Andy Reid and his denial that a big power running back or two and a committment to tote the rock would have made a difference in their record. Try 5-6 games this season alone.— MJPD345
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- mcnabb has played ok. different coaches, personnel and scheme would help 5 tremendously. I could see another 3 years with mcnabb. Who doubts me?— gulls3012
- It's his FIRST full season in years.. how can you judge someone who has not played a full season in 5 years? Stupid question
- Better keep McNabb. He's better than most quarterbacks in the NFL— Gold
- AJ Feeley...ha ha...now thats funny...How can i guy like that have any self respect?/..Bill R4...im with you...mediocre season for mccnabb, and i'm being kind since its almost christmas.— tdoc
- I think McNabb has played pretty well this season. He has had some bad games; but over a 16 game season; that's going to happen. He can't help it if his receivers(who aren't that great to begin with)drop passes. Getting talented players isn't his job. Going forward; let's finally bring in more talented offensive players. Oh; I almost forgot...Andy Reid makes the personel decisions...never mind.— chgtown
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- Les, a wonderful article and directly on point. It's sad that Donovan's never had a clue about how to respond to these types of questions. He seems only to set himself up for ridicule. Pity . . .— ParentOf2
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- Wow. Wow. I don't even-wow.
- McNabb is still NO GOOD under pressure. He thinks showing off now will somehow get him another 10 yr. contract. WRONG! We need a winning team, not another 10 years of excuses.— CCHUCK
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- Mc-out-of-shape had good games against bad teams. He fails to see how bad he has played. He hates philly and I am sure he rather be in Chicago. This team needs to be blown up.— maximus
- Is it Christmas eve or April Fool's day? He does look at game film, right?— deanwermer
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- McNabb HAS had a good season. He didn't express his dissappointment in the lack of success of his team. I give him a pass. But one thing does deserve a HMMMMMM moment... He had a charity bowling event for kids from Camden, North and West Philly. HMMMMMMMM. There are more kids from outside those areas that buy that #5 jersey, aren't there? Just wonderin'— nsidious
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- McNabb had some outstanding games, most notably the victories over the Cardinals, Giants and Browns. But he had those clunkers against the Bengals and Ravens, too. With him, inconsistency is the one thing that's consistent.— rhawnhurster
- Enough already, The season for this team is history. No way will the Eagles make the playoffs. Start planning for the future. Kevin Kolb is not the "one" and I am not sure what will happen to this team.— Donnie
- I am sure that Mcnabb did not play great this season. Adequate at best, but with this record 8-6-1, no one on this team has played great.— Donnie
- he has done a great job, so often with limited tools, injured backs, three wide receivers , all starters from last year hurt. other guys stepped up, but it is also a rhythm change. Good job Donovan!— billgfc
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- The next questions should have been, "Well if you played great this year than why has the Offense been soooo baaaad?" "Did you have a great game last week?" "What is a great year to you? Number of wins? Personal accomplishments?" When are we going to get some reporters with backbone to ask the right follow-up questions when McNabb and Reid make these ridiculous statements?
