McNabb a franchise QB?
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McNabb a franchise QB?
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Any time we write about Donovan McNabb here at MTC, it usually results in the comments section being flooded with insults, name-calling and personal attacks.
But we're going ahead with this post anyway.
Matt Bowen of the National Football Post writes about a topic that Eagles fans have argued about in this city for years: Is McNabb a franchise quarterback?
Here is Bowen's definition of the term:
In my definition, a franchise quarterback can walk into any huddle in the NFL, pick up a football and have immediate success. By saying that, these guys aren’t defined by the system they play in because you don’t have to build a system around them to make them effective. They do it because they can make any throw, run any offense and succeed with any coach and with any type of offensive personnel around them.
Bowen lists five guys he considers franchise quarterbacks: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Carson Palmer and Philip Rivers.
So where does McNabb rank? In the next group of guys "on the fence" behind Ben Roethlisberger. Here's Bowen's justification:
McNabb is great because he plays in the west coast system in Philly. However, I don’t see him having the success — or the ability to make all the throws — in another offensive system. His accuracy is always a concern, and I question if he could thrive in a vertical attack.
Other guys in the 'On the Fence' group: Kurt Warner, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Matt Hasselbeck and Jay Cutler.
I would argue that McNabb belongs among the franchise quarterbacks. Before I get to the reasoning, let's take a look at the other guys on Bowen's list.
There's no question that Tom Brady and P. Manning belong in a class of their own. Any team in the league would swap QBs with the Patriots or Colts and immediately improve. That's just a fact.
I'm a big Brees guy, and he certainly has an edge over McNabb when it comes to accuracy. But Brees also throws a lot more interceptions. He and McNabb belong in the same category.
I don't think Palmer has a place among the upper tier at this point in his career. He played in four games last season and threw 20 interceptions the year before. While Bowen excludes winning from his criteria, it's tough to ignore the fact that Palmer has never won a playoff game. Maybe the 2005-06 version of Palmer would be up there, but not the 2009 version.
There are a lot of things to like about Rivers. He takes care of the football. He makes plays without a great receiver (although he has good weapons at RB and TE). And he had a monster 2008 season. But if you put him on the Eagles right now, would you confidently say they'd have a better chance to win in 2009 than they do now? I'm not so sure. And that's what Bowen's definition of a franchise quarterback would indicate.
As for his evaluation of McNabb, I think we can all agree that he'll never be among the most accurate quarterbacks in the league. Bowen argues that McNabb might struggle in a vertical attack, which I disagree with. The Eagles ask McNabb to make plays down the field every week. He completed 52 passes of 20 yards or more last season. That was the third-best mark in the league. McNabb has success stretching the field, when he has the weapons. It's the short slants and screens that give him problems.
The first part of Bowen's definition says the QB should be able to walk into any NFL huddle and have immediate success. I think you could say that about McNabb, which is why the rumors of him playing elsewhere seem to emerge every offseason. If the Birds decided to cut ties with him, several other teams would be interested.
So, based on Bowen's definition listed above, what do you think? Is McNabb a franchise quarterback?
