Dukes: McNabb haters don't know football
In an interview this week with ESPN 950's Jody Mac and Harry Mayes, NFL Network's Jamie Dukes had some advice for Eagles fans who boo Donovan McNabb or think he is the problem. "Understand how hard it is to find a quality quarterback in this league," Dukes said. "Those who are booing, they have a problem with 5. And I can pull 10 teams up right now that would give an arm for that kid and so that’s why to me it’s silly, and to me it goes to -- Do these people really understand this game? Or are they just casual fans who know nothing about football?” To Dukes' credit, he did not stereotype all Eagles fans. He clarified that he was referring only to the ones who boo McNabb and want him out of town. His defense was a familiar one. He argued that the formula for success in the NFL has to include talent at the skill positions, and the Eagles don't have that. "I hope they run McNabb out of town," Dukes said. "And I hope they run the coach out of town so that somebody else whose team is struggling can get somebody, because that other team is going to give him some weapons. Everybody else knows we gotta give this guy some weapons and we know this guy’s a great player." When asked if the criticism that McNabb can't come through in the clutch is a fair one, Dukes said it was not. "He pulls all the things out of his keester he could to get them to that point," Dukes said.
Dukes: McNabb haters don't know football
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
In an interview this week with ESPN 950's Jody Mac and Harry Mayes, NFL Network's Jamie Dukes had some advice for Eagles fans who boo Donovan McNabb or think he is the problem."Understand how hard it is to find a quality quarterback in this league," Dukes said. "Those who are booing, they have a problem with 5. And I can pull 10 teams up right now that would give an arm for that kid and so that’s why to me it’s silly, and to me it goes to -- Do these people really understand this game? Or are they just casual fans who know nothing about football?”
To Dukes' credit, he did not stereotype all Eagles fans. He clarified that he was referring only to the ones who boo McNabb and want him out of town.
His defense was a familiar one. He argued that the formula for success in the NFL has to include talent at the skill positions, and the Eagles don't have that.
"I hope they run McNabb out of town," Dukes said. "And I hope they run the coach out of town so that somebody else whose team is struggling can get somebody, because that other team is going to give him some weapons. Everybody else knows we gotta give this guy some weapons and we know this guy’s a great player."
When asked if the criticism that McNabb can't come through in the clutch is a fair one, Dukes said it was not.
"He pulls all the things out of his keester he could to get them to that point," Dukes said.
Comments (48)
Lmao the big homie came back from three tds deficit to give the eagles the lead....the D blew this one, and anyone who says different is a fool, plain and simple.— The Blueprint- i hope he is equally as sick of you.— mongoS
Comment removed.- I hope Philly cuts Mcnabb free and clear. I hope Dallas cuts T.O. Those 2 guys need to get together and finish what they started. Put the nonsense aside and go make history in some place like Minnesota or Chicago. Mcnabb will never win when the Eagles go to camp with WRs like Curtis. Curtis is a special teams player at best and has no business at WR. It is almost as ridiculous as Matt Jones being drafted in the 1st rd by Jacksonville as a WR. T.O will not get back to a Super Bowl as long as Romo is there.— mongoS
- Huh? Now that was an intelligent post!— psu05
- and the defense/Curtis choked this year in the 4th QTR. Pure facts believe it or not.— mongoS
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- The defense carried this team to their NFC championship games except for the one year and don't believe any different.— psu05
- Garcia's record in NFC title games?— mongoS
- I guess he carried it from his box when Garcia led them to the playoffs.— psu05
- Matt Ryan sucks and was just overrated in the media's anti Vick movement. He sucked and made costly mistakes once Turner's production slowed. What is Brees record in NFC/AFC title games? What is River's record in AFC title games? What is Cutler's record in AFC title games? Maybe a better question is do they have a record in conference title games? For the myth that Big Ben is a playoff QB or he is clutch. What is his stats in the Super Bowl? What was his stats in the games before the Super Bowl? It's just something to that Defense wins championships. I am sure Big Ben would agree.— mongoS
- no the Mcnabb haters are whiners. MCnabb is a professional who continues to carry this organization.— mongoS
- Not a hater at all! I think McNabb is a good quarterback. I have no problems with him on the field. I just think he is a whiner.— psu05
- Elway can thank Mr Davis for coming and winning those 2 Super Bowls. Elway with all his comebacks choked when it counted. It took an All Pro RB to get those rings for Denver. Everybody knows that!— mongoS
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- I'm not mad - just offering you a little advice.— psu05
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- DMACRULES, I assume that you are either McNabb himself, a family member of his, or a kid, because I know a grown man wouldn't openly put himself beneath another man by assuming that nickname. I'm a grown man - I root for teams, I don't worship other men. For your sake, if you have a wife I hope she doesn't know your nickname.— psu05
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- Regarding the blog post, one wonders how much more magic remains in that keester. I shan't doubt the Donavan or his archangel, Westbrook.— phan in TN
- Oh Boo Hoo, sniffle sniffle. McNabbs good but not great.— JamesJ
- Also I've been a season ticket holder for all of McNabb's career and maybe once did I hear fans boo him in the stands. Jaworski was killed in this town compared to the martyr.— psu05
- I've never seen an athlete so happy to embrace being the victim than McNabb.— psu05
- Just read the comments at it proves what the article is about. Haters have no clue about the sport they just like to talk smack and can never back it up.— ec420de
