Peter King, Donovan vs. Eli, etc.
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Peter King, Donovan vs. Eli, etc.
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Yesterday, we rounded up national opinion on the newly restructured contract between Donovan McNabb and the Eagles.
But one name we had yet to hear from at the time of the post was Sports Illustrated's Peter King.
King chimed in on the McNabb deal as one of the lead items of his Monday Morning Quarterback column today.
The McNabb deal makes sense, there's nothing sinister about it. "Donovan's contract yelled out that it needed to be adjusted,'' said Eagles president Joe Banner. Due $9.2 million this year and $10 million next year before the deal dissolved, McNabb had $5.2 million added to the next two years. That's it. As for the buzz over the past three months that McNabb was demanding a new deal, Banner contends it never happened.
King continues...
Banner said it took six or seven conversations with Smith to get it done. The reason it hadn't been done earlier is because McNabb, from 2002 to 2006, missed 20 games due to injury, and the Eagles just didn't know if he could stay healthy. With McNabb missing two games over the past two years, the time was right to be fair to him.
So there you have it.
An interesting nugget later in his column. King says Tom Brady is next in line for a big deal, and his agent likely took notice of the McNabb news. Per King, McNabb is currently in line to make $10 million more than Brady over the next two seasons.
***
Initially I had planned to lead this morning with a Donovan McNabb vs. Eli Manning debate, but the Inquirer folks beat me to it. In their You Talking to Me? feature, John Gonzalez, Ashley Fox and Bob Ford break down the argument.
So why are we talking about this in the middle of June?
A couple of recently released lists have spurred the conversation.
Last week, ESPN.com's Matt Mosley put together a list of 10 players who he deemed the ultimate building blocks in the NFC East. Manning made the list at No. 1 and McNabb received only an honorable mention. The Eagles on his list were Asante Samuel (No. 4), Jason Peters (No. 5) and Brian Westbrook (No. 10). DeSean Jackson and Trent Cole joined McNabb among the honorable mentions.
Here was Mosley's justification for Manning:
I think Tony Romo is capable of breaking through in the playoffs, but give me the young guy who has already done it. Manning is about to have a huge season. I'm talking MVP-caliber season.
A reader questioned Mosley's selection of Manning over McNabb in a mailbag. The reader was actually a Cowboys fan, but also a Syracuse grad. Here was Mosley's response:
I was putting together the 10 players that would serve as the core of the team for the next three seasons. If you're deciding between Eli Manning and Donovan McNabb, you have to go with the guy who's actually won a ring. McNabb's still an above-average quarterback in the league, but in three years, I think he'll be winding things down. Manning should still be in his peak years.
I'm fine with using Eli's ring as justification for him being ahead of McNabb, but I always counter with this: If Manning were quarterbacking the Eagles during the recent era, do you think he would have made the difference between them winning a Super Bowl and them coming up just short? I say no.
But then again, if McNabb had been quarterbacking the Giants, you can't say for sure he would have led them to a championship.
The other list that has sparked the debate is from FoxSports.com's Peter Schrager, who ranks the top 99 players in the league, based on the following criteria:
1. Which player would I rather have on my team?
2. Which player would make the most impact on my team?
3. Which player will be the best in 2009, specifically?
Schrager ranks Manning No. 17 and McNabb No. 23, calling Donovan the single hardest player to rank:
The single hardest person to place on this list, McNabb could have been slotted anywhere from No. 5 to No. 50, and there would have been people who both supported and detested the placement. With Brian Dawkins now in Denver, he's the official heart-and-soul of the Eagles. There's a ton of expectations in Philly for '09. Lots of prognosticators have them taking a Lombardi back to the City of Brotherly Love next February. It's on you, Donovan.
Schrager has five quarterbacks ahead of both McNabb and Manning: Philip Rivers (No. 16), Drew Brees (No. 7), Ben Roethlisberger (No. 3), Tom Brady (No. 2), Peyton Manning (No. 1).
So have at it. What do you make of the rankings and the Eli/Donovan debate?
By the way, we're still searching for a name for you, the MTC readers. The only suggestion I've received is The Chain Gang, and I'm not sure if that's OK or awful so please chime in on that front also.
Comment removed.
