The McNabb Question (A Post Script to My “Eagles Mount Rushmore”)
Donovan McNabb is one of the best quarterbacks in Philadelphia Eagles history . . . statistically. He took the team to a Super Bowl. He has the most passing yards (32,873), passing touchdowns (216), game-winning drives (22), and the most wins as a starting quarterback (92).
He’s not revered by the fan base the way other cities adore their great quarterbacks.
I started thinking about this topic while I was putting together my “Eagles Mount Rushmore.” Without giving too much away, McNabb did not make my list.
It’s not hard to make the argument that McNabb’s passing statistics are inflated by then head coach Andy Reid’s play calling. The number of passes McNabb would throw in a game was absurd. There were excuses, of course – reading the defense, audibles, etc. But make no mistake, Reid called for a pass way too often.
But bad play calling isn’t why Philadelphia doesn’t unequivocally praise number 5. Even though “number 5 will always love you!” I couldn’t resist referencing McNabb’s rather awkward speech at halftime the night his number was retired.
McNabb struggled to connect with Philadelphia from the very beginning. His selection by the Eagles at the draft was literally booed for reasons I don’t think he ever understood or got over.
The disconnect was more than that, though. Time and again, Donovan McNabb failed to take the blame for a bad loss. Philly fans don’t tolerate that. He eventually learned to give it lip service, but it never felt genuine. There were often long-winded explanations about a play or two that made it clear that someone else screwed up. McNabb frequently came off as a guy who was always praised growing up, constantly being told that he was a star. Criticism just seemed foreign to him.
Ultimately, though, I think his Super Bowl run and his relationship with Terrell Owens was the determining factor as to why many fans don’t think McNabb was a great quarterback.
McNabb was at his best when T.O. was an Eagle. In the one full season Owens played for Philadelphia, McNabb racked up his second most passing yards (3,875) in a single season despite playing 15 games. (He sat out a meaningless regular season finale.) He threw his most touchdowns (31) and won his most games (13).
Owens broke his leg in the 14th game of the season. In a rather amazing recovery, T.O. was able to play when the Eagles reached the Super Bowl that season. He even led the team in receiving with 9 catches and 122 yards in the loss.
The end of the game involved a late drive by the Eagles in which they desperately needed to be in the “hurry up” offense, but they seemed unable run it. Players later said McNabb was out of breath and struggled to call plays. Some said he threw up. I recall seeing film taken from a distance that made it seem like he did. The lack of clear footage of the huddle on that particular play in the game that annually has more cameras filming it than any other game all season is shady at best. McNabb denied getting sick.
The next off-season, Owens wanted a new contract, despite having just signed one with the Eagles the previous year. The Eagles acquired T.O. in a bizarre scenario involving his agent missing a deadline for him to become a free agent.
From the point of Owens’ injury through his contract demands, McNabb toed the company line. While Owens was out, McNabb consistently said the Eagles could win with the guys in the locker room. He also stayed out of the discussion about T.O.’s contract situation. All of this enraged Owens further. By most accounts, their relationship dissolved, and Owens made himself a problem at training camp to the point where Reid sent him home. He only played seven games for the Eagles that season, and moved on to Dallas the next season.
McNabb needed to do better. Yes, McNabb.
Was Owens wrong? Of course. By most accounts, he was unhinged.
Without Owens, the Eagles receivers in the locker room that season were essentially Todd Pinkston and James Thrash. McNabb’s failure to realize that keeping Owens happy was more important than worrying about those two was exemplary of his inability to be a leader. Owens set the team up as a number one seed in the playoffs. He was actually trying to come back from a broken leg in Week 14 by the Super Bowl. Throw him a bone.
Instead, McNabb only offered leadership clichés. It would have been easy to say, “We’re gonna miss T.O., and if we can get to the Super Bowl, it would be great if he’s ready to go.” During the contract squabble, maybe toss out, “T.O. makes us a better team.” But he never did, to the detriment of the team and McNabb’s career.
Philadelphia can only imagine how great the Eagles could’ve been with McNabb and Owens playing together for years.
It wouldn’t be fair to suggest McNabb never had any “big wins.” But the “big losses” seem to stand out more. The final Eagles game at Veterans Stadium – a loss to Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship – saw the offense put up only 10 points. McNabb had 243 passing yards, but they came on 26 of 49 passing with an interception. In another NFC Championship loss in Arizona, the Eagles scored just two field goals in the first half. They rallied to take a 25-24 lead in the 4th quarter, and McNabb had better numbers (3 TDs, 1 INT, 28-47 passing for 375 yards). Yet, the last real drive for the Eagles ended with four consecutive incomplete passes after reaching Arizona’s 47-yard line with a little more than 2 minutes left in the game.
The defense choked in Arizona. But great quarterbacks win that game.
Great quarterbacks show
leadership where McNabb never did. That’s why McNabb falls short as an all-time
great Eagles player.
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