Did Aikman overreact to McNabb's call?
With about three minutes left in yesterday's win against the Giants, Donovan McNabb scrambled out of bounds to the Giants' sideline and picked up their phone, drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. After the game, McNabb said he was just having fun, but he apologized for costing his team the 15 yards. However, if you were watching on TV, you probably noticed that the move really seemed to bother Fox analyst Troy Aikman. "You know, sometimes I don't know what runs through that guy's head," Aikman said. "I mean, that's silly." I've posted the YouTube clip below. So what do you think? Did Aikman overreact? I generally like the ex-Cowboys quarterback as an analyst but thought his reaction was kind of odd. Personally, I think McNabb probably shouldn't have done it, but wasn't it pretty harmless? Disclaimer: Before you roast me for focusing on this when the Eagles are one win away from the Super Bowl, check out my 10 observations from the game. I'll be back later today with more thoughts from the divisional round. Just wanted to see what your reaction to the Aikman/McNabb thing was. Here's the clip:
Did Aikman overreact to McNabb's call?
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
With about three minutes left in yesterday's win against the Giants, Donovan McNabb scrambled out of bounds to the Giants' sideline and picked up their phone, drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.After the game, McNabb said he was just having fun, but he apologized for costing his team the 15 yards.
However, if you were watching on TV, you probably noticed that the move really seemed to bother Fox analyst Troy Aikman.
"You know, sometimes I don't know what runs through that guy's head," Aikman said. "I mean, that's silly."
I've posted the YouTube clip below. So what do you think? Did Aikman overreact? I generally like the ex-Cowboys quarterback as an analyst but thought his reaction was kind of odd.
Personally, I think McNabb probably shouldn't have done it, but wasn't it pretty harmless?
Disclaimer: Before you roast me for focusing on this when the Eagles are one win away from the Super Bowl, check out my 10 observations from the game. I'll be back later today with more thoughts from the divisional round. Just wanted to see what your reaction to the Aikman/McNabb thing was.
Here's the clip:
The game still could have been lost at that point - a turnover, quick score by the Giants, then an on-side kick recovery... it's happened before. A 15 yard penalty in that situation was a dumb mistake and Aikman had the proper reaction. Turns out it didn't matter, but that's how I reacted too.— nellar- Nellar are you kidding me???? There was zero chance of them coming back with 3 mins left and no time outs. Zero chance, Eli was tossing ducks all of the place all day, he really couldnt get the wind figured out yesterday. Harmless if you ask me, get over it Aikman.— Coff
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- I just wish he'd have gotten the first down before that. And I still don't know how the referee saw it, and more importantly how do you pick up a pass interference flag?— Marvelous
- The phone call was to tell McNabb that the rule on intentional grounding in the end zone is a safety.— lakebill
- I had the same reaction as Aikman.— ithink
- I thought it was weird, but as others have said McNabb plays better when he's loose so I hope it continues. And Psuanimal - Go back to 1957 with your homophobic jokes. It's 2009!— betsy72
- I don't think Aikman overreacted and I think it was dumb of Donovan, however, he apoligized afterward and I think it is a non-issue. That said, I agree with Jersey Joe 5 that when McNabb is loose and playing with confidence he is such a better QB, so if picking up the phone helps him stay loose I am all for it— Lemur
- If Favre did that, Aikman would have something like "Favre is good for the game; he has so much fun out there." One time Aikman said, "sometimes I think McNabb is the most inaccurate passer I have ever seen." Meanwhile McNabb has the second best interception rate in NFL history. Aikman is a good announcer, but he and Buck hate Philly.— PhillyHouse JayDuce
- Nellar, you have to be kidding me. The wind was taken out of their sails with a little over 3 minutes left in the game. It wasn't about no harm. I thought it was a dumb move by Donovan, and I was shocked when he did it. I don't mind Aikmen mentioning it, I just didn't like his choice of words. I thought it was great after the game that he mentioned it was a dumb thing to do, so to me it is a dead issue. I do have to laugh though watching highlights on espn, when the commentators edit their own comments in about TO saying, " How do you like me know!"— phigglesfan75
- If I remember right, last year Mcnabb was on the sidelines acting simple thinking the win was in the bag, and we would up losing that game. Yesterday he was lauging it up and being silly before the clock reached zero. He needs to stop. Safe it for when the win is definite.— KarenD
- C'mon, time for Reid to tell DonMc to get his head out of his butt again. Being "loose" seems to mean being "stoopid" with q-b at crucial times.— AirForceBlue
- Donovan was wrong to do what he did--just like Chase Utley was wrong in what he did. Everyone will say the reaction in both cases was overblown, but if both had shown some maturity and class in this situation (they normally do) we wouldn't be talking about this. At least McNabb came out and apologized--good act & classy move. Still waiting for Utley . . .— 3rick
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