- The problem is who else is out there that the Eagles had a chance to get that is better than McNabb. The only thing you can do is get a lesser QB that just manages the game and have a ferocious defense. Don't compare McNabb to Elway. Elway didn't choke. He got to the Superbowl more times than McNabb in his dreams will ever come close to. When he finally had the right talent around him he won 2 rings. No one was better than Elway in coming from behind.— Drew777
- brett favre sucks. he just throws ints and has been doing that now for years. his one super bowl over a decade ago was more so about reggie white and that defense. peyton manning and all his weapons is a below average qb in the playoffs. his one super bowl is atributed to dungy getting that defense in order on that playoff run 2 years ago. manning was below average. brady benefited from great coaching (cheating) along with playmakers on defense, a clutch kicker and friendly refs(oakland call started it all). i'd argue he pulled off the biggest choke in history. 16-0 with randy moss and you lose in the super bowl. where was his big come back drive last year.— mongoS
- curtis continues to get a pass which simply demonstrates this is personal with these mcnabb haters. if that was t.o who dropped that pass the city would be outraged at him too. he is another one folks love to hate. it's ironic how dallas fans want t.o out for romo's ints while philly wants mcnabb out because curtis can't catch. maybe both of them should hook up again in minnesota or chicago.— mongoS
- mcnabbis treated irrationally. many lament buddy ryan's passing ( a man who never won a playoff game here) yet complain about mcnabb. It's not just abou the right weapons, it's about a game plan that matches your talent. that may be reid, that may be morninweg. either way, it's not mncnabb— dreinterests
- there are a lot of morons here ahat are encouraged by the media. Foolish comments that he's not good enough (despite the biggest difference between him and Warner was Fitzgerald and Lewis) or that his celebrating is a problem. there will always be some that hate black qb's, the rest are just haters that don't know the game.— dreinterests
- Dukes said Brady Quin was not an NFL quarterback and that Demarcus Russel was going to be a starting quarterback for the Raiders and be a winninbg quarterback. Dukes said Turner Gill was a great coach and should have gotten the LSU job although he was 8 & 5, losing to teamns like Kent State and losing his bowl game. No one takes him seriously. McNabb has the talent and the receivers as he showed in the third quarter of the championship games. However when Warner took the Cardinales down the filed and scard a touchdown and a two point conversion, McNabb took over and got to midfiled then threw four straight incompletions. This is not our idea of a clutch quarterback. You say he is as good as Payton Manning, Tom Brady and Bret Favre, but all of them won superbowls. There is no excuse for losing. You are a champion or you are not. We can all agree that the Eagles have never been champions with McNabb. Case closed.— marioP
- Oh yeah. It also wouldn't hurt if they gave Buckhalter some type of consistent playing time. If he's outta here during the off season, we might want to keep an eye on Beanie Wells or some other "bruising" back to spell Westbrook and his knees/ankle.— daero215
- I don't see why people are so quick to dump on Mc5 like we have a long legacy of Super Bowl winning QB's that Donovan's not living up to. I mean, I loved the excitement that Randall brought to the game. But last I checked, HE didn't bring a title to Philly. Yet, the city still has love for him after how many years away from the game? The problem that McNabb has is the lack of a coaching staff that will subscribe to a running game and a valid big time threat on the outside. In '04, T.O. was giving defenses fits and Westbrook was a beast catching/running. What happens? Birds to the Bowl. You'd think that management would want to emulate (if not improve upon) their own success from that year and go after a Boldin, Chad JOHNSON (forget that Ocho Cinco mess), or any other WR of that magnitude. If for no other reason, to show us fans that we don't know what WE'RE talking about.— daero215
- Dukes says that McNabb's problem is that he doesn't have enough weapons (which I agree), but instead of acknowledging that Reid is responsible for that, he seems to imply that Reid is also unfairly treated. Can't have it both ways, buddy.— androoo
- Dukes sounds very bitter. We should get him a gun or bible to cling to. Anyway, I agree we need more weapons. You don't need to be a network analyst to realize that. Andy the GM needs to go. There is way to much group think in this orginization. We need somebody to take a Parcells-type role or hire a real frigging GM who Andy is held accountable to, and who wont let him trade our first round draft picks.— beeron
- 1-4 in NFC championship games and 0-1 in one upchucking, turnover-plagued Super Bowl. Hey, McNabb's good, but erratic, during the regular season. But Eagles fans want more than regular-season wins. They want success deep into the playoffs and McNabb has proven that he can't do it...time after time after time. That said, don't give him away. But I'd take a No.1 pick.— iceman
- So after reading all the comments from the last week, I had to go back and watch the first half again. you know, the one McNabb was so horrible in. Fact: McNabb completed 11 of 19. Opinion: I count 3 bad passes, he was knocked down on 2 of the 3, the other was just a bad throw on 3rd and 14 from the shotgun. I count 3 significant drops, lewis got 2 hands on and dropped, Jackson got 2 hands on and dropped, and Curtis got 2 hands on the ball which was a pick, fumble recovery by desean. ***YOU ARE AN NFL RECEIVER, 2 HANDS MUST = CATCH***. I counted the remaining 2 neutral, including the Avant pass interference non call and the 3rd and 9 from the shotgun deflected incomplete. Still can't build a case for McNabb = horrible. He's the best thing to hit this town at this position since Jaws, that's a fact.— birdfannnj
- Jim, that was 5 years ago before TO came in a F'd his head all up. We all loved Donny back then but the latter half of his career has been pretty lack luster.— ItsOnLikeDK
- yepp, that lack of heart really kills the eagles. he never threw 4 TD passes on a broken leg or anything like that.
