Ashley Fox: McNabb has message for young Eagles

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Every word that comes out of Donovan McNabb's mouth for public consumption is deliberate. Everything he says has meaning, a purpose, and an intended audience.

It's not for you or for me. It's for the rug rats in the Eagles' locker room. DeSean Jackson. Jeremy Maclin. LeSean McCoy. And a few others.

Donovan McNabb´s message is: Don´t believe the hype.
Donovan McNabb's message is: Don't believe the hype.

McNabb has been through enough to know that tonight is a big game against Dallas. It's for the early lead in the NFC East. Win and the Eagles move to 3-0 in the division, 6-2 overall at the turn, with the most difficult part of their season still to come.

But tonight is just another brick on the path McNabb hopes will lead to Miami. It won't make or break the season. Those kinds of games don't occur until December and January. McNabb knows that. He needs the kids to understand that, too.

After 11 seasons, McNabb is the senior voice. For the first time, he's surrounded by young skill-position players he desperately needs to achieve the ultimate goal. McNabb needs McCoy, Maclin, and Jackson to keep it together, to not get inflated egos and to not smack against the midseason wall so that they can be effective in the make-or-break games.

It's a lot to ask of a second-year player, much less a rookie who played 11-game seasons in college.

So when McNabb speaks, as he did Wednesday, he speaks to them. Listen . . .

I think the problem at times is people focus so much on how teams start the season and talk about them being in the Super Bowl and this is a great team, and all of a sudden they hit that wall and things don't go as well as they want it to for weeks, and toward the end of the year they are losing in the first round of the playoffs.

Translation: The Eagles haven't done anything. Don't listen to the hype. Remember the Cowboys in 2007? They went 13-3, had the bye and home-field advantage - and lost to the Giants in the playoffs. The Super Bowl isn't won in November. Turn off the ears and hunker down. There's a lot of work still to do.

I think it's really premature to say that [the Eagles are playing at a high level] at this point, because, again, this is a long season and you do hit walls. . . . Teams are really measured by how they are able to pull themselves out.

Translation: It's not going to be this easy. You might think it is, but it's not. You're going to struggle. Defenses will try to take you out. It's how you respond that determines the player.

I think what you're seeing is you're seeing a lot of guys stepping up and making big plays for us, where for myself, I've been a part of a team where something like this happened back in 2004.

Translation: Check yourself, kids. Catch nine passes for 122 yards in the Super Bowl on a bum ankle, then you can go Hollywood.

I think when some guys come out of college, they think they're invincible, and you have to make sure that they understand that they're not, and you have to make sure that they are preparing at all times for what they'll be faced with. I think that once they get settled in and they understand exactly what it is that you are trying to express to them, then things begin to go even-keeled.

Translation: There's a lot of work to do Monday through Saturday to have success on Sunday. Put in the time.

They will be hit with [the wall]. I think there are a lot of guys who are not aware of kind of how we do things around here, and I think it's important that we prepare and we set the tone for them to make it a lot easier for them.

Enough said. Message delivered. Are the kids listening?

 


Contact columnist Ashley Fox

at 215-287-7218 or afox@phillynews.com.

 

