McNabb insists he'll be back
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
McNabb insists he'll be back
Bob Brookover
Donovan McNabb remains convinced that he will remain an Eagle.
Furthermore, he insists that's exactly what he wants.
After practicing with the other players on the NFC roster this morning at a Fort Lauderdale High School, McNabb was surrounded by a large media gathering here to cover the Pro Bowl.
In a later one-on-one interview with the Inquirer, McNabb said he takes Eagles coach Andy Reid at his word when he says he will return next season as the team's starting quarterback.
"That's all that matters," McNabb said. "I heard it when he said it to you guys, but I heard it before anyway. I think a lot of people look too far into things with all the assumptions about what could happen. (Reid) told everybody I'm going to be there and I'm his guy. I don't see anything that anybody else should look into."
McNabb also said he wants to be in Philadelphia even though he's about to endure another offseason debate about whether or not he should remain the Eagles' quarterback. He said that doesn't bother him in the least.
"It really doesn't," McNabb said. "What's wild about it is when you go somewhere, that's what everybody brings up: 'Hey, man, where you going to be?' "
McNabb said his answer is always the same: "Uh, Philly."
"It would only affect you if you allow it to," McNabb said. "This isn't my first go-around with it. I've been going through this the last three or four years."
Unlike a year ago after the season ended, McNabb is not lobbying for a contract extension or alteration even though he's about to enter the last year of his current deal.
"I don't think we should really focus on that," McNabb said. "I love playing the game and that's what it comes down to. I am under contract for another year. We don't know what's going to happen in 2011. We just don't know. If I have to come back and play (in Philadelphia), hey that's great. I would love to. I love this team and I love being around these guys and competing. I think good things could happen for us."
McNabb insisted that he has never given much thought to playing elsewhere.
"No," he said. "I let other people think about that. For me, the grass being greener is really what field you're playing on. When you're in Philadelphia, obviously, there are ups and there are downs. I've been a part of it for 11 years, so I don't let it affect me."
Even though the Eagles' season ended with consecutive lopsided losses to the Dallas Cowboys, McNabb believes this team could still be a Super Bowl contender in 2010.
"We're not far away at all," McNabb said. "We went on a six-game winning streak, we made good things happen with an explosive offense, the defense came around, everybody started playing well and then those two games hit, which was unfortuate. But it happens. It happened to us against the Cowboys, it happened to the Cowboys against Minnesota and to Minnesota against the Saints."
You can read more about McNabb and the other Eagles at the Pro Bowl in tomorrow's Inquirer.
LETS GO MCNABB!!!— GetMeToThePlateBoys
no no no.... get rid of him,,and move on— hardball- Getting Kolb was a knee-jerk reaction to #5 being on the injury shelf for parts of the previous three seasons. To Kolb's credit he was able to step in when McNabb had the rib injury and prove to many skeptics that he would be able to do more than carry a clipboard for the team.— tomvallar
- Hey morons, would you rather him say the team sucks and he hates Philly?? You guys are jokes of Eagles fans, I almost hope they trade him so the dumb 1% of you that all seem to inhabit this message board can feel the Rich Kotite era all over again. Disgrace to the city.— Phillies1120
- "If I have to come back and play (in Philadelphia), hey that's great." I hate to nitpick, but whenever I start a sentence "if i HAVE TO ..", it usually refers to something I would rather not do, but will (begrudgingly at that). Also, it's nearly impossible to take someone's quote and analyze it outside of the context and conversation it was said within. Conversely, what is he supposed to say to these repetitive, non questions that he is peppered with on a daily basis? Is he supposed to throw a Ryan Leaf like tantrum? Say No comment? Publicly pine to play in another city? He truly is in a "no-win" situation with his interviews.— The Reddgie
Thanks Donnie, I have all the confidence in the world in you. Make me proud! Yea right.....— ZOSO
Comment removed.- Amazing..the team improves in other areas but the QB. What this means is more of the mediocracy we've grow a custom to. This year's schedule has Green Bay, Minnesota, Indianapolis, Atlant, Houston, San Fran, Jacksonville, Tennessee and don't forget, Dallas twice. Tell me how successful this team will be with #5.— walt1
- "Find me the quote where Andy said Donovan would be the 'starting QB'. Andy said 'Donovan will be back'. Two completely different things." Well, that took me all of about 5 seconds to fine. Look at the press conference transcript from the day after the playoff loss. Reid said "I was asked if Donovan would be my quarterback next year and I said yes. That's what I'm saying now." When he says McNabb will be MY quarterback, he's talking about starting QB. He didn't just say McNabb will be back with the team. Several other questions were asked during both press conferences right after the loss and the next day about Vick and Kolb and he never once even hinted that one of them would be his starting QB going into next season. You McNabb haters are just plain delusional. You guys will go to any lengths to read stuff in between the lines that isn't there just because you're desperate to get rid of McNabb.— JimG
- The eagles season is (thankfully) over. Can you stop flooding this site with inane chatter from McNabb & Reid? The more they talk, the less they say.— jman
- goomby - i like that you're thinking outside the box, but if he's here (and healthy), he's starting. no doubt. 1980 - great post. good observation.— L Bears
- The marriage between the Eagles and McNabb is not unlike many marriages. Hot passion at first, then disinterest and now the fans flirting with a new qb, are just flat out tired of McNabb and want a separation.— retzlaff
- What was Reid supposed to say, after the season, we're looking for a trade for "5"? My opinion is he should have been gone 2 or 3 years ago but he is definitely gone this time...Reid knows it, trust me although at this point in time he is holding onto a good "po pok, po pok, po poke, po poke, poker face." That's Lady Gaga for those of you who are ready to say I'm dumb. You'll see, he is gone and will be a Viking because Brett Farve is not coming back after taking a whipping like that.— BCRock
- Comment removed.
- Donny said: "For me, the grass being greener is really what field you're playing on." Translation please! For a guy who was supposedly a communications major, he talks like an ESL student.— BUDDYS BALLS
