McNabb hopes to walk out of right tunnel
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
McNabb hopes to walk out of right tunnel
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
After 11 years of meeting with the Philadelphia media at the NovaCare Complex and/or Veterans Stadium for his regularly scheduled Wednesday press conference, Donovan McNabb for the first time spoke to local reporters via conference call.
The Eagles are hosting the Washington Redskins on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field -- in case you hadn't heard -- and McNabb will be making his first appearance at the stadium in a different uniform.
"Hopefully, I walk out the right tunnel," McNabb said. "I may need some help with that."
There has been a lot made of what kind of reaction the quarterback will receive upon his return to the Linc. Most polls indicate that McNabb will be received warmly -- at least until game time.
McNabb said that he was hoping to hear some cheers.
"But in reality you got to remember that it’s kind of a big rivalry and one that obviously we see each other twice a year," McNabb said. "So there will be some realization there as far as hopefully after the fact that they recognize that I’m back but just knowing that I’m with the Redskins. So I’m sure they won't be happy with that aspect.”
McNabb maintained his stance that he's trying to approach the game as if it were "any game."
"I think people are probably looking at it a little deeper right now than anything," McNabb said. "You got to remember it's just Wednesday. That was me kind of expressing how my emotions may be. It's kind of hard for me to explain at this particular point. But it’s probably something I can answer after the game."
McNabb, of course, will be facing an Eagles team that now has Michael Vick as its starting quarterback. McNabb had something to do with the team signing Vick last August. But when the Eagles traded McNabb in April not many expected Vick to be the Eagles starter when the team hosted the Redskins and McNabb. Kevin Kolb was supposed to be the guy, but now he's not.
“It’s a tough situation when a guy gets hurt and you would expect him to have an opportunity to step back in ," McNabb said. "But in due time Kevin will be fine.”
Last week, McNabb was asked about the quarterback switch during his Washington radio show. He said he wasn't necessarily surprised because "that's Philly." Asked to clarify his comments McNabb said: "I've only been in one place so I don’t know anywhere else. Are you trying to reach for something that’s not there.”
Asked further what he meant, McNabb said, "What I meant is what I said.”
McNabb said that he and Andy Reid remain "good friends," even though it was the coach that traded him to an NFC East Division rival.
" He stuck his neck out and drafted me in ‘99," McNabb said. "We had a lot of success together. Obviously we’ve been through some ups and downs tighter. Things happen. It’s unfortunate. Was I upset at the time? Absolutely. I moved on. I've learned to move on and focus on the job at hand.”
How long was it before he moved on?
“Well, I was here the next morning after the trade to work out with the guys and spent time with him," McNabb said. "So I’ve moved on from it.”
It's not like the dude screwed us over. He gave the eagles everything he could and the organization ditched HIM. He deserves to be cheered when he takes the field... after that... well, he knows whats comin'.— navogel- Agreed, educator. Soybot, I guess I'm an idiot in your world. By the way, what color is the sky in your world?— dlscholt
- Batteries, Santa Claus,Mc Nabb's draft.Don't give the national media another excuse to belittle Philadelphia.Go Eagles— youwish
- I will cheer for him, and RESPECT him, which is more than I can say for the piece of human garbage that has replaced him— intelliwoman
- the "haters" will boo him......and it will again show their lack of class as usual....and these are the same fools who cheered him for the first 6 years of his career here.......but then they have no lives and they live on hating....(how sad is that ?) and for the moment they will cheer Vick till he loses a game or two and then they will boo him also.....A life filled with ahte and their sole joy is to boo someone.....how shallow, how silly, how stupid....they need serious help.....but they will trot out their macho beer laden attitude and want to meet you in the parking lot.....wow....are we impresssed with the idiots yet ???...not me....he is the best Eagle QB ever and though Andy's schmemes and drafting is more responsible for NO Lombardi Trophy's here.....he did us proud on and off the field.....— nuggett
- I will cheer until my lungs bleed when he is introduced. He played a MAJOR role in turning a moribund franchise into a consistent contender and for that he deserves to be cheered and thanked. McNabb did more for the Eagles than Brian Dawkins ever did and his reception on Sunday should reflect that.— wondo40
- Very simple. The guy gave as much as he was capable of to Philly. On a scale of 1 to 10, we needed a 10 but he was merely a 9. He was 3 points short of a Super Bowl parade. You don't boo someone like that. He was role model for all kids, especially African Americans kids. You don't boo someone like that. When he gets selected to the Hall of Fame, you won't boo a guy like that. You'll be proud that he went in as Philadelphia Eagle.— Boogie
- Phillyking GFY: McNabb gave me and thousands of Eagles fans the best years of watching the team so STFU!!!— Bigbadrookie
- If we should boo "because he never had the testicular fortitude to lead us to championship" then we should also have booed dawkins, and every other ex-eagle since 1960. Show some class philly- I know you get rise above the trash.— gob1234
- If anyone "boos" Donovan McNabb when he comes out of the tunnel they are only proving that Philly's reputation is actually true. DMac was a great player while he was here, gave everything he had and never said a bad word about the city, the team or anything. He got frustrated at times (the defense costing them a SB in the Arizona game) but never demanded out, never used the media to fester any issues he had with the team and a professional his whole time here. The "heir-apparent" who was going to lead them to greatness got himself benched after a 1/2 quarter of football. If you boo McNabb on Sunday---any more than you would any other visiting QB---you are truly classless and the exact definition of what Philly sports fan reputation is.— Eilex826
- Let's GO Skins!— RightWingHypocrite
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@ phillyqueen22 - Grow up, do you even know what you are talking about? The man played with sub-par talent for the vast majority of his career and still led the team to NFC Championship games. I love my city but clowns like you make the national media think we are all jerks. Get a life. Oh and for Wolf....how did your boyfriend Kolb do last Sunday? I thought he showed great leadership holding the clipboard. LMAO!!!!- I respect the charity work Donovan did in the community but he deserves to be booed for being a momma's boy and a buck passing cry baby. Also for his father's ridiculous black on black crime reference to TO. He is not a leader not a winner but a great athlete.— Chuck Earley Sr
Who cares? Our young soldiers are getting waging a war in Afganistan, and the concern is whether this mega high-paid quarterback will get booed??? Get a reality check....McNabb doesn't care...he'll still get the paycheck at the end of the day....win or lose.— dogman5
