Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 1:20 AM | 30 comments |
 

What Donovan should do
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This not-knowing-the-overtime-rules business is a sideshow for Donovan McNabb. His bigger issue is the series of terribly slow starts that have plagued him in the last month. But, still, it's out there.

How would I deal  with it? If I were him, or his people, I would get David Letterman on the phone immediately. I would offer to tape a Top 10 list, pronto -- the top 10 rules Donovan McNabb wasn't aware of. You know -- "No. 6...no white shoes after Labor Day." That kind of thing. He should make fun of himself and hope that people can then recognize this for what it is: stunning, yes, but a lot more embarrassing and symbolic than it was meaningful.

Some people say it could have affected the outcome of the Eagles' 13-13 tie against Cincinnati. I don't see it. There is an imperative with every possession in overtime -- because everyone knows, if you give up the ball, it could  be your last shot. There can be no greater incentive than that. That is everybody's motivation, in the first minute of overtime or the 14th -- don't give up the ball because you might not get it back. Not knowing when the game might end does not change that.

The only time it could potentially have an effect would be at the very end of the quarter. For instance, let's say that McNabb audibled out of the Hail Mary he threw on the last play of the game and dumped the ball off short instead, thinking there would be another quarter. That would have been bad, a clear error because he didn't know that the game would end after 15 minutes of overtime, even if tied. But that's the only situation I can imagine where his lack of knowledge would be an issue -- and, well, it didn't happen in reality. He threw the Hail Mary.

Anyway, that would be my two-pronged PR strategy -- make fun of himself (like Mike Schmidt wearing that wig-and-glasses disguise after ripping the fans in a long-ago newspaper story), and after everybody got done laughing, gently make the point that it really didn't matter during the game.

And then go out and try something different, like completing a pass or two in the first quarter at Baltimore.
Posted by Rich Hofmann @ 1:20 AM  Permalink | 30 comments
30
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:12 AM, 11/18/2008
    There is no way to PR yourself out of this bonehead move. Fair or not, coming as it did at the disappointing end of his career here, not knowing the OT rule will always come up when McNabbs name is mentioned in this town for the next 50 years.
    — fla
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:18 AM, 11/18/2008
    His career has been disapointing only in the fact that the TEAM never won the big one. You trade Don to Tampa and I bet they win a Superbowl next year.
    — KINGOFZED
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:38 AM, 11/18/2008
    Hey Rich, you're right it probably didn't have an effect on the game, however, I think his other statement was worse, "if that's the case, what are they going to do about the playoffs or Super Bowl", yikes Donovan, have you been living in a cave in the off season ???
    — Delaware Doc
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:52 AM, 11/18/2008
    Has anybody pointed out the fact that he never had to admit he didn't know the rule? I don't see what the big deal is. Had he known the rule, the score at the end of the day on Sunday would still be the same. The bigger picture here is that Andy Reid's responsibilities are now greater than his capabilities and it is time for him to move on. If fans think this season is going bad, they better swallow the bitter pill because it is time to rebuild now and there will be many growing pains worse than this tie. The next time the Eagles tie we may be looking at it from the Bengals point of view.
    — cbecko
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:14 AM, 11/18/2008
    I'll take that bet Kingofzed
    — JamesJ
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:03 AM, 11/18/2008
    Hey KINGOFZED , I'll bet they WON'T and, in fact, will regress. You see, the problem is not only Reid, it's McNabb as well. a point that disillusioned McNabettes fail to grasp.
    — essell
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:39 AM, 11/18/2008
    No, what McNabb should do is cut out all the hollywood-type stuff and just focus on trying to play 60 minutes of football each week. And also cut out the on-field socializing with opponents, and the grinning that follows his continouos mistakes. That's the only thing that will gain him any respect at this point.
    — jman
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:20 PM, 11/18/2008
    Dierte, if McNabb went to another team, he would do better because they probably would run the ball thus making play action viable. The Bengals never bit on any of his play action because WE DON"T RUN THE BALL. Reid is the problem, too much control over everything. My problem with McNabb is, after 10 years in the league, he still takes bad sacks w/o throwing the ball away, doesn't manage the play clock thereby taking bad time-outs, losing the ball after being hit too often, and doesn't seem to manage the game situationally too well. He is the captain on the field and his job is to make everyone aware of the situation (why is he throwing 5 yard check downs to heavily covered receivers when it is 3rd and 14?). The receiving corp is good, not great...we certainly need a new TE. LJ is the second coming of Jason Dunn, great speed, bad hands. I believe that Jeff Garcia succeeded because he had more touch on his passes and was more accurate than Donovan, who is constantly throwing behind his recievers and throws most passes too hard. McNabb has heart but is not learning from his mistakes. Get rid of Reid, get a new offensive package and see what happens. Kolb needs one more year of seasoning.
    — hoopfan1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:55 PM, 11/18/2008
    His stuipidit had nothing to do with the outcome of the game. The point is it's rediculous for a veteran QB to not know how OT ends when everyone watching at home does know.
    — doorspj24
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:11 PM, 11/18/2008
    While most of the comments reflect the majority view, I believe the crux of the problem lies with Reid and the front office alone. McNabb is a better than average QB in a league chock full of less than stellar QB's. Reid's abysmal play calling and his absurd drafts and free agent signing show a complete lack of understanding of the NFL in the 21st century. Had Reid gotten McNabb a legitimate No 1 receiver, an honest to God fullback, an honest to God tight end (think Gonzales) and replenished his aging offensive line McNabb would look like a superstar. Take a look at the other three teams in the NFC East and you'll see how to go about either rebuilding a team or maintaining a teams status amongst the better teams in the league. If the only reaction by Lurie and his pathetic brain trust is to throw McNabb under the bus, the result will be a continuing downward spiral for the Eagles under Reid's outdated and arrogant coaching. Reid has completely lost the confidence of his players and locker room. Reid is a classic example of the old adage, "Insanity is repeating the same behavior and hoping for a different outcome." For the sake of the Eagles, if Reid had a scintilla of integrity, he would acknowledge his ineptitude, blame it on his preoccupation with his two jailed sons, and resign to devote his remaining years to resurrecting the shambles of his personal life.
    — Alexander
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:20 PM, 11/18/2008
    who cares anymore...win some games
    — Sgasda4
  • Comment removed.


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About Rich Hofmann
Rich Hofmann arrived at the Daily News in 1980 for a job whose status was officially designated as "full-time, temporary." A senior at Penn at the time, he was hired to fill in on the copy desk during a staff illness. The notion of him covering the Eagles or being a columnist did not exist in anyone's imagination. It was supposed to be six weeks and out, but he never left. It is only one of the reasons why so many people have concerns about him as a potential house guest. Rich has blogged the postseasons of the Flyers and Eagles. E-mail Rich at hofmanr@phillynews.com

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