I must be the only one who saw Eli throwing up duck after duck in that playoff game (they were home favorites, by the way) last year. He couldn't overcome....the wind! In his home stadium! Come on, this is a ridiculous argument. Eil can't carry McNabb's jock. Really. It's not even close. Just watch them play. And have you even looked at the stats? McNabb is better than Eli in EVERY CATEGORY. TD/INT ratio? McNabb 2.15 to 1.32 (1.32!!!!). Lifetime rating? McNabb again 86.0 to 76.1. How about completion percentage (because we all know Donovan is the most inaccurate passer EVER!): McNabb wins again - 58.9% to 55.9%. When you factor in rushing yards it's an even bigger blowout in terms of productivity. The only difference is that Manning won in his Super Bowl and McNabb has lost in his. If you can't see past the NY media hype machine, then Eli is the better QB. I can't even believe I had to take the time to make this argument. It's like having to argue that the sky is blue, or that water is wet.— kev- Not sure Donovan deserved a raise. I cannot see the reasoniong there at all... Make him work [win] for it a little.— Skena
- Elektrika do you know who leads the lead in ground balls,balls thrown behind recievers,overthrows.Look keep making excuses. And he did have the ball around the 50 yard line in the last minutes of the Cardinal game last year. He threw the ball behind jackson on a crossing pattern. Did you watch the game? Thats right thats the recievers fault. My bad. In the superbowl T.O. was having a big game correct. Was that Mcnabb getting sick. I am sorry that was the recievers fault. Or maybe its the fans or the coach or the weather, global warming. No not ever Mcnabb. Lol... Elektrika its your type of facts that helps our economy get better. Lol... Please keep writting your someone I can learn a lot from. Lol...— dwaynem
- Two months before Manning won a Superbowl Giant fans were calling for his head. Manning had a good 2007 Post Season and a Good First half of the 2008 season. Other than that he's never played well. If not for Tyree's ridiculous catch that if thrown 99 more times he still only catches it that one time. Lets also not forget the dropped interception by Samuel in that 4th Qtr of the Superbowl. Manning got very lucky in the SB. Manning has ridden a great Defense and Running Game over the past two seasons but has never been able to carry a team on his own. McNabb on the other hand has never had reliable receivers and has a head coach that Runs the ball 5 times a game. I won't argue that McNabb has flaws from time to time but he is ten times the QB Eli will ever be. I just hope he gets a ring this year so we can finally stop harping on #5.— bmorebird
- Elektrika as the Cardinals defense was blowing the game was that Curt Warner leading his team back. By what your saying the steelers would just give up after the cardinals took the lead. But Big Ben with a bad o-line and no number one reciever(Ward was hurt)overcame a first and 20 to win the superbowl. And the running game was bad that day also. That was also against that same Cardinal defense that Mcnabb played against. Thats right thats the eagles recievers fault. Lol... Elektrika please keep writting. Lol...— dwaynem
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Dierte ready my statement. It said LEAD HIS TEAM. Its more to it than just throwing the ball. And if you are going to talk about my statement please address the part about Big Ben and what he did to that same Cardinals defense in the last minutes what Mcnabb couldn't do. But again keep making excuses for your boy D-Mac,Number 5, or what ever other nick name you losers have for this guy. You also please keep writting. I am feeling smarter by the minute. Lol...— dwaynem
- Eli Sucks. Seriously. He had a four game run where he played decent football. But he was rescued numerous times by his 6-5 WR catching balls that were, honestly, up for grabs. Same team, take away his security blanket, and he looks ordinary at best. I'd take Donovan, today, eveyr day of the week over Eli Manning. I'd think about Brees over McNabb, but no way I'd take Rivers over McNabb. brees has been on some pretty good teams and has nothing to show for it. Rivers has had a few years playing behind a very good defense, and two of the best skill players at their respective position, and hasn't been able to get it done. I think McNabb is in the #3-#5 range of QB's in this league. Cna argue over where he places exaclty.— gee1971
- If Eli's last name wasn't Manning he would have lost his job early in 07. However, there is some merit to playing well in the Super Bowl -- Donovan got his clock cleaned in the SB, so I'm OK with puking, but he had 3 minutes to win the NFC Championship last year, regardless of what the defense did, and he choked on it. Great QB's win that game, Eli probably wouldn't have done it either, but Montana, Kelly, Elway, Farve in his prime, likely Aikman wins that game.— RichNC
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
