Dawkins on McNabb/T.O. spat: I tried
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Dawkins on McNabb/T.O. spat: I tried
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
With the start of the 2012 season about three months away, Donovan McNabb is still without a team. And with each passing day, at 35 years old, retirement seems like it might be the only option.
Terrell Owens, meanwhile, last caught a pass in the NFL in 2010. Last week, he managed to get himself kicked off of an IFL roster.
It was eight years ago that the pair teamed up to deliver the most memorable Eagles season of the Andy Reid era. McNabb completed 64 percent of his passes, while tossing 31 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. Owens caught 77 balls for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns, returning from injury and delivering a nine-catch, 122-yard performance in the Super Bowl.
But we all know what happened after that: One of the most famous break-ups in Philadelphia sports history. And Eagles great Brian Dawkins had a front-row seat.
Talking to Rich Eisen on his NFL Network podcast, Dawkins opened up about the McNabb-Owens spat. One of the greatest leaders in franchise history, he confirmed that he tried to play the role of mediator, but could never get through to both guys.
"I was in a place at that time that it didn't matter what it was," Dawkins said. "If it was something that was detrimental to the team, I wanted to be involved in it. If my hand was needed in it, I was going to be in it.
"What I tried to do was pull guys to the side, away from everybody, and just have conversations with them. 'What's going on? What's the deal? What can I do to help? This is what we need to do to get back on the winning track, and if I can assist in any way, let me know. Even if you don't let me know, this is what I'm willing to do. This is what we need to do in order for us to get this thing going in the right direction.'"
But apparently, Dawkins' words fell on deaf ears.
"The thing that you always want to do is get everybody in the room at the same time," he said. "That was never able to be done."
While Dawkins said he's at peace with his decision to retire, he admitted that his biggest disappointment was not winning a title for Philadelphia.
"At the end of the day, I knew what we needed to win football games, and we needed those two dudes to be on the same page," he said. "It was never able to get back there."
Asked if the spat tore the team apart, Dawkins said yes, to a degree.
"It's just division. Once you start having people questioning the direction of the team period, if everybody's not going in the same direction for whatever reason, there's going to be division, and you don't want division because you already got things going on with other teams."
Looking ahead, Dawkins did not sound surprised with the direction Owens' career has headed.
"I really hate the fact that it's continuing to go down this path because of other things that have come out previously about T.O.," he said. "One of the things that I always said is that when his talent was no longer of use to people, that the way that he treated some individuals could come back to haunt him. And hopefully it's not 100 percent going down that path, but it really is looking that way."
As for McNabb, Dawkins gave his former teammate a strong vote of support, recommending that a team take a chance on him one more time as a starting quarterback.
"With what he's doing this offseason, I believe it'll pay dividends," Dawkins said, adding that he was surprised by reports criticizing McNabb's work ethic with the Redskins and the Vikings.
"I've worked out with him," Dawkins said. "I would go down to Arizona and we would work out. Even during the season, when we were in Philadelphia, there would be a couple times a week when he was not doing his quarterback duties... that he would come in there and work out with myself, Trot. We would go in there and really get some good work in. And so, for anybody to question his work ethic, that surprised the heck out of me."
Discussing McNabb's weight gain, Dawkins said, "Donovan was always a guy whose weight was going to fluctuate from time to time. He's one of those individuals who can pick up weight like that, so he has to stay on top of things. I would see his weight fluctuate during the season from time to time, but it was no big deal."
Dawkins added that he understands the criticism of McNabb, but said now is the time to take a chance on him.
"For him to go into those two situations and come out the way that it came out, I see why everybody would question that. I see that," he said. "If there is a year that he's going to be able to show what he can truly do on the football field with a chip on his shoulder, it'll be this year. If a team was going to take a chance, it would be this year because of what he's doing off the field. If not, then, it is what it is."
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"While Dawkins said he's at peace with his decision to retire, he admitted that his biggest disappointment was not winning a title for Philadelphia."
no worries Dawk. The fans here are used to the teams not winning titles.
They will raise their Kool-Aid glasses high & toast you as "one of the best ever" and a "sure Hall of Famer".
Having never seen a team win a title, they think a division championship of a loss in the conference championship is the hallmark of a great team.
