Reid: McNabb is still the QB
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Reid: McNabb is still the QB
Daily News staff
UPDATED: The Eagles announced three roster moves this afternoon, signing wide receivers Jordan Norwood and Dobson Collins, and center A.Q. Shipley each to three-year contracts. Norwood was active for one game this season for the Birds and was on the practice squad. Collins was signed to the practice squad in late October after being released by the 49ers practice squad. Shipley, who like Norwood is a Penn State product, spent the season on the Steelers' practice squad after being drafted in the seventh round.
EARLIER: Andy Reid was asked again if Donovan McNabb will be his quarterback next season, during Reid's post-mortem Monday, and again he answered that McNabb would.
"I was asked [after the game] if Donovan will be my quarterback next season and I said yes," Reid said today. "That’s what I’m saying now [as well]. Asked if it will be his decision to make, Reid said: "That is my call."
"Donovan is a great player. His work over the last 11 years has proven that. I truly believe it’s a team sport and it’s not all about one guy."
Asked if the questions from fans and observers about McNabb's future are justified, Reid said, "I don’t know what the questions are. I haven’t heard any questions other than what I was asked in here [during press conference]. I’m not out to analyze anything else. I was asked if it was my decision. It’s my decision. That’s what it is."
McNabb would be playing on the final year of a contract that was revised last June.
"I will get on that down the road as we go," Reid said. "He got a nice little kick for the next few years here in salary. I don’t think that will be a problem."
Asked if McNabb would be comfortable playing in the final year of the deal, Reid said, "I don't know that."
Reid said he was glad to be asked about the status of the quarterback position with McNabb, Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick.
"I respect that and feel very fortunate to be in that position. I don’t want to give up any of them. I like them all ...
"Can Kevin Kolb play in the National Football League? Absolutely. Can Kevin Kolb be a starter in National Football League? Absolutely. The other two guys have proven that. They’ve been top quarterbacks in this league for years."
Kolb also goes into the final year of his contract next season.
"We’ll look at all this," Reid siad. "I haven’t gotten to that point where I’m comparing players and contracts. We like Kevin Kolb. We like Michael Vick. We like Donovan McNabb. It’s a pretty good situation to be in as we go into the offseason."
Vick has been clear that he thinks he is ready to start, even if that means going somewhere else. Reid lauded Vick for turning his life around and the way he conducted himself with the Eagles. Reid said he would be surprised if Vick did not want to start.
"I know he wants to start," Reid said, "but I don’t think he would be disappointed [to come back].”
Other subjects:
Overall: "We’re disappointed the way the season ended here. We all thought we’d still be playing and all worked toward that. That again will be the things that drive us through this offseason to become a better football team. We all need to do a better job coaching and playing. The evelaution process started yesterday. I start with myself first and the coaches, and then the roster ... I did appreciate the effort by the team that they put forward. We did some good things. I was proud of some of the guys that stepped in and played when called upon to do so. They gave it their best shot, but again, collectively, all of us, need to do a better job. We’re surely not satisfied with what took place, particularly the last two games."
On matching up with the Cowboys: "It gives us a good measuring stick of where we need to be. The Cowboys were a better team. It's my responsibility that the Eagles get back to that level and even better. That’s what our goal will be this offseason ...You know what the Cowboys are and you see what the changes are with all the teams. You want to make sure you are the best football eam you can possibly be. Not just competing with one team."
On coaching changes: “I’m starting with me and then going through the coaching staff and then the roster. I’ll look at that very closely. After we played the other day, god doggone it …”
On Sean McDermott: “He’s not into excuses. I’m not into excuses. In replacing a legend in Jim Johnson at the time that it took place with a very limited offseason and doing what he wanted to establish his way and with some of the coaching changes with new staff members and then the players with some of the injuries, I thought he handled that whole thing so well.”
On the team's biggest need: “I’m going through all that. I’m not going to sit here and say that. Collectively, we have to get better from a coaching standpoint and a player standpoint, we’ll get that done.”
On Brian Westbrook: "He wants to play." Reid said Westbrook needs to "make sure he gets the health part taken care of, which he'll do." Reid didn't address the issue of paying Westbrook more than $7 million next year, coming off his lowest totals since his rookie season, but he noted that Westbrook looked like a difference-maker again just before he started suffering concussion problems. "There's no reason he can't get back to that level," Reid said.
On young players getting a chance: “Optimistic look for the future. They had the opportunity to play and that can’t do anything but help the team. We not only added young players we added good young players and they can help us win a championship.
On the offensive line: “We’ll see what time deals with. We took a hit when Jamaal went down. That’s a security blanket for the quarterback. Nick [Cole] stepped in and did a decent job. We have the people, we’d like to keep the continuity there. We had more continuity over the last five years than what we had this year. We let Tra and Runyan go and replacing them, we had a challenge there with the injuries. It probably didn’t develop the way I wanted to … The lines are always a priority there. We’ll get that taken care of.”
