Gruden, Jaws debate McNabb's future
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Gruden, Jaws debate McNabb's future
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
The debate about whether Donovan McNabb will be the Eagles' starting quarterback in 2010 continued during the Pro Bowl broadcast on ESPN Sunday night.
Analysts Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden chimed in with their thoughts as McNabb entered the game in the second quarter.
"I know Andy Reid too. You're not the only guy that knows Andy Reid," Gruden said to his broadcast partner. "Now, they're not trading Donovan McNabb to Minnesota, and they're not gonna trade him to Arizona because they're not gonna trade a great quarterback to a team that has a chance to beat Philadelphia. That I know. This guy is a winner. Eight times he's taken the Eagles deep into the playoffs. I really think there's just a lot of elevator music right now."
Jaws seemed a little less convinced that McNabb should definitely be back next year.
"I'm not disputing anything you said. In fact, I totally agree," Jaworski said. "But at the end of the day, you gotta find a way to win a championship. And that's the one kink in the armor of Donovan McNabb. He hasn't been able to deliver the Vince Lombardi trophy. He's played very well. Everything he does... you look at the numbers. They're outstanding. You said it's about winning, Jon."
Jaws then got cut off as they pulled up a graphic, comparing McNabb's numbers to Jaworski's and pointing out that the only category Jaws had the leg up was interceptions.
As for McNabb's play, not that it matters in the least, but he was 3-for-9 for 78 yards, a touchdown and an interception (as of this writing). The pick came courtesy of Brian Dawkins, by the way.
DeSean Jackson caught four balls for 84 yards and two touchdowns, including a 58-yarder from McNabb. The Inquirer's Bob Brookover got Jackson's take on the QB situation last week, but he was asked again about it Sunday night during the TV broadcast.
"Like I say, it [blows my head] sometimes just because what I know, what his legacy, and you know how great of a career he had in Philadelphia," Jackson said of the McNabb speculation. "That's all I kind of know is playing with him for two years so it'll be good to have him back, but if we don't, we still gotta get to business."
And finally, McNabb did a TV interview in the third quarter, but said nothing different than he said last week. When asked why he thinks the same questions come up after every season, McNabb said, "I don't know, but I'm still not gonna answer it. I love Philadelphia."
I'm not a McNabb fan, but people, Jaws couldn't carry McNabb's jock. He had a few good seasons and a bunch of mediocre ones. Check the stats. Plus, he may have been worse in playoff games than Dono, not that he played in many. If I'm not mistaken, it was seven games, with a 3-4 record. And even in the big Dallas game his stats were awful. Three picks, 90 yards, something like that.— baabyrrej- Yeah...ESPN did a number on Jaws. Wasn't really fair but hey..that's showbiz. Anyway, I'd rather have Gruden then that loudmouth scared-of-heights Kornheiser any day of the week. Besides....he out-smarted Reid in that NFC Championship game didn't he?— tony b
- fly4philly writes: "McNabb threw an INT right after Gruden opened up his yapper about JAWS but, as always McNabb was bailed out by a 12 man on the field penalty..." 1) Are you really analyzing what happened in that exhibition game? 2) "As always, McNabb was bailed out by a 12-man on the field penalty"??!!! I don't have a photographic memory, but I'm guessing that in his 11 seasons, he's probably been bailed out by a 12-man on the field penalty one or two times total. What an asinine statement.— MG44
- Only one way to settle this...two men enter..one man leaves. It is as likely to solve this dilemma correctly as Banner/AR.— Joe Funk
Comment removed.- Romo looks either drunk or a "special olympics" participant....or both— philly449
- What is repeatedly ignored is the fact that Kevin Kolb will be a restricted free agent next season, meaning he is not going anywhere. The Eagles will float McNabb's name in an attempt to cash in on his value, but they would only trade him to an Oakland, Buffalo, St. Louis, etc. Kolb cannot leave next year, because a simple $2 million tender would cost any team who tried to pluck him from the Eagles a 1st and a 3rd round pick on a kid who has never proven anything.— pmoehrle5
- McNabb's uneven performance: playing awful in one game and great in another have tarnished his reputation. The awful McNabb seems most likely to appear in big games. Whatever coaching genius Reid had with Brett Favre seems not to have worked on McNabb after 11 seasons. Still McNabb is a tough and gritty competitor--in a very competitive sport. His growing lack of mobility, slow reading and release of the football, and periods of poor accuracy throwing the ball all point to the end of his career. Just like Jake Delhomme lost his mojo and went from winner to loser, I think the same might be said of McNabb in getting thumped by Cowboys X 2...— Smashmouth
- When Vick was starting in Atlanta, he was a terrible QB. He couldn't run this offense. No way. Kolb is a complete rookie who has a couple games experience. You're dreaming if you think he's ready to be a starter. Trade Vick. Kolb backs up McNabb. We could sign Vick for another year and we have Kolb for 2 more years because there's no contract between the league and the player's union. If McNabb gets injured, it's Kolb. The Eagles can decide what to do after next year. They will either trade Kolb or extend McNabb. Next year, somehow, Reid needs to get Kolb as much playing time as possible.— MikeP
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