Donovan and DeSean "cleared it up"
24-hour breaking news, sports, weather, entertainment, and more with coverage from The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News.
Donovan and DeSean "cleared it up"
Jeff McLane
Donovan McNabb and DeSean Jackson apparently cleared the air over McNabb's "youth" comment and Jackson's response to that comment on his radio show Monday night.
"Whatever his comment was about, I didn't hear the question he was asked," Jackson said today. "We talked and, you know, it's nothing big. We just got to keep it in-house and stick together as a team. Don't let things like that break us up. We talked about it, cleared it up and it's alright."
FROM EARLIER
There's been a lot of talk about Donovan McNabb's post-game comments in which he supposedly blamed an entire generation for the Eagles' loss to Dallas. Let's label it Gen X (McNabb) vs. Gen Y (Jackson, Maclin, et al).
"We showed our youth," McNabb said when he was asked about, well, the Eagles' relative youth.
Some have pointed to the Eagles quarterback's comments as another example of his unwillingness to lead, or perhaps his inability to lead. I'm not so sure about that. Perhaps. If McNabb rebounds on Saturday and leads the Eagles to a victory I'm fairly sure that kind of criticism will be silenced -- at least for one more week.
McNabb clarified his comments today.
"It all starts with me," McNabb said. "I have to raise my level of play and everyone has to, as well. In playoff play there is no looking back and saying, 'I could have, should have, would have,' and you have to come in with that attitude and be able to make plays when the plays are there to be made."
McNabb, by the way, is 6-0 in the first round of the playoffs. His counterpart, Tony Romo, is 0-2. Of course, that is past history. What people care about is the now and what radio show talk hosts care about is drumming up controversy. McNabb was asked if he was blaming the kiddies.
"No, not at all," he said. "What I meant is we have a young team and a lot of things that we were doing just looked very uncharacteristic of what we did all throughout the year. I wasn't blaming it on anyone, by any means. I said that it was my fault on the [fumbled] snap, and I said that I need to elevate my game. I think at times too many people focus on just little things and they aren't focusing on the whole question or the whole answer."
DeSean Jackson was asked about McNabb's comments on his radio show Monday night and the wide receiver said that if the sound bite was played in the locker room it's "not something nobody wants to hear." Jackson said that he would talk with McNabb about the statement and about the quarterback's visible frustration during the game. McNabb said today that the two had yet to talk.
"We've communicated as a team after the game, and we're communicating all throughout this week," McNabb said. "I think the most important thing for everyone is to not put that pressure on your shoulders now because of what happened, recognize what happened in the game, and be able to know what you're seeing and let's just go out and have fun."
Brian Westbrook said that he did not interpret McNabb's comments as negative. The running back apparently stood up and addressed the team following the loss.
"I'm one of the older guys on the team and it needed to be said that we didn't play our football game this past week," Westbrook said. "We didn't do what we set out to do."
this is a ridiculous article. just tryin to start controversy— GetMeToThePlateBoys- Everybody stunk on Sunday no matter what their age.— 88etrain
Comment removed.- Did you read the article? I believe it is clearing up the controversy, not starting it.— barefoot
- You need to be a leader to discuss leadership.— arkhambt
- Donovan doesnt need to clarify anything, he said nothing wrong, if you pansy arses cant handle it go watch the LFL...... Morons Eagles fans are.— 5isthebestEagleEver
- I FINALLY was given the gist of the QUESTION yesterday. If the balloon heads in the media had listened to it also....there would BE no freakin' "controversy" at all.....it was a decent answer to the direct question about the younger players ONLY!!!— TBear
- McNabb is not and will never be a "touch" passer and this season will be history this weekend. I think a majority of fans would like to have seen Kevin K. given a chance to grow and start this game.— humanist
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- I hate Winning and making the playoffs every year... I cant wait for the Klob and the 2-14 Decade to begin.— 5isthebestEagleEver
- Comment removed.
- Right on 88etrain!! The old, the young, and the restless (coaches) did a horrid job. This was not an issue until the radio guy on DJack's show made it an issue. But hey, that's what they get paid to do, start trouble!! Can't wait until they win on Saturday so we can stop all of this foolishness. Wasn't DeSean young last year too? Just sayin...— sima_down_nah
- Comment removed.
- Was youth the reason McNabb missed a wide open Jackson and wide open Maclin in the first half that cost them the game?— kl866