On Stacy Andrews: “We’ll see how things work out for the future. One thing I know about Stacy is he’s a very hard worker and he wants to be the best. I can work with that. The offseason will be good for him … ”
On GM Tom Heckert’s expected departure to Cleveland: “He’s done a phenomenal job and been my right hand man in the personnel department. If he stays, he will still be my right hand man. If he decides to go, I’ll go from there and go through the interviewing and evaluation process … Youguys know how I feel about Tom. He’s great at what he does. If it works out in Cleveland, he’ll be working with one of my best friends and someone who will allow him to do even more than what he did here. I’m always looking to help my guys out. If that’s the case, he will do a great job.”
On DeSean Jackson’s back and forth with the Cowboys: “There are some things he’d probably like to have back. I’m not even sure what a tweet is, but its wasn’t a good tweet, I guess.”
On DeSean Jackson’s potential contract talks: “I’m not there or worried about that right now.”
On Jamaal Jackson: The surgery went well. Until you really get on that knee and push it … right now he’s on crutches, it’s too early to tell.”
Yes, #5 is the best QB in Eagles history. Right behind him are the guys who are better as a marble cutter and an analyst. Reality check - #5 is very, very good. But not good enough. Proven too many times over. Is Kolb any better? Unlikely. Does any of this fix the gaping defensive holes? No. Does any of this change the pathetic time management and play calling? No. Times yours.— ChahlieM- Once again Reid says nothing of importance. And really, why after so many years would he actually be honest with the fans and media now? As far as McNabb goes, i'm ready to move on. It'd rather give Kolb a chance to fail (& grow) for a year or two than repeat what we've already got with McNabb but yet another year. None of us can seriously "not be fans" anymore if Reid again refuses to make changes. But i'll say this, if McNabb is still the QB next season I'll have very, very low expectations for this team and will not be crushed again at years end.
- The Reid-McNabb team has taken the Eagles about as far as they are going to go. Thanks for the great memories and giving us something to cheer about on Sundays. But, the Giants accomplished and the Cowboys will probably accomplish something we have not: a Super Bowl Championship. Time to move-on, and the sooner the better.— DameB
- I can tell the situation is never going to change for us Philadelphia fans and the Eagles. We have to accept the fact that fans have to be content with a subpar coach, QB and team. Competitive yes, but not to get us to a SuperBowl win. Lurie is not interested in winning a Championship for this city. He could care less, the Stadium is always packed. Shame on this ownership to continue putting this city with such an old team in a precareous situation of almost 50 years since the implementation of the SB and we have not won a single one. Even younger franchises have accomplished the feat and we are the laughing stock of the league. Not a good time to be an Eagles fan, but we must continue to persevere no matter what.— CapitanesFua
- How can anyone respect McNabb after his weird diplay in the tunnel? He's done.— psu05
- Well, if McNabb stays, then many Eagles fans could take a year off of worrying about football. But we know better. This situation has reached the breaking point. Reid knows this. He's just not stating the obvious out of respect for McNabb.— jimqk
- i'm ambivalent on the mcnabb thing but I would be interested to see if he responds any differently in a contract year seeing as he's never been in that position before it seems to make a difference for alot of players. IF they do keep him they should make him play out the contract THEN decide about a new one after next year.— Iggles21
- This offense can't function without a QB of MacNabbs caliber.He's not the problem.Until Big Red takes his blinkers off and realizes the power running game is all that's missing and start focusing on improving the run game, the team will be treading water while the rivals like Dallas get better.Same Old Sh#t/Different off season.— MJPD345
Comment removed.- oh and wolf-tard its says 67% of about 4500 ppl want him gone im pretty sure that the eagles have more than 4500 fans idiot— Iggles21
- Listen, everyone always talks about mcnabb...the problem isn't mcnabb..it's the offensive scheme...most "good" teams have a strong commitment to run and thus have the qb make a few small plays...those teams that don't, have extremely accurate QBs (i.e. Peyton, Brady, etc.) We all know that Mcnabb isn't that accurate but yet we decide to pass 60-70% of the time. It needs to change..And our defense..All I can say is I'm so tired of the blitzing scheme...teams that don't have great front four's rely heavily on the blitz...it's a way to make up for the inefficiencies of your front four..But if you are going to do that you have to have smart and good secondaries...Which we don't...So all you mcnabb haters can keep hating but in reality he's not the issue...it's the eagles offensive and defensive schemes that's really the problem.— argandny
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- Agree with MJPD. we need to have a better established running game, and that is regardless of who is at QB, otherwise we are going nowhere. The run has to be a threat.— Iggles21
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- mornhinweg needs to go... he is the playcaller, not Big Red.... and he just for whatever cannot adjust in-game....McDermott gets a mulligan in my book since we 1. didnt resign Dawk( huge loss but not from his play, more his leadership) 2. The new Defensive Centerpiece, Bradley, went out in preseason and we never really patched that hole 3. Reid needs to get him a QUALITY DE opposite Cole a better front four can cover up deficiencies in the secondary that is why we need a DE 1st, a Safety 2nd, LB 3rd— Iggles21
