So much for the love affair between Philadelphia and Michael Vick.
I’m not talking about the fans. Thursday night’s debut at the Linc brought out only a handful of folks both pro and con on the notorious dog ring operator.
I’m talking about the guy just two numbers down from No. 7. That would be No. 5.
Maybe you’ve heard of him. His name is Donovan McNabb.
McNabb was outspoken in putting out the story that it was his idea to sign Vick. He was the one who put the idea in coach Andy Reid’s head.
He’s the one who pushed the idea of offering the troubled one-time All-Pro a second chance.
That lasted about six plays.
TV cameras caught a clearly agitated McNabb gesturing on the sidelines Thursday night during the Eagles’ exhibition game against the Jaguars.
The game marked the return of Vick after a two-year hiatus in which he was doing a stint in federal prison.
Vick trotted onto the field on the second play – to a rousing ovation from the stands.
Before the end of the first half, it was clear McNabb had seen more than enough of the great Michael Vick experiment.
He gave the classic hand-across-the-throat gesture to offensive coordinator Marty Monhinweg on the Birds’ sideline.
The weird thing is, McNabb might be right. His complaint is that the offense has yet to develop a rhythm and ability to sustain long drives, converting third downs in the process.
He has a point. I have a theory about preseason games. All you really want to see is at one point to have your starting offensive and defensive units playing well.
When it comes to offense, McNabb and the Eagles are still waiting. The Vick sideshow isn’t helping.
McNabb is not scheduled to play at all Thursday night in the exhibition finale against the Jets.
Vick will not be eligible for the first few regular season games, courtesy of a suspension that may be shortened by NFL czar Roger Goodell.
Maybe by then just exactly how the Eagles will use Vick will be sorted out.
For McNabb’s sake, we hope so.
The guy’s ego is more fragile than all that sand they keep dumping on the Jersey beaches every year, only to see it washed out with the first big storm of the season.
You can bet that once Vick is on the sideline, the first time McNabb throws one of his trademark two-hoppers to an open wide receiver, he will hear the same chant that rang out at the Linc Thursday night.
“We want Vick.”
It will not be music to McNabb’s ears.
And he might be left wondering what he was thinking about in pushing so hard to get Vick on the Eagles’ roster.
For his part, Mornhinweg said he understands McNabb’s frustration, but doesn’t think it’s going to be a big problem.
Yeah, right.
Has anyone - Donovan first and foremost – forgotten that No. 5 was booed lustily by the local zealots on Draft Day. He hasn’t exactly forgotten about that. Something tells me the Vick fiasco is headed down the same road.
I’m not talking about the fans. Thursday night’s debut at the Linc brought out only a handful of folks both pro and con on the notorious dog ring operator.
I’m talking about the guy just two numbers down from No. 7. That would be No. 5.
Maybe you’ve heard of him. His name is Donovan McNabb.
McNabb was outspoken in putting out the story that it was his idea to sign Vick. He was the one who put the idea in coach Andy Reid’s head.
He’s the one who pushed the idea of offering the troubled one-time All-Pro a second chance.
That lasted about six plays.
TV cameras caught a clearly agitated McNabb gesturing on the sidelines Thursday night during the Eagles’ exhibition game against the Jaguars.
The game marked the return of Vick after a two-year hiatus in which he was doing a stint in federal prison.
Vick trotted onto the field on the second play – to a rousing ovation from the stands.
Before the end of the first half, it was clear McNabb had seen more than enough of the great Michael Vick experiment.
He gave the classic hand-across-the-throat gesture to offensive coordinator Marty Monhinweg on the Birds’ sideline.
The weird thing is, McNabb might be right. His complaint is that the offense has yet to develop a rhythm and ability to sustain long drives, converting third downs in the process.
He has a point. I have a theory about preseason games. All you really want to see is at one point to have your starting offensive and defensive units playing well.
When it comes to offense, McNabb and the Eagles are still waiting. The Vick sideshow isn’t helping.
McNabb is not scheduled to play at all Thursday night in the exhibition finale against the Jets.
Vick will not be eligible for the first few regular season games, courtesy of a suspension that may be shortened by NFL czar Roger Goodell.
Maybe by then just exactly how the Eagles will use Vick will be sorted out.
For McNabb’s sake, we hope so.
The guy’s ego is more fragile than all that sand they keep dumping on the Jersey beaches every year, only to see it washed out with the first big storm of the season.
You can bet that once Vick is on the sideline, the first time McNabb throws one of his trademark two-hoppers to an open wide receiver, he will hear the same chant that rang out at the Linc Thursday night.
“We want Vick.”
It will not be music to McNabb’s ears.
And he might be left wondering what he was thinking about in pushing so hard to get Vick on the Eagles’ roster.
For his part, Mornhinweg said he understands McNabb’s frustration, but doesn’t think it’s going to be a big problem.
Yeah, right.
Has anyone - Donovan first and foremost – forgotten that No. 5 was booed lustily by the local zealots on Draft Day. He hasn’t exactly forgotten about that. Something tells me the Vick fiasco is headed down the same road.
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