MCNABB WILL START AGAINST CARDINALS
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
MCNABB WILL START AGAINST CARDINALS
Bob Brookover
Donovan McNabb will be back at quarterback Thursday night when the Eagles play the Arizona Cardinals at Lincoln Financial Field.
Coach Andy Reid made that announcement at his weekly news conference following the Eagles' ugly 36-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday during which he pulled McNabb in favor of Kevin Kolb after halftime.
"As I said (Sunday), sometimes you have to take a step back to take a step forward in a positve way and Donovan will do that," Reid said. "This has nothing to do with Kolb's performance or Donovan's performance."
Reid added that he would not have changed his decision to relieve McNabb with Kolb in the second half against the Ravens.
"Donovan is going out to play," Reid said. "Sometimes it's good to step back and look at things at a little different angle. I expect him to go out and play his heart out. I think I know Donovan McNabb better than anybody in this room. Six turnovers, that's not him. That's not his game. That's not any part of his game."
McNabb had six turnovers in the Eagles' last two games and has thrown interceptions in each of his last four games.
Asked if McNabb would start the final five games, Reid said, "As I sit here right now, he's my starting quarterback."
Reid said his decision Sunday was based upon what he thought was best for his team first and for McNabb second.
"I will make every decision on what I think is best for this football team," he said. "That's the seat I sit in and the way I'll always approach it."
Reid also defended his decision to have quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur inform McNabb of the quarterback change during halftime.
"That's how things are," Reid said. "I really don't care what anybody else thinks about that. That's how we do it. The coach approaches that player and then I talk to them afterward. It's not a matter of disrespecting Donovan or any other player."
Asked if he was concerned about the reception McNabb will receive before the Eagles' Thanksgiving night game against Arizona, Reid said, "You can't worry about all that. You take care of what you can control. You get rid of the ifs and play."
its the right move— Sgasda4
Comment removed.- I agree, Kevin demonstrated he can't handle it; the game is too fast for him. He needs more practice, as it looks I don't think he is the answer.— belita
- Comment removed.
- I don't even know what to say anymore about any of this... except let's continue to root for our Eagles, whoever they are, with passion!— R3
that game was Donovans chance to seperate himself from the mess reid made. unfortunately, he served up a turkey of a half with the ints and fumble. now lurie has to choose where to send the pink slips. I still like BILL COWER coming in and giving Mcnabb the starts while either drafting a qb or giving kolb some more reps and watching him and 5 fight it out in training camp. obviously either mcnabb will accept the backup role, or we get a seasoned qb to accept that role as needed. After saying all that, I think the pinks go to reid and the staff. Get a GM seperate from the coach. We need talent and this staff seemed to lose its focus in the last few years. time to make a clean break from this pass-first-and-last regime.- if you guys keep spending your money to fill up the Linc and keep rooting for this team and not booing to voice your displeasure, Laurie the money man will make NO changes and this team will continue to stink.— Bob65S
- What choice does he have? Kolb isn't ready to start yet. I think we're witnessing the end of an era. Andy and McNabb came into Philly together, and something tells me they'll be departing together as well.— phillyfan570
- that game was Donovans chance to seperate himself from the mess reid made. unfortunately, he served up a turkey of a half with the ints and fumble. now lurie has to choose where to send the pink slips. I still like BILL COWER coming in and giving Mcnabb the starts while either drafting a qb or giving kolb some more reps and watching him and 5 fight it out in training camp. obviously either mcnabb will accept the backup role, or we get a seasoned qb to accept that role as needed. After saying all that, I think the pinks go to reid and the staff. Get a GM seperate from the coach. We need talent and this staff seemed to lose its focus in the last few years. time to make a clean break from this pass-first-and-last regime.
- I would love to see the Linc give Donovan a surprise standing ovation when he is introduced before a national audience. Tough times call for extraordinary measures, just as with the economy. That said remember the two top receivers AND starting tight AND Westbrook were not available in good health much of the first half. Remember also Shaun Andrews. You need healthy guys here. Without that no quarterback in this league will thrive. As for next year: power running back, offensive line upgrade and adjustments in defense, Eagles could be right back. It is micromanagement just nailing the quarterback for taking extra risk with unhealthy playmakers stalling other plays Go Donovan and Any and all good luck!— billgfc
- We don't know what we have in Kolb yet. He was thrown into a bad situation where he had to face a very good Baltimore D, while being fed plays by a horrible playcaller in Andy Reid, in his first significant playing time as a pro. You couldn't expect too much from him. And as a comparison, some great QBs like Elway and Favre, had bad first games. I'm not saying Kolb will be Elway, we can only hope, but you can't tell what he'll be after one half. But, it is time for mcnabb and reid to go.— ruphilly
- Are you kidding me???? Did anyone watch the game? Savior Kolb was awesome!!! Did you see that pass to Ed Reed?? Right in the breadbasket! McNabb would have proabably thrown it over his head or at his feet, he stinks! Have you noticed Savior's number?? Its 4 the same as Brett Favre! He has the same number as Brett Favre, so he has to be as good as him right??? Right???. Lets get it straight here people, as long as Reid is the coach, neither one of these quarterbacks will be effective.— charliem
- anybody who thinks a young QB can survive in the NFL without a dcecent running game, solid O-Line and competent receivers is fooling themselves. At this point Reid is just trying to drive up the market value of McNabb (and he also hopefully understands it's a no-win situation he's about to thrown Kolb into...if 5 can't succeed there then Kolb doesn't have a chance...evidenced by their almost exactly similar QB rating yesterday).— vinni
- Diddumm widdle donny's mommy yell at the big bad coach???????— JerseyCommonSense
- To the posters who have just compared his career path to Culpepper's and McNair's, aside from the obvious racial comparison, what comparison is there??? McNair was an NFL MVP quarterback whose body broke down in his prime after 12 years of abuse and was unable to play anymore. Culpepper was a 3 year starter who never won more than 10 games, won maybe 1 playoff game and was never considered more than a pretty good player. He was exposed when his high-powered weapons were taken away from him. There is very little in the way of comparison between these three players. Try again.— jaybatt79
