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.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO— madnvocal- I'm a Donovan fan. (We are a rare breed).— lisa2604
Looking at #5 stretching I almost feel bad for him. Goofball personality aside, he's a good person. Although most of us are in want of a change, let's not hate the man. He's not Cheddar Bob Plax, or The Mangler Ray Lewis. With that being said, for-the-love-of-god lets see what Kolb can do.— gho_matt
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Perhaps Donovan was referring to the close proximity of the Fort Lauderdale high school he was practicing at and the site of the Super Bowl in Miami when he said, "We're not far away at all"," because he couldn't have been talking about his football team, we need more than a little help.— phillyjim7
- Can you spell Phoenix?— jjk3
- Comment removed.
- No news. The Eagles have consistantly said McNabb will be the starting QB next year. This is like the 15th story about whether McNabb will be back or not. How is this news to report "Hey, McNabb will be back." Let's see what McNabb says. McNabb "I'll definately be back." The contract with the players will expire. That means Kolb is here two more years. When next season ends, this will be a story. Until then, McNabb gives us the best chance to win the Super Bowl nd that's the goal.— MikeP
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- Yep!!! One more year with #5!!! Winning season! No Prize!!!!— Gtown
- All you haters need to shut up. The last time the eagles decided to go with the young qb you all know what happened. You need to stop blaming mcnabb everytime this team loses a big game. This team won eleven games because of him not in spite of him. He did not give up 58 points in two games. Everybody was responsible for the collapse of the eagles in the final two games. The cowboys knew that if they stopped a couple running plays andy reid would abandon it. This team needs to rebuild the defense in this years draft and pray that the o line can come back healthy next year. I wish the vikings or cards would trade for mcnabb because either one of them would go to the sb next year.— gwilli1234
- Some where YES Eagles NO— wes
- Phillies1120: I think you need to check your math. The vast majority of fans want change. Plus, changing the QB on an otherwise solid team is not suicide (granted we fill the holes in both lines).— gho_matt
gwilli1234, I'm pretty sure the last time the Eagles decided to go with the young qb was 11 years ago.— 1980
