One Eagle in the top 50?
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
One Eagle in the top 50?
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Before we know it, Super Bowl predictions are going to start emerging from publications across the country.
And judging by the national reaction to the Eagles' offseason moves, several of those are going to have the Birds going to Miami.
But one national writer doesn't seem to think too much of the Eagles' individual talent. CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco put together a list of the top 50 players in the league, and no Birds player is listed among the top 48. Donovan McNabb squeezes in at 49:
He bounced back from his benching to have a big season in 2008 and a very good postseason. With a lot of weapons on board now, plus a big line, I think he will be even better in 2009.
The QBs listed ahead of McNabb are Peyton Manning (1), Tom Brady (2), Drew Brees (5), Ben Roethlisberger (10), Philip Rivers (20), Carson Palmer (26; that one I really don't get) and Kurt Warner (29).
No Asante Samuel? No Brian Westbrook? Well, they make Prisco's 'Just Missed' section. Jason Peters doesn't get a mention at all.
CBS' Web site displays Prisco's list from the past three seasons. In 2008, Westbrook was listed at No. 20. Quite a difference a year can make, huh? Samuel was at 37. Shawn Andrews at 38. And Peters, then obviously with the Bills, at No. 27.
In 2007, Andrews was the top Eagles player listed at No. 31. McNabb made it at No. 39. And Westbrook just missed.
And finally, in 2006, it was McNabb at No. 32. Brian Dawkins, otherwise not mentioned, was on the 'Just Missed' list.
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ESPN.com has named its All-Decade Offense and Defense, and despite the Eagles' success during this recent stretch, they only had one player, Troy Vincent, on either list.
Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson did get recognized in a tie for best assistant of the decade with the Steelers' Dick LeBeau.
In the All-Decade power rankings, the Eagles came in at No. 4, behind the Patriots, Colts and Steelers.
No Eagles players made the list of top 25 players of the decade. If you're wondering about McNabb, five quarterbacks are ranked ahead of him: Brady, Manning, Warner, Roethlisberger and Brett Favre.
Are we rating best player or best stats because McNabb is way better than Rivers, Palmer and Warner.McNabb ability to win with less his whole career (except 1 year)show he is superior to these other names.Rivers has had 2 # 1 targets in Chambers and Gates..Palmer has had the luxury of Johnson,Housh and Henry and Warner has had the best wide out core of anybody (Holt and Bruce and now Boldin and Fitzgerald)— reggleston38
Comment removed.- What is troubling to me is that every time McNabb gets called out for not winning the game with the ball in his hands is turned around and discounted as having an agenda when the facts clearly are on the side of the person making the accusation. The fact is, Mcnabb does not have many comeback victories on his resume and his failures include 3 nfc championship games that ended with the ball in his hands down by less than a td (rams and cards) and another down by less than 2 scores in the other (bucs). I will mention the superbowl because of the time wasted during that horrible hurry up offense but in all fairness when they got the ball back they had little time to do anything with it. Those are just the big games but seriously how many times has Mcnabb led us from behind to win when the chips were down? I recall two games, one was at Washington back in 2001 and the other was the 4th and 26 game. Last year he had many chances but failed, (chicago, Washington, NYG, Dallas, Cincy,) as well as countless others through the years. Why are the facts never taken into consideration when this argument is made and instead all we hear are terms to discredit the person like "hater, racist, or eagle hater" or having another agenda. Sounds like a bunch of delusional people who are so brainwashed that they cannot have open minds about something so obvious it is sinful. Can the eagles win a sb with Mcnabb? Yes, as long as they win in spite of Mcnabb and have complete control of the game throughout. The logic of that scenario is far off since good teams are pretty equal and games usually are pretty close. If the game is on the line and someone needs to make a play mcnabb will not be the one who does it. Mcnabb may be incapable of dealing with the pressure and unwilling to lay it all on the line to make the sacrifice necessary to get the job done.— tmax13
- wasn't losing multiple nfc title games a large criteria for this list?— nittany4
Eli didn't even make the "just missed" list Lonewolf! HA! How bad do you have to be to not even be a runner up on list written by an idiot?— Richard Saunders- booman, you better check Peyton Manning out in the playoffs over his career. This is a guy who can give you flawless football as the so called coach on the field in the regular season then gets to the playoffs and he can't read a defense.— mongoS
- The Chargers beat Peyton Manning because they are able to apply pressure. Peyton Manning doesn't fare well against a 3-4 defense that can bring the heat (ie. Steelers, Pats and Chargers). Anyone who thinks Donovan McNabb is a better player than Philip Rivers is either an Eagles fan or someone who doesn't know football or both. Regarding winning? Can someone remind me exactly what has McNabb won?— booman55
- Prisco loves his Cowboys— bigphillydad
- so i agree peyton can't read a 3-4 defense..as for rivers nothing like playing in the easiest division to build confidence..also you don't know football if you choose to ignore the level of competiton. also your what has mcnabb won question seems a little bias as you don't ask the same question for rivers or is it you dont want to be reminded of that?— mongoS
- They never won the Super Bowl and don't deserve the mention. The Eagles are looked at as losers of 4 Championship games. This is Andy Reid, Joe Banners fault always trying to keep payroll down. NOW THEY ARE AT THE TOP WHEN IT COMES TO SAVING PAYROLL. Ask T.O.— Joe Vegas
- Heres a novel idea, why don't we the readers com up with our own lists. I don't really trust the local hacks to do it. Here's what i have so far by position: QBs: 1. Brady 2. P. Manning 3. McNabb 4. K Warner RB: 1. LT 2. Westbrook 2a. Barber WR: 1. Moss 1a. TO 2. fitzgerald OT: 1. Orlando Pace 2. Walter Jones 3. Jonathan Ogden OG: 1. Steve Hutchinson 2. Sean Andrews S 1. Dawk 2. Palomula (SP) 3. Sean Taylor (?) TE: 1. Gonzalez 2. LJ Smith (just kidding) DE: 1. Strahan (that was tough to admit) LB: 1. Lewis 2. Brooks— Eagles Phan in LI
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