Let the Kevin Kolb era begin.
It seems like only yesterday that Donovan McNabb was being roundly booed by the Eagles’ faithful when they made him their top pick in the NFL Draft.
That was 11 years ago. The two sides never really reconciled.
Donovan McNabb no doubt will no doubt go down as one of the best Eagles quarterbacks of all time. And also one of the most controversial.
For some reason, I’ve just never been able to warm up to McNabb. Maybe it was the goofy faces. Maybe it was his annoying habit of smiling after missing a wide open receiver. Maybe it was his “needy” demeanor, one that demanded adulation and became petulant at criticism. Yo, pal, this is Philly. Check with Randall Cunningham or Ron Jaworski if you want proof of what goes with that territory.
McNabb put the Eagles on his back and carried them for much of those 11 years. But he never delivered the one thing the fans craved – a Super Bowl trophy. In fact, McNabb lost four different NFC title games – three of them when the Birds were the favorite.
Now he’s gone, and of all places, to Washington.
That tells me several things. One, it tells me the Eagles quickly realized the rest of the league did not value McNabb nearly as highly as they did. They got a second-round pick this year and a later picks next year. First-rounder? Forget about it.
The Eagles pulled the trigger on this deal in part because they likely were deathly afraid to be caught holding the bag (read McNabb) on draft day and no one offering anything better than that second-round pick.
They clearly no longer could bring McNabb back. They had made the decision to move forward with Kolb. That meant McNabb had to be dealt.
It also tells me a little bit about what the Eagles really think about McNabb. It tells me they are not exactly petrified about the prospect of playing him twice a year, as they will with him moving down I-95 to lead the Redskins.
Those two games suddenly take on an even greater impact that just the twice annual wars with an NFC East opponent.
If I’m at ESPN, I’m on the horn with Roger Goodell right now asking him to line up that Redskins vs. Eagles game at the Linc for the Monday night opener. Talk about your great theater. Fans will be making their calendar with the two Redskins games, just as they have for year with the clashes with the Cowboys.
The Phillies have been “painting the town red” this week as they count down to the opener today in D.C. against the Nationals. Maybe the Eagles just couldn’t resist joining the parade. Maybe the Nats could have McNabb throw out the first pitch. Expect it to be behind the guy, or at his ankles.
Eleven years ago, Donovan McNabb entered the Eagles world to a cacophony of boos. He spent more than a decade being alternately cheered and booed by the faithful.
Now it’s back to where he started. At some point this year Donovan McNabb will trot back onto the field at Lincoln Financial Field to a tumultous welcome, likely equal parts boos and cheers.
Some things never change.
The Donovan McNabb era is over. Let the Kevin Kolb era begin. Let’s hope it’s not the second coming of Bobby Hoying.
It seems like only yesterday that Donovan McNabb was being roundly booed by the Eagles’ faithful when they made him their top pick in the NFL Draft.
That was 11 years ago. The two sides never really reconciled.
Donovan McNabb no doubt will no doubt go down as one of the best Eagles quarterbacks of all time. And also one of the most controversial.
For some reason, I’ve just never been able to warm up to McNabb. Maybe it was the goofy faces. Maybe it was his annoying habit of smiling after missing a wide open receiver. Maybe it was his “needy” demeanor, one that demanded adulation and became petulant at criticism. Yo, pal, this is Philly. Check with Randall Cunningham or Ron Jaworski if you want proof of what goes with that territory.
McNabb put the Eagles on his back and carried them for much of those 11 years. But he never delivered the one thing the fans craved – a Super Bowl trophy. In fact, McNabb lost four different NFC title games – three of them when the Birds were the favorite.
Now he’s gone, and of all places, to Washington.
That tells me several things. One, it tells me the Eagles quickly realized the rest of the league did not value McNabb nearly as highly as they did. They got a second-round pick this year and a later picks next year. First-rounder? Forget about it.
The Eagles pulled the trigger on this deal in part because they likely were deathly afraid to be caught holding the bag (read McNabb) on draft day and no one offering anything better than that second-round pick.
They clearly no longer could bring McNabb back. They had made the decision to move forward with Kolb. That meant McNabb had to be dealt.
It also tells me a little bit about what the Eagles really think about McNabb. It tells me they are not exactly petrified about the prospect of playing him twice a year, as they will with him moving down I-95 to lead the Redskins.
Those two games suddenly take on an even greater impact that just the twice annual wars with an NFC East opponent.
If I’m at ESPN, I’m on the horn with Roger Goodell right now asking him to line up that Redskins vs. Eagles game at the Linc for the Monday night opener. Talk about your great theater. Fans will be making their calendar with the two Redskins games, just as they have for year with the clashes with the Cowboys.
The Phillies have been “painting the town red” this week as they count down to the opener today in D.C. against the Nationals. Maybe the Eagles just couldn’t resist joining the parade. Maybe the Nats could have McNabb throw out the first pitch. Expect it to be behind the guy, or at his ankles.
Eleven years ago, Donovan McNabb entered the Eagles world to a cacophony of boos. He spent more than a decade being alternately cheered and booed by the faithful.
Now it’s back to where he started. At some point this year Donovan McNabb will trot back onto the field at Lincoln Financial Field to a tumultous welcome, likely equal parts boos and cheers.
Some things never change.
The Donovan McNabb era is over. Let the Kevin Kolb era begin. Let’s hope it’s not the second coming of Bobby Hoying.
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