- Well, there you go....leadership.....delusional...but leadership nonetheless.....joined at the hip to a passaholic.....let's get rid of the train wreck Iggles and start over......there is no hope here in anything except for earning mediocrity....mediocrity we can have any time....champions come along once in a great while ...ok, really great while in this city......— pog
- When Donovan leaves next year, I dread how the offense is going to look. Seems like everyone is more than ready for the Kevin Kolb era to begin. Maybe we'll get the second coming of Bobby Hoying. And its Blackadder's Christmas Carol. Like Mr. Baldrick, I fear a strange and terrible visitation of the ghost of Eagles past.— Left_Turn
- The team is getting old and getting overpaid. I think we've had our fun with the Phillies. We Philidelphian's work hard pay lots of city taxes so we deserve a winner once every 28 years.— Poesraven8
- To me, it's self-defeating, but McNabb's just saying that to push back against the criticism. Fire Reid. Keep McNabb for another year. Find a coach who wants to run an offense with McNabb, Westbrook and D-Jack as your talent guys. Run the ball 50%. Smoke a pipe. Enjoy life. Watch the Phils.— jamesiri
- Stop worrying. Not everyone thinks like these bozos on here. In fact, it's very hard to find someone who is against McNabb out of the many friends and co-workers I know. These people are groupies of disapointment, and half of them would change their names and become pro-McNabb if he won a superbowl. Considering the Eagles haven't done that great this year, the stats would lead you to believe everyone on this team isn't very good...Which isn't true...You guys are just too funny.— MFPhils
- Oh, by the way, you can't have it both ways. You can't call McNabb on his stats and say he is bad because of them, and then say Andy's stats don't matter...what a joke :)— MFPhils
- As Westbrook goes, so go the Eagles. I hope McNabb doesn't get a tie for Christmas because he won't understand it.— dasher
- I think that the Eagles management need to keep McNabb but add two different threats to go with Westbrook. A second running back threat and TE-Tony Gonzalez would please me to no avail. Kolb is at least two years away from playing.— phillyfunk
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- was he being sarcastic?— lawrence2465
- And that's why he has never been loved in Philly. He represents the height of arrogance. Yo, McNabb, your team sucked and you are the so called leader, but everything's cool because it's someone else's fault, right?— rds260
- And that's why he has never been loved in Philly. He represents the height of arrogance. Yo, McNabb, your team sucked and you are the so called leader, but everything's cool because it's someone else's fault, right?— rds260
- And that's why he has never been loved in Philly. He represents the height of arrogance. Yo, McNabb, your team sucked and you are the so called leader, but everything's cool because it's someone else's fault, right?— rds260
- When's the last time McNabb has brought his team from behind to win a game? That was really great time management on his part on that last drive on Sunday...the first three plays ate up a minute and a half. If he's so great why doesn't he use his running more especially when they're in a prevent? If he think he's played great then it's time he moved on....as well as Reid.— greenflyer
- When was the last time McNabb brought his team from behind to win a game? Uhm, the last game he played. Threw a perfect dart to Brown but Brown ran the wrong route. McNabb made the play to tie the game and his teamates screwed up....AGAIN. One thing is clear: You don't need to be very smart to play pro football. Why not use his running ability against the prevent defense? Hmmm, maybe because he might not get out of bounds and they'll burn up too much time? McNabb put them in the position to tie the game and Brown ran the wrong route and, by catching the ball, let the time run out. Brown is dumb.— MikeP
- McNabb is a very good thrower: he can throw the deep pass with the best QB's in the league. But he is a terrible passer. His short and medium range passing is erratic, we all know that. He has a tendency to throw in the dirt. But I could live with that. It's the short and medium range completions which define McNabb: they are never delivered in stride. Receivers are always standing flat-footed when they receive the ball ( usually thrown too hard) from McNabb. He is the worst possible choice for a West-Coast offense. Put McNabb on a team that runs the ball and throws the deep pass and he will thrive. Keep him on this team and we will never win the big games.— armsofgeddon
- Eagles are coming up on 50 years since last championship. That's ok since Donovan has had a "great" year.— BobbyD
- McNabb's numbers are skewed based on the number of throws he has attempted during his lengthy term with the team. However, they'd be even better were he able to hit his receiver in stride or throw accurately into coverage. I swear that one of the reasons that he has thrown so few interceptions is that he's so wild that NO ONE can catch his passes, including the defenders.
- "i've played great," is exactly what's wrong the eagles. Donovan it's not about you, it's about the team. It's an old saying but it still holds true, there is no 'I' in 'TEAM.' No one wants to accept the accountability for failure. It takes a a big man, a true leader to admit when they're wrong or have fallen short, and once again all I am left are thoughts vomitting during a 2-minute drill.— bobcat262
- Mike I - you make an important point. McNabb has turned into a very cautious passer/QB. One is left to wonder whether it's a concern with turnovers or personal stats (leading the league in INT. %). His reluctance to tuck the ball away and run with it - usually which will result in something better than a 3 yard dump-off to Westbrook - is a puzzle. Apparently he's come to believe that "real" QBs sit in the pocket until something happens and if it doesn't, dump the pass off. On the occasions when he's shown flashes of the old tuck and dash form, good things have happened. Alas, for all the stats and history, McNabb is, and always will be, an erratic passer and mediocre QB.
