Bernard Hopkins rips McNabb (yes, again)
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Bernard Hopkins rips McNabb (yes, again)
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Back in November, we wrote a blog post titled Hopkins rips McNabb (again).
The entry came after Bernard Hopkins slammed Donovan McNabb on Comcast SportsNet, something that has been commonplace in this city over the years.
So the mere fact that he ripped into the Eagles' quarterback once again Wednesday afternoon probably isn't worth writing about anymore.
But this time, there was more -- a theory about where the criticism might be stemming from.
Hopkins joined Howard Eskin on WIP Wednesday afternoon and spoke at length about his constant bashing of McNabb.
When discussing McNabb's newly reworked contract, Hopkins said the fans will have to suffer for two more years. During the interview, he called McNabb a lapdog and a frontrunner, said he has no heart and suggested the team should have given serious thought to replacing him with Michael Vick.
"I think he plays for the moment, whether it's winning or losing," Hopkins said. "I think he plays to win, but I don't think his demeanor and I don't think his personality fits to win tomorrow, to win the next week and to win with any means necessary. There's a difference than wanting to win and showing that you want to win. I think that most athletes go in the ring or in the court, basketball or football, go in there with the intentions of winning until something is different that they feel that they don't want to deal with, understand or just be in the mix. Some people just want to be in the mix, Howard. And if they get lucky and be like 'Oh I can win this' then they'll go ahead and they'll show their swagger. But at the end of the day, you got frontrunners and you got runners, and he's one of the greatest frontrunners I've ever seen in the NFL."
One of the more interesting parts of the interview was when Eskin laid out his theory for why Hopkins always hates on McNabb.
Per Eskin, Hopkins once went to an Eagles practice, and while McNabb said hello to the ex-middleweight champ, Hopkins felt like the Birds' QB blew him off a little bit and has held a grudge ever since.
Hopkins denied Eskin's theory, but when he recalled the situation, it certainly sounded like McNabb rubbed him the wrong way when they crossed paths.
"When I did go to the NovaCare Center with my team, was he like everybody else? Like the rest of the players? Was he giving us respect, giving everybody respect, my trainer, myself and all that, just coming over, sign this, sign that or whatever? No, he sort of ran into a little room and locked the door and came out every now and then to peak his head out to see if we left yet," Hopkins said. "But that just tells you he's not a social guy."
"When a guy is uncomfortable that the light is not actually on him, then you have some people that can't take it," he continued. "And look, the bottom line is if you want the light to be on you, you gotta do what champions do. You win, you win, you win, you win and you win the big one."
Eskin and Hopkins took calls from fans, a couple of whom could not understand Hopkins' stance. One even suggested that if Hopkins feels McNabb lacks the intensity and heart necessary to win a title, why not help him?
Hopkins predicted the Eagles would win seven games this season, and made no bones about the reason why.
"He don't have the heart," he said of McNabb. "He don't want to fail so he don't want to try."
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Why is it being said? Is it personal or are we talking sports? The mcnabb attacks come off as personal insults on a man you know as a qb. Ok you don't like his game as a qb..that's cool. he is not the first high profile athlete who has been cheered and booed. The mcnabb hate is personal but the problem is for the haters it isn’t working! LOL..For the brainwashed puppets of the world like Hopkins Mcnabb probably has to go to prison to earn his respect. For the hypocrites in mainstream now in this instance Hopkins opinion is valued as Hopkins stays in his place. An ex convict who can fight. mcnabb has invaded restricted territory. A high profile qb taking and keeping a spot many in America still want to reserve for that other man of another profile..Mcnabb is a threat because he is a smart professional who is the face of your city. You cant stand it! His face you want reserved in the criminal columns. So you can laugh and stereotype while you say look at what these people are doing.— mongoS
lonewolf 4, are you really dumb enough to think Hopkins has the power to singlehandly raise the pressure on how another athlete performs? I'm sure McNabb & the Eagles could care less what Hopkins says about DM. As far as McNabb having "no heart" & unable to handle pressure situations, the guy has won numerous big games through out his career and performed at a high level. You need to stop getting your football knowledge from Bernard...next thing, you'll be lobbying for Big Red to sign Michael Vick.- Comment removed.
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- but Vick does have something to do with Hopkins'lack of football knowledge - "suggested the team should have given serious thought to replacing him with Michael Vick."...and mongoS, you have a point. sadly in some cases, it might be true.
- lonepuppy doesn't want Vick. He wants Kolb because he fits the profile..Vick having been in prison earns Hopkins respect. Mcnabb plays the game the traditional way by staying focus on ignoring his God given athletic ability to focus on being a pocket qb first. Age and injury played a role too. His problem was his profile didn't fit. Imagine Vick showing off his God given ability and ignoring the critics who want a stiff at QB. It would be the antiMcnabb satisfaction at first but soon what really causes all the hate for Mcnabb will be put on Vick.— mongoS
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- All other issues aside, a Champion knows what it takes to become a Champion. As I've always said, McNabb wants to play the position of quarterback, but doesn't want to do whatever it takes to play the position. He's a glory guy who wants the glory without the guts. And yes you tools, it takes more than playing half a game with broken bone that was still structurally holding up. Otherwise you know he would have been whining like the lil' biotch he is and always will be. Did I mention he is a GLORY GUY?— Voytas
- If McNabb finishes off his career the way he has played throughout his career, then he gets in the H.O.F. If that's not a Champion, then I don't know what is...
- He certainly has a right to his opinion but wow....talk about envy and jealousy......sorry Bernard, it is just nobody really cares about boxing.....the sport has less fans than hockey and about the same as soccer....if the casinos did not give away tickets to high rollers it would have no gate....and other than the haters in the blogs....nobody wants to hear your hating.....get over it....you are a second page story and football is a front page item....and at this time Donovan is the QB. get over it...— nuggett
- Who cares what St Bernard has to say about McCash? His opinion is right out of his backside like most haters. I do agree that the Eagles should get Mike Vick as a player on special teams or as a punt returner. In any event, McPaid is the horse that's in the stable ready to run right now so we have to ride with him. And why does anybody even go on Howeird Achin's show? He's a boob of the first order and anybody that listens to that show is an equal boob. 950 is the best station on the dial!
- Howard, Howard, Howard....why do you give this guy a soapbox to rave on. If Don doesn't want to rub elbows with the dregs that his choice...it's just disappointing that you do.— garyshaffer
- ...and if Bernard is so astute at identifying a "Champion", than why did he suggest "the team should have given serious thought to replacing him with Michael Vick." Since when did Vick become a "Champion". (and we're not talking about his fighting pitbulls)
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