In a column today in the Trenton Times, Mark Eckel reports that Donovan McNabb is not happy with the Eagles organization right now.
The main sticking point appears to be the fact that the Birds did not allow McNabb to travel to the team's playoff game against the Saints.
McNabb also is apparently getting the vibe that people in the organization prefer QB Jeff Garcia, and is upset with the way his mother, Wilma, was portrayed in the media.
The Phanatic's take:
Tim McManus: The cancelled press conference is starting to make a little more sense if these reports are accurate.
McNabb's reaction is far from surprising to me. If you think about it, McNabb's a man that has been treated like a Roman god, with a coliseum chanting his name once every other week for close to a decade. And yet, he still feels like an outsider; points to draft day when a couple of knuckleheads with face paint spouted off because they wanted a smoking partner in Ricky Williams.
Look, there's a rule that says players on injured reserve don't travel. And the coach has come out and said that McNabb's the guy despite Garcia's improbable performance down the stretch this year. Lastly, if Wilma McNabb wants to voice her opinion publicly about the most identifiable athlete in the city, and insinuates that the very audience she's speaking to will crucify her son, then she and Donovan have to live with the reaction. Period.
True or not, this is not good from a PR standpoint for Donny Mac. He is further alienating a fan base with this alleged unhappiness, and more importantly, could be alienating many of his teammates as well.
John McMullen: Dr. John Dorian would love Donovan McNabb because the quarterback sure is a “sensi..” Somehow I picture soft acoustic rock playing in the background as McNabb drones on and on to his friends about how the whole world is against him.
Instead of playing the woe is me card, it would be nice to see McNabb shrug off any perceived slights -- whether real or imagined -- and try to prove his critics wrong on the field.
But, that is looking more and more like a pipe dream with each passing day. McNabb has quite the chip on his shoulder these days and it’s a shame Dr. James Andrews couldn’t have removed it when rebuilding his knee.
Steve Lienert: I hate to admit it, but maybe T.O. had a point. Maybe McNabb isn't the type of leader we as fans would like him to be. Maybe we saw how the team responded to Garcia's fiery temperment and wished we saw more of that from McNabb. Instead, we've gotten seven years of injuries and smiles.
Look, for better or for worse, the Eagles are married to McNabb. He is the franchise. He need not worry about that. Besides, Garcia isn't getting any younger. Hitching the wagon to Garcia would be a monumental mistake.
I wish McNabb would see how Garcia played and allow himself to be more like that. I think it's in there and, if he let's it out, he'll carry the Eagles over the top.
Instead, he whines that he's not the organization's favorite anymore. He whines about how people treat his mom. Why not ask his mother not to blog about him anymore? Why not go to Andy Reid to clarify his position? Why do this now in the newspaper?
And I'd really hate to think that McNabb not being allowed to travel with the team became a distraction before what was a three-point season-ending loss to the Saints. Because then it would be time to start eyeballing divorce papers.
1 comment:
"eyeballing divorce papers"?
alright guys, lets calmn down. this was a report in the newspaper. as you very well know, these things aren't 100 percent accurate.
and I would argue that McNabb has proved " his critics wrong on the field." This man has won with the likes of Torrance Small, Darnell Autry, Charles Johnson. He's one of the most successful quarterbacks in franchise history. Sure, he's failed to bring the city a championship. But the reason we expect a Lombardi Trophy is because McNabb, along with Andy Reid and Co., have raised our expectations. To say hes not a leader is preposterous.
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