McNabb remains confident
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
McNabb remains confident
Les Bowen and Daily News staff
Donovan McNabb obviously could feel the love in the NovaCare auditorium, as he ascended the podium on his 32nd birthday, for a very special episode of the weekly quarterback news conference.
As you might have heard, McNabb was benched for the second half last Sunday in what turned out to be an ugly loss to Baltimore. Then, Monday, he was named the starter for Thursday's game against Arizona.
After thanking reporters for their birthday wishes yesterday, McNabb was asked how he found out he was again the starter. Of course, the subtext here was that Andy Reid sent quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur to tell McNabb he was being benched in Baltimore.
“I was told by the janitor. Me and him have a pretty good relationship around here. It was a pretty good conversation we had,” McNabb said.
McNabb went 8-for-18 for 59 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble in the first half against the Ravens. He was 2-for-11 with two interceptions after a 6-for-7 start.
Asked how confident he was that he could correct the problems, he said: “I know I will. I think the rest of the guys know that as well. You look at things that have happened, they are kind of uncharacteristic for me. I know that I have to battle through that, playing the position. Not everyone plays a perfect season.
“You are a competitor. No different than basketball or baseball. If you’re a little off you keep shooting. That’s the way I feel about it.”
Reid gave no indication Monday about how long a leash McNabb might be on. Given the chance to say that McNabb was the starter for the rest of the season, Reid walked away from the podium.
“I wouldn’t look at it like I’m on a short leash,” McNabb said. “I think a lot of people can make a lot of assumptions about what happened in the last game. I’m going to go out and do what I’m supposed to do at the position and everything will take care of itself.”
Asked whether his relationship with Reid can be the same following the benching, McNabb said, “I think it can … The relationship is where it was and where it should be. In asking me that question, you would have to ask Andy that same question.”
On whether he would be looking over his shoulder, McNabb said, “Not at all.”
It was clear, though, that turnovers are on McNabb's mind. Reid said Monday that the turnover-prone QB of the past few weeks is not the real McNabb, who at one point this season had the lowest interception percentage in NFL history. McNabb has five interceptions and two lost fumbles in the last two games.He said yesterday he would have a "different mindset" about taking care of the ball.
“You have to have confidence in yourself first before look around to someone else," McNabb said. "You have to ask yourself, ‘Are you doing your job to the fullest?’ That is something I will continue to do. If I elevate my game to another level then everyone will follow. You have to put pressure on yourself to be that guy, to turn the game around, to make that big play.”
Clearly, McNabb was not happy with being pulled.
“As a competitor you wouldn’t take yourself out,” he said. “I was expecting to go out there in the second half against Baltimore. It’s 10-7, the game is not out of reach … It was a decision that was made by Andy. I went along with it and was trying to root on my team.”
Later, McNabb's main weapon, Brian Westbrook, indicated he expects to be able to play Thursday. Westbrook has been severely limited the past few weeks, at least, by ankle and knee injuries.
Overconfidence has been this guys weakness since year two or three. He is a complete moron.— Voytas- Does anyone think another team would take on McNabb's massive salary for the next two years? I hope we dump Reid and keep Donovan, I cant imagine seeing him play for another team. As much as people want to hate on him, he isn't the problem here. It's Andy and his bad personnel decisions: Matt McCoy, Chris Gocong, Greg Lewis, LJ Smith, Dan Klecko (the fullback version), Lorenzo Booker, Kevin Kolb, Reggie Brown, Jeremy Bloom, the list goes on... When will it end. We have two first round picks this year, who here has ANY confidence Reid will use them correctly?? Keep Donovan, cut Andy. its simple.— mufc4ever9
- Run the ball. Run the ball. Run the ball. I don't care if we end up averaging 2.7 yards per carry. Run the ball. We have to show the defense some semblance of a running game to open up the aerial attack. RUN THE BALL ANDY!!!!— wondo40
- Ask anyone in Wisconsin how they feel without their "old, slow, turnover prone, what have you done for me lately QB"? Some of you idiots should be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. I'm as mad/frustrated as anyone about the play of my team, but I can still see Ray Bob, Detmer et al...— Igglesfan
Comment removed.- Dierte, Drummer, come on guys I know the game plan has been bad and the play calling is in shambles but Donovan has to take some of the blame here, he's the one who threw a screen pass in the flat six (6) feet over Westbrook's head, he's the one who's had seven turnovers not six in the last two games !!! He's the one who said "I can get a yard on a quarterback sneak every time" and refuses to do it !!! Refuses to call an audible when it's needed, he is the best quarterback we have had since Van Brocklin, but sometimes you just have to face the music and take the heat, he's not playing very well right now and it shows, facts are facts !!! Andy Reid has put him in a very poor stance, game plan wise, but you still have to execute and he's not doing that !!! That pass Ed Reed intercepted wasn't even close to the receiver, Jackson should have fought better for the other, but it was under thrown, he threw it no one else !!!— Delaware Doc
- IF it was possible...Fire Arrogant Andy and Keep Donovan...but the annointed one will stay and continue to be rude and abuse us and the media while trading away Number one's and failing to make good talent choices and cutting Number 5.......King Jeffery will stay in the ivory tower counting his money and pointing to "his" gold standard while his lackey and fellow fantasy football friend and bean counter Joe will ignore the fans and pretend they care about winng a Super Bowl....DonnyMac....be thankful you won't be here anymore— nuggett
- Comment removed.
- DMACRULES, I agree the whole team stinks, but execution is everybody's responsibility, they all have to do their job, and McNabb is having a bad time right now, he's never been the most accurate, but his skills for whatever reason have gone south on him at this time.— Delaware Doc
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- They said the same thing about John Elway until he finally got a running game, then he won multiple super bowls. Imagine how good we would be if we would have taken Brandon Jacobs instead of Sean Considine in that draft a few years ago, man.— TheRock2020
- Guys, I understand that, that's why I have repeated said that Reid put both McNabb and Kolb in a very precarious position with a defense (Ravens) who knew what the Eagles were going to do, the Bengles game was a disgrace, Reid kept Buckhalter on the bench against the 25th ranked run defense in the league now he's hurt and he only dressed two running back against the Ravens this past week, that just ludicrous !!!— Delaware Doc
- Comment removed.
- DMA your right !!! Because we have nothing !!! Look at the roster the only other running backs we have are Eckel who is inactive every week and Booker, Buckhalter is hurt and so is Westbrook, there are no other running backs on the roster, he cut Hunt !!!— Delaware Doc