— ekw555- @mx55-You got to be kidding me. McNabb rarely ran the WC offense to perfection. He ran his way out of many missed reads. He was unable to grasp the offense in Washington. The truth about intelligence is that there are many very smart white AND black people and many black AND white people that very intellectually challenged. But in our politically correct country, there are only dumb white people.— Kioto
- cg25...I agree with you most of the time but it wasn't AR's game plan that lost the SB. McNabb had his career worst game and the Birds lost because of it. It was a typical McNabb gag.— 2ndNlong
- The fact that the Eagles prefer Kafka and Edwards to back up Vick, and not McNabb, ought to be a hint to Donovan. OTOH I can't believe that, even in 2012, McNabb isn't a better option than either of those guys.
As for T.nO. -- pfffft. He and Jamal Lewis can bunk together and tell each other stories about what it's like to be ex-rich.— paolibulldog - Kioto, I see what you are posting, but, I have to tell you, I never hear or read about quarterbacks who happen to be caucasian wonderlic scores given as a reason as to why they are not good at the position (fail). Matter of fact, I never hear about a caucasian football players wonderlic score brought up as a reason why they do not play football well outside of athletic prowess.— Eaglehaslanded
- 2ndlong, thats the point. If your QB is struggling with throwing the ball, why would you make him throw the ball 55 times. resulting in 3 interceptions. You RUN THE BALL THERE and probably win the game, if they ran the ball. Thats on Reid and McNabb. But McNabb isnt calling for himself to throw an incomplete and run for his life every down, thats on Andy. So yes, it is on Andy, to the most critical degree, and its why he will NEVER, EVER win a Superbowl. NEVER. He will be lucky to win 1 playoff game as he stil has not won one playoff game since Jim Johnson died. GENIUS.— CharlieGarner25
- Still sad to me that our leaders: Dawk, Trot, Runyon didn't kill TO every day in practice. Donovan turned into a baby a few years after that, but he was a star then without any receivers around him like we have now, He carried the team. They should have protected their man, TO was just a mercenary— Blue Hens Rule
- The fact that the Eagles prefer anyone doesnt have the weight you think it should. Most of our team consists of guys were obtained through free agency. In other words yes we have a few guys that we drafted but most of our picks turn into BUSTS. So we over spend for players usually. A lighter mcnabb is a better option than both of these guys. I think his weight was a big issue and i personally always questioned his heart because he smilled a lot and every football player that i know never smiles during a game. I still dont understand why the Eagles didnt keep Garcia after that playoff run.— Yes_General
- Amazing how many people forget or simply ignore the fact that T.O. didn't play in the playoff games due to injury leading up to the superbow. But I'm always amazed to hear how many ex-players stand up for TO when anywhere he's played for more than one year he's blown up the team with selfish comments and actions. How is it Mcnabb's fault the way TO acted the second year, McNabb didn't sign T.O.'s contract or act as his agent? Westbrook was just as important or more important to the the team as T.O. or McNabb, and him being healthy for that playoff run vs previous years where he was hurt was one of the main reasons the Eagles made it to the Superbowl.— airbuzz
- Until we get a depend. backup QB, (like Donovan) our season is 1 play short of a disaster. Why the birds spend so much on the team and refuse to find a quality backup is beyond me. We haven't had a decent one since Garcia.— MJSI
- Cant wait for Dawkins to come back to Philly as a coach!
Class guy— rpr333 - I don't know why my previous post was removed but I'm going to continue to say that Donowhine McSlobb is an old fat has been! If we had TO and The Mike Vick Experience at the same time instead of having McNagg, a Super Bowl championship would be in the Eagles trophy case right now. BET ON IT!— Panthro2011
- --Charlie – “Did the Eagles forget to send you an Andy Reid action bobble-head doll or something?” Cause… this obsession you have with the man has manifested into a daily sickezoidal tick that you seem not to be able to kick.
Good luck with that dude – I know it’s got to be painful –A!
— Laughingaloud123 - Why don't we bring back Rich Kotite too. These people have to be KNUCKLEHEAD Giants Fans. No way they are Eagles Fans writing these things. NO MORE THROW UP!!— chilenos
- Forget McNabb as a backup; turn the page! If we need a better backup for an injury prone Vick-and I agree that we do-we'd be much better off with Jeff Garcia.— bust6711
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