At his season ending press conference, Andy Reid interrupted his usual pedantic ramblings to offer up one juicy nugget, aimed squarely at his increasingly annoying signal-caller, Donovan McNabb
"I haven't heard Donovan talk about that, so I'm not answering it," Reid told the assembled media when queried about DMac's desire to add more playmakers.
Then, Reid did exactly what he said he wouldn't do seconds earlier and rarely ever does -- he actually answered a question.
"I know, as players, you have to be careful about saying that, because those are your teammates that are being replaced," Reid said. "Most players don't get into that, who really care about their teammates on the other side."
Ouch, there it was...a backhanded slap at the most sensitive man this side of Alan Alda. So, anyone who has followed McNabb over the past several years knew what was coming next.
Like a petulant child wronged by a tyrannical father, Donovan, with disgruntled ex-Eagles P.R. man Rich Burg in his ear, went to his blog at Yardbarker.com
"Now that the season is over and we are concentrating on 2008, I hope we are able to secure some playmakers in all three phases of the game," McNabb wrote in his Monday posting.
He also offered up a free pass for his own failings..."Maybe some of those playmakers are already on the roster but have struggled with injuries, myself included," McNabb added.
For once, you couldn't argue...McNabb's thoughts were not only lucid, they were accurate. But, when No. 5 is involved, nothing is done for the right reason. DMac had no desire of helping the Eagles by pushing for change...He was simply insulted.
Reid fired his salvo and McNabb fired one right back. He even poked at a Jeffrey Lurie/Joe Banner sore spot when he mentioned the real gold standard of the NFL-- the New England Patriots.
"You can't argue with how the Patriots went outside their locker room and stocked up on playmakers last year. It certainly helped to have Randy Moss, Donte' Stallworth, Wes Welker and Adalius Thomas making plays for them all year," McNabb wrote.
"I'm surprised that anyone (that means you Big Red) would have a problem with me, or anyone else in the organization, expressing a desire to bring in more quality players," he added. "We were 8-8. There is room for improvement. This is a competitive sport. It's about putting together the best players, the best team, and giving yourself the best chance to win.
"We didn't disrespect anyone when we traded for Takeo Spikes or signed Kevin Curtis last year. I don't think the Patriots were being disrespectful to TroyBrown or Reche Caldwell when they brought in Moss, Stallworth and Welker. Over the past few years, when the 49ers added Nate Clements, the Seahawks added Julian Peterson, the Giants added Plaxico Burress, the Colts added Adam Vinatieri, it was in an effort to add playmakers. In each case the team identified a way to improve and they took action.
"I don't think that's being disrespectful to any of my teammates. It's certainly not my intention. I bet that anyone who wants to see the Eagles win-- from Mr. Lurie, to the entire locker room, to every Eagles fan who bleeds green would agree."
Maybe McNabb's latest public cry for help is the best thing for every Birds fan who bleeds green. After all, five is challenging an inflexible, bullheaded boss and speeding toward an impending divorce.
And, the Eagles do need more playmakers...at wide receiver...at tight end...at safety...in the return game and you guessed it...at quarterback.
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