- Mcnabb has had a good season, statistic-wise but overall the team is mediocre at best. Your not great until the SB trophy is in hand. Now if he had some great WR's or TE's to throw to he may be great.— Scobie1
- Armsofgeddon - on point and well stated.
- I'd just as soon see Kolb take over franknbeans. What's the diff? If McNabb and Reid stay, we're going to have a losing season next year anyway you look at it. Reid ain't gonna change his philosophy and McNabb can't execute the plays either. I 'm a firm believer that a team is only as good as it's quarterback. McNabb has not shown he can carry or even inspire this team. he has had ten years and, voila, we got nothing here to show for it. Kolb, on the other hand, has only had a handfull of snaps. When Kolb has been quarterbacking the team for ten years, then we can criticize him. McNabb should be allowed to continue his career elsewhere. The McNabbettes will find that he will fail no matter where he goes. He is just not cut out to be a quarterback. Inaccurate, throws short to medium range passes too hard, indecisive, makes bad decisions when he does make his mind up. Given his physique, he should have been a fullback.— essell
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- Time to cut ties with McNabb. This city guys that leave it all on the field!! This guy is not a competitor! Talented yes, but couldn't care less win or lose. Go sign Matt Cassell in the off season. And please draft the best available tight end on the board!!— FetchDixon
- Time to cut ties with McNabb. This city guys that leave it all on the field!! This guy is not a competitor! Talented yes, but couldn't care less win or lose. Go sign Matt Cassell in the off season. And please draft the best available tight end on the board!!— FetchDixon
- enjoy watching the super bowl from your couch Mcnabb— KarenD
- McNabb might get a C grade if - Eagles make the play-offs and win a few play-off games. Win some big games or must win games - see Bengals and Skins and be more consistent and maybe fans would consider that your "great". Right now a lot of fans might grade you as D this season and last 10 years. A QB is judged on W-L record and winning big games - including the SB. Apparently not a leader in the big games when the "pressure" is on. Not even close to B+ or A which equals "Great" for most QB's grades.— robmarina9
- Mike, McNabb is incapable of calling plays. He just does not have the gray matter for it. He is a good soldier. He takes orders and does his best to carry them out, but he is not one of the great thinkers of the game. Remember the Dallas game when the Eagles were down close to the goal line and one of the Cowboys yelled out "it's a QB draw" and the dopey B......d ran the play anyway and got stuffed? Donovan is a nice guy and a class act in many ways, but he is not very bright and that shows up in his decision making.— obergruber
- Ok, for all those who say that DM doesn't throw until his receivers are wide open, ask Jackson in the endzone last week if he was wide open - oh yeah, he dropped a touchdown that was perfectly thrown in a very small window. Ask pro analysts if the WR's for Philly have ever been capable of separation (aside from T.O. and now Jackson). But obviously McNabb is throwing the ball 40 times a game. He must be throwing into tight coverage sometimes (all the time). I feel that McNabb is paving his way out of town and into a more appreciative situation by his comments. You don't think he knows what he's doing when he makes those comments? He knows there will be a field day with the media and dopey fans like most of the people on this site. I can't wait for him to go to a more balanced offense with actual skilled players around him. But then it will be too late for you... boo hoo. Get a clue!— cuse
- There are a couple great Junior quarterbacks coming out in the 2009 draft. Goodbye Donovan!!!!!!!!!!— marioP
- Let's see, McNabb is 8-6-1 and Romo, who is no Joe Montana or even a Terry Bradshaw who were great is 9-3. Who would you rather have? Hey Donovsan look at the gsme films and see who you are.— marioP
- Uh cuse, McNabb scored a 12 on the Wonderlic test - one of the lowest ever for a qb. Do you really think he's smart enough to make these comments to get himself out of town? You're giving him WAY too much credit.— psu05
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Eagletarian is your home for comprehensive coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Les Bowen
Daily News Staff Writer
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