- Dukes is right. #5 has some shortcomings but is absolutely a top ten QB in this league. Kolb ain't ready period. Get one better than #5 then ok, but until then APPRECIATE WHAT WE GOT! It was a great playoff run. Back on top of the NFC East after that run. Need to work on a few things to have a better regular season so the playoff games are at the Linc.— DMC5
- Woogie is right on. No kidding McNabb is a good player, but his attitude and lack of heart aren't very endearing and at this point there is little hope remaining that he could be the one to deliver the next parade after his latest choke.— ItsOnLikeDK
- McNabb is simply not good enough. He played poorly in the first half when they needed him to be accurate and make those throws to keep up with the Cards and Warner. Yes, he played great in the third quarter but it doesn't take away from his poor first half, when they needed him to come out sharp. Once again, Donovan was too amped up, overthrowing guys, not hitting them in stride, throwing too hard, underthrowing and not seeing wide open guys down the field. And, on the last drive, he didn't get it done--like he never does in those situations in the biggest of big games. Donovan choked in the second half against the Rams in '02 conference final game, choked against the Bucs in the '03 conference final, played poorly against the Panthers in '04, choked against the Pats in the Super Bowl (three INT's, taking too long on last drive, etc.). Donovan is a good, sometimes very good QB. He is NOT GREAT by any means. He has his fair share of flaws and has not given us even one Super Bowl in 10 years. That's not acceptable. He is not a Hall of Famer, even though they are paying him to be, and drafted him to be. Too many flaws to be one of the BIG BOYS.— McNabbnotgoodenough
- the fact this is an issue is shameful. mcnabb please leave this place. let them go back to their glory days before you arrived. we all know you made Curtis drop that pass last week and your effort on defense was horrible in the 4th qtr.— mongoS
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- Lets get something straight, McNabb is a very good quarterback, not a great one. Let's get something else straight, us Philly fans don't hate McNabb because we think that he is not good, we just can't stand his attitude. When he is having a good game he is incredibly arrogant, doing Michael Jackson dances and picking up phones on the opposing team's sidelines. However, when he has a bad game, he wants to be an a**hole and act like it is everyone else's fault, blaming the lack of talent around him. McNabb just needs to shut up and play, doing a little celebrating sometimes is okay as long as you remember that you are not the greatest of all-time or even of this era. Also, he needs to admit that the benching in Baltimore saved their season. In the two previous games he played what was arguably the worst 8 quarters of football in the history of the game. Then, all of the sudden he gets benched. Then he plays very well for the rest of the season but continues to cry about the benching. Donovan, you are a very good quarterback, just shut up and play football. P.S. Peyton Manning is the most overrated quarterback of all time, he chokes way more than Donovan ever has (and he has way more weapons to work with also) and his only ring came thanks to Bob Sanders fixing the Colts defense in time for the playoffs. 4 TDs and 10 INTs in the playoffs where he got his ring doesn't say much for Peyton. Also, he won Super Bowl MVP in a game where he had two of his running backs run for over 100 yards each. How does that happen? Dukes also mentions Andy Reid. Andy is also very good, not great. His lack of a running game is a reason that Donovan doesn't have a ring and his poor personnel decisions (no return game in 07, no FB in 08, no #1 receiver and year except 04, etc.) are what has kept this team from becoming great. Notice that they he got them from bad to very good in just his first couple of years and they have not gotten any better since.— woogie
- Dukes is right on the money. Remember, John Elway "couldn't win the big one" until he was 37. Now people realize that he was one of the greats of the modern era. If Elway had played in Philly, people would have been trying to run him out of town by 1992.— sil campusano
- #5 is the best thing to happen to this town. You ignoranuses who want to run him out on a rail don't remember Pete Liske, John Reaves, Mike Broyola, Matt Cavanaugh or Bobby Hoying, do you?— va philly fan
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