Eagles, McNabb and the ice Burg

By Tim McManus
The Phanatic Magazine

For those of those who have heard murmurs about Donovan McNabb's representation, but are still a little fuzzy as to how it happened or what the significance of it is, here's the breakdown as far as I understand it:

No.5's new public relations guy is Rich Burg, who previously held a similar position with the Eagles. Basically, if you were trying to get credentialed or wanted to set up an interview with a player, he was the man you had to get through. He ran the press conferences, and was essentially the mediator between reporter and athlete.

During his tenure with the Birds, Burg and McNabb developed a good rapport.

And Burg was the man that set up the Donovan McNabb press conference right after this past season ended, the one that ultimately got squashed by management and created a public relations headache for both the organization and McNabb.

The story goes that McNabb and Burg decided to hold the press conference, Burg contacted Andy Reid and company for approval, and there was no response. Taking it as a sign there was no objection, the press conference was announced.

Turns out that wasn't management's sentiment at all, and they promptly fired Burg for what they deemed an egregious error in judgment.

McNabb then hired Burg as his PR guy, keeping him in the fold.

In other words the Eagles brass made a personnel decision, and McNabb countered with a move that blatantly undermined that decision.

Some are taking the stance that this is somehow a positive development, for it separates the company from the man; sheds the label of being a bit of a mouthpiece for the organization.

Indeed it demonstrates a divide, but not one that should be celebrated. Instead it speaks to a rift, the size of which is still undetermined but is possibly irreparable.

This is not something that would ever have happened in the McNabb-Reid releationship even two years ago. You have to ask yourself -- Why would Reid fire one of Donovan's boys if they thought it would bring about ill feelings? And more pressing, why would McNabb counter with such a blatant sign of disrespect? Because he felt bad for Burg?

Please.

This looks like the beginning of the end. And it just so happens that the Eagles have a back-up plan, just in case.


Tim's column appears on this page every Thursday. You can contact him at tmcmanus@phanaticmag.com