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Posted 03:39 AM, 11/08/2009
He had high apple pie in the sky hopes.
"I think what you're seeing is you're seeing a lot of guys stepping up and making big plays for us, where for myself, I've been a part of a team where something like this happened back in 2004." Oh yeah . . . that magical season back in 2004, that ended with you puking in the Super Bowl. Brilliant! You tell them, Einstein.
Posted 05:57 AM, 11/08/2009
hope55
Donovan...no one is talking about you all going to the SB...just beat dallas and don't come up with any excuses if you don't...Beat dallas, and then turn your attention to the next game.
Posted 06:48 AM, 11/08/2009
pyleiton
That's not McNabb on the front page:)
Posted 06:50 AM, 11/08/2009
JamesJ
I thought the cliche was to play them one game at a time?
Posted 07:20 AM, 11/08/2009
eaglephanatic
McNabb is speaking like an excuse-laden loser. He had plenty of weapons to win a Super Bowl or two. He just didn't have enough to compensate for his lousy performances against good competition. Maybe now he will have enough talent around him to offset his usual playoff turnovers and boneheaded decisions (and Reid's). But, please, don't give advice to young talent that may have real championship blood, as if they are as weak-minded.
Posted 07:24 AM, 11/08/2009
Oppressed#1
Ms. Fox has been absorbed by The Borg. McNabb's style has always been that of the fake expert, to be dismissive of the questioner and to disagree with whatever the point of view of the question is. "Don't you think it is silly when people say the moon is made of swiss cheese?" McNabb: "Not at all, when you are with the guys in practice and play the games you realize the moon mostly is swiss cheese." His words are not about his teammates. They are about elevating himself over the media and one-upping the "they boo'd me on draft day" fanbase. "Not at all" is McNabb's version of "Time's yours." No insight, nor sense of history to this column, only cheap flattery of McNabb. Ashley needs to spend more time with Kate (plug in Olsen-twins-joke here). I am Oppressed.
Posted 07:46 AM, 11/08/2009
Seed
McNabb and Brady are the most error free QB in the league. They don't loose the game for their team. That's the first and more most lesson for a Rookie and McNabb has the record to deliver the message with example.
Posted 07:50 AM, 11/08/2009
Seed
McNabb is the ultimate team player proved by the tolerance he showed towards TO's mental problems. Since McNabb no other QB in three other teams have been able to get so much out of TO and go into a SB with a head case. As the team's face for 10 years, playing with about 400 guys over those years he can just 1-2 detractors; rest of the 398 or more players are appreciative of what McNabb bring to the team and what a great team player he is. That's the second most important lesson for a young player.
Posted 07:52 AM, 11/08/2009
Seed
McNabb was thrown into the lions mouth from day one and he fought back and won over 10 years. Only Peyton and Brady can make that same claim. That teaches the 3rd lesson for the young playes, you can contribute from day one. McNabb has delivered from day one, all of the young players can contribute from day one and we need them to contribute today, if possible.
Posted 07:53 AM, 11/08/2009
CSpangler
Where are all these loser Eagles fans from? Geez, we really do have some terrible fans out there. You dudes will whine about anything.
Posted 07:59 AM, 11/08/2009
notch44
mcnabb the voice of reason and wisdom. it would be a lot more believable if he had an SB win. I just hate his attitude. there's only 16 games. everyone matters, win the division, get the first round bye, that's how you win the super bowl. is there anyone who shows less intensity getting the play called than 5? this " nothing matters til december is the wrong attitude and is reflected by his on field performance.
Posted 08:04 AM, 11/08/2009
snook65
I'm wondering where I can read about the success of the LOSERs that come on here day after day and spew non-sense about McNabb? I doubt that they are fans or successful in anything other than being a complete and meaningless loser in life.
Posted 08:16 AM, 11/08/2009
gordy
I just hope this game doesn't go the way of the penn state game last night. I see uncanny simialrities between McNabb and Clark. They both seem to not shine well under the spotlight. I hope I am wrong about tonight.
Posted 08:36 AM, 11/08/2009
Duracorr
The so-called Eagles fans that attack McNabb are an embarrassment to Philadelphia. Their narrow uneducated opinions are laughable in light of facts. I too am disappointed that the Eagles have not won a SB, but to put it on McNabbs shoulders is the height of lunacy. Look at Peyton Manning's career playoff stats. Even look at his performance in the SB he won. Donovan has better playoff stats. But he's never had the quality of supporting cast Peyton Manning had. By the way, The last two SB winners were wild card teams and did not have the bye.
Posted 08:42 AM, 11/08/2009
ziggy
Amazing! How can you argue with what McNabb says? In every sport, rookies believe they have unlimted time to get the championship. A vet has the wisdom to help them understand every game does count - BUT - don't read your headlines! What would you idiots want him to do?...tell the rookies to be happy with a winning record?...copy the Cowboys and have a great regular season and don't worry about the big picture? Steady wins. Get hot in December and ride it into the playoffs. Every game matters, but tonight will not put them in the SB.
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