Under that definition of a franchise quarterback, none of those guys listed are franchise QBs. Eli Manning? Are you kidding me? Take Brady away from New England and see what you get. The column was a waste of time.- My definition. The game is on the line and you can win it with 1:20 on the clock, the ball has just been booted ut the back of the endzone, and now you're starting on the 20 on the road. A franchise QB wins that game. Elway can do it. McNabb can do it. How many years did it take Elway? Once McNabb wins the Super Bowl, the whole perception of him will change. One more wrinkle. Namath wins a Super Bowl - a hot gun surrounded by a good, balanced team. The rest of his career had everyone wondering why the oft-injured QB couldn't stay healthy and win another Super Bowl. McNabb falls short and for the balance of his career, people wondered if he is good enough to win a Super Bowl. One more thought: put McNabb in New York and he's a god. How many World Series has A-Rod won?— RichieAllen64
- Glad to see the overall support for McNabb. He meets my definition of a franchise QB, and 3rd best in his era (excluding Favre, i guess) behind Brady and P-Manning. And P-Manning - for all his regualr season excellence - has not been a good playoff QB.— MG44
- McNabb misses way to many receivers to be a franchise QB, when u have a wide open receiver you don't throw 5 yards short behind said receiver, if he would complete the easier ones he seems to have problems with then yes he would be an F/Q, but he hasn't in 10 years, therefor he isn't one. If he did these things then how many more W's would they have (Quite a few I would say) so NO he is absolutely NOT a franchise QB...— FireChief
- I have said all along Mcnabb is a francise q.b. we should all be grateful to have him,alot of teams like tampa dont have francise q.b.s and would take him in a heartbeat.It would suck if he went elsewhere and won the superbowl.— boltfan
- This article is terrible. Yes, Don is a franchise quarterback. His criteria was awful, and I would argue that everyone on his top list lacks a giant part of it. He basically made criteria and then named his favorite qb's. Palmer has the tools, and has had more weapons then Don, yet still hasn't done anything of significant importance in the league. Manning and Brady are phenomenal but Manning did struggle last year. Rivers also has not done much for me, and I would say to many, up until this year, remained the question mark on why the chargers could/ couldn't win the sb. And you can throw him top 5 until he has multiple good years, look at derek anderson. Pro bowl-bench. 5 has led the Eagles to several NFC championship games and winning records for consecutive years. He wins the sb and you can't not keep him in the top tier. Also, I find it funny so many people say Donovan sucks and then struggle to name 5 qb's better. It's because there isn't. Go birds! Keep the wins coming Don.— Knock0ut12
- Get somebody to throw to, circa, TO, and this is a moot question. The year the Eagles organization actually gave the man a receiver what happened; we went to the Super Bowl. This is like firing Sixer's coaches because the team sucks. In life,you play with the cards your dealt, and since McNabb, can't throw to himself, this is what you get. Don't hate the player, hate the management.— philligurl
- First of all how can you not factor winning into the equasion? that's the bottom line, with that being said let's look at the top 5 list. P. Manning and T. Brady are automatic but what had Rivers, Brees, and Palmer done? Ok Rivers on had arguably the best running back and tight end in the game but what did he win, oh and they were in ther AFC Championship game when? Now Carson Palmer has had arguably the best WR tandem in the past 4-5 years with C. Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh and what did they do with all of those weapons? The Bengals were in the AFC Championship when? Now I would put Brees in the same category as Donovan however what has he won? and make no mistake about it winning is the bottom line here, I mean Rothesberger's stats aren't even close to Donovan or Brees however he has won 2 I repeat 2 Superbowl rings. So here's my list..... Brady, Manning, NcNabb, Rothesberger, Brees— Geno61
- I would take Philip Rivers off that list for now. Palmer maybe (let's see how he does this year), E Manning is a fraud, Romo is quickly flaming out, Warner is only good indoors and with two stud WRs, Ben might be able to do it but not sold on that...Here's where they rank with me: P. Manning, Brady, Brees, Palmer, McNabb, Rivers.— jtizzle2133
- Oh, like Kurt Warner hasn't been able to walk into several other teams and be successful, even changing Leagues, and Rivers has?— atp2007
- RichieAllen64 said that his definition of a franchise QB is this: "The game is on the line and you can win it with 1:20 on the clock, the ball has just been booted ut the back of the endzone, and now you're starting on the 20 on the road. A franchise QB wins that game. Elway can do it. McNabb can do it." Richie, I don't know what games you have been watching the last ten years...Elway did it REPEATEDLY throughout his career BEFORE winning the Super Bowl twice. Maybe you need to look at the last 5 minutes of all the NFC championship games and the Super Bowl. BTW - Elway took his team three other times to the Super Bowl when the AFC was very weak, unlike McNabb who has not been able to get thru a mediocre NFC. Bad comparison, and poor observations on your part.
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- OMG, I read the article, scrolled down and expected to find the usual McNabb bashing; instead I find that almost everybody posting agrees with me. I didn't know there were this many McNabb fans in the whole city. So, yes, he is a franchise QB, and the best QB in the history of the Eagles. I never thought there should be any question about this , but the #5 bashing in this town is so ridiculous that it isn't even funny. Maybe that glimpse of the future we got in Baltimore last year made people reassess their thinking.— drbob1
- Honestly, Les Bowen must be high on grill fumes or another substance. Donovan McNabb, the guy with the bazooka for an arm, will struggle in a vertical attack? Rivers over McNabb? Palmer? Man, what passes for sports journalism in this town would not be fit for a cat's litterbox— rswknight
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