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Monday, November 9, 2009
McNabb: We thought we had it

Listening to Donovan McNabb's post-game press conference, it was clear that he didn't want to use the officiating as an excuse but felt like it was a major factor in the Eagles' loss to the Cowboys.

Speaking specifically about the fourth-down sneak with about 11 minutes left, here's what McNabb said about the officials ruling him short of the marker:

"I felt like half of my body was past the marker which I've seen. I landed on top of our guys and just slid and kept on moving. When you, I guess the question, you probably replay it, I guess you may have felt that I did get it. We thought we had the first down, but unfortunately I guess twice we didn't."

Later in the press conference, he said he didn't "want to make any excuses" but when asked why the team seems to come up short in the fourth quarter, he pointed to the calls.

"Well it's tough to win when you have a couple of calls where it's tough on you," he said. "We have won games in the fourth quarter. I know that's something that everyone is going to talk about. Have fun with it I guess."

Ok, about to head home. I'm going to try and re-watch the plays in question, and of course we'll have Man Up Monday night and Tuesday.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia @ 1:53 AM  Permalink | 12 comments
12
Comments   
Posted 03:25 AM, 11/09/2009
Grandpa, when you were my age some guy puked at the Super Bowl!?
"Have fun with it I guess." Wow, spoken like a true Loser. The most spineless, disingenuous, unaccountable athlete in the history of Philadelphia . . . and his apologists are dumbfounded as to why he is so disgustingly despised by the masses here. It's indeterminable actually, as to what is more pathetic, Donovan himself, or his apologists.
Posted 04:28 AM, 11/09/2009
VegasEagleFan
Grandpa the truth is there were team mistakes all over that cost the Eagles the game not just McNabb or his comment. Jason Peters jumping offsides, Jeremy Maclin letting the pass right through his hands for an int,rookie linebacker #53 pulling down a dallas player on the runback, Sheldon Brown misjudging the play, McNabb throwing the second int and the o-line giving up all of those sacks and hurries not to mention the bad calls by the refs that Donovan was talking about. The team as a whole made too many mistakes playing what turned out to be a very good cowboys team. The whole team has to play better. I am not apologizing for Donovan just keeping it real.
Posted 05:21 AM, 11/09/2009
Grandpa, when you were my age some guy puked at the Super Bowl!?
Oh, well excuuuuuse me! But since "we're just keeping it real", we might as well acknowledge the fact that Donovan McNabb was the one who set the tone for this entire game to begin with. As soon as he started throwing the ball all over the place on that first possession any seasoned Birds fan could tell it was going to be one of those nights. And as far as, "Jeremy Maclin letting the pass right through his hands for an int". Give me a break, Buddy. That exact same pass has been "sailing right through the hands" of about 50 other receivers not named Jeremy Maclin throughout Donovan McNabb's career. So let's "just keep it real" & acknowledge the fact that McNabb still doesn't know how to throttle his throws up & how to throttle his throws down when he needs to after 11 years in the NFL. The first pick he threw he should have recognized Maclin was all alone & he should have delivered that ball with some touch so Maclin didn't have to brace himself to catch a heater. That's just common sense. The second pick he threw he should have recognized Maclin was covered & he should have delivered that ball in front of him, not behind him where the defender was. If it was there he would have had an opportunity to "catch it & run with it", oooooooooh what a novel frickin' idea, huh McNabb? BOTTOM LINE, HE STILL FAILS AT EXECUTING PLAYS THE WAY THEY WERE MEANT TO BE EXECUTED & HE STILL FAILS AT STARTING GAMES WITH INTENSITY & PURPOSE, SETTING THE TONE FOR THE REST OF THE GAME.
Posted 08:54 AM, 11/09/2009
lonewolf 10
it's disappointing when they start blaming the referees,,the key play in the game was a wide-open jackson going west and don threw the pass east,jackson could have run a marathon with that pass if it was anyway near his hands,,it's the same ole same ole,why should it change after 11 seasons............wolf.
Posted 09:13 AM, 11/09/2009
sore richard
Lots of mistakes and miscues BUT they still should have won. I don't like to blame it on the refs, but they BLEW that call. He had the first down by a mile and that call changed EVERYTHING. Mcnabb played good enough to win so stop it with you clown Mcnabb bashers. If you hate the dude so much and he's such a crappy player, then stop watching the games and especially reading these columns. You all sound like a bunch of morons, putting it all on Don. CLEARLY you know very little about the game. VegasEagleFan hit it on the head - the blame should be spread across the team, including Don.
Posted 10:30 AM, 11/09/2009
eeglenutt
You must have been watching a different game, Donutwolf. McNabb missed an open DJack, for sure. But he "could have run a marathon?" The game I was watching had DJack running right into converging 'backers. Of course, that's not as bad as Collingsworth saying Assante Samuel is typically a good tackler, but it's still typical Donutwolf hyperbole.
Posted 10:35 AM, 11/09/2009
eeglenutt
Nice post, Richard. I'll never understand what drives people like Grandpa and Donutwolf to such hatred that they spend their day spewing venom on here. Good grief, if the guy bugs you that much, turn off your tv. A bit touched upstairs, I think.
Posted 10:37 AM, 11/09/2009
Tozmanian
Grandpa....you aint no fan. Go root for the Cowgirls. I'll bet that all of you that constantly spew negative comments couldn't hold McNabb's jock and would cry like babies if you took a hit. Get jobs....get a life....just STOP "rooting" for the Eagles. GO BIRDS!
Posted 11:09 AM, 11/09/2009
mfecani
Its the same thing every season. McNabb's accuracy. Reid's play-calling and time management. I'm not a basher or hater, but I do think this team (Lurie) needs to ask itself how much longer do they want this to continue. Reid and McNabb have been together for 11 years, and I think their best years are behind them both. Everyone says McNabb gives them the best chance to win, but best chance to win what? One playoff game? Two maybe? McNabb is inaccurate because of extremely poor throwing mechanics, and they're so deeply ingrained that he can't overcome them. Its time for a change.
Posted 11:32 AM, 11/09/2009
terb
Hey Sheil and everyone else- I would like to know how many games Donovan's Eagles have won coming back in the 4th quarter. Off the top of my head 4th and 26 (obviously) and the Chiefs game in 2005 at Arrow Head, but that wasn't necessarialy a 4th quarter comeback. I think we would be hard pressed to find 5 games in Donovan's tenure where he lead a comeback in the 4th quarter. AR's inability to adjust his "game plan" (after his scripted plays) and Donovan repeatedly not coming through in the clutch leads me to feel if we are down in the 4th, the game is over. If it hasn't happened yet, it never will.
Posted 11:57 AM, 11/09/2009
lonewolf 10
well atleast there not blaming the O-line this week now it's the refs,,who's next the blind and disabled????....d-jackson was W--I--D--E--O--P--E--N that was the key to the game,that was a sure TD and it was an easy pass to make.............................wolf.
Posted 12:33 PM, 11/09/2009
CHILL WILL
We played enough defense to bail us out a win;but teammates running into each other on assignments and bad calls would cause the best team to lose. Come on EAGLES get over it, we got bigger teams in the NFC to punish [NEW ORLEANS, and MINNESOTA. The cowgirls will not make it to the playoffs, we will make sure of that week 17. {GO EAGLES!!!!
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Sheil Kapadia is a sports producer for philly.com. His earliest memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with his dad, most of which turned out disappointing results. He's here to discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or by clicking here

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