No one else will ever wear No. 5 again for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Good.
That should not be construed to mean no one will ever again debate the merits of Donovan McNabb. There's end in sight to that.
McNabb was back yesterday for a press conference held by the Eagles to announce his number will be retired with a ceremony during the Birds' Sept. 19 home game vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. They just happen to be coached these days by a certain red-haired big guy.
Yes, that would be the very same Andy Reid who put his imprint on the Eagles franchise 14 years ago by making McNabb his very first draft pick, the second pick overall in the 1999 draft.
The Eagles selected the quarterback from Syracuse, one of a cadre of highly touted signal callers coming out that year. But it was not comparisons to any of the quarterbacks that set the stage for the persistent drama that formed the backdrop of McNabb's excellent career in Philly. Instead, it was a running back the Eagles did not take, much to the chagrin of a busload of fans who made the trek to New York, as well as the booming voice of the city's sports-loving mayor.
Ricky Williams had only middling success in the NFL. Donovan McNabb was a superstar. And probably one of the most misunderstood ones at that.
McNabb now owns most of the passing records for the Philadelphia Eagles. Over 11 years, he led the team to a tradition of excellence that included a couple of NFC title games and one ill-fated Super Bowl appearance.
The playoffs - something Eagles fans only dreamed about for years - became the norm in the Reid-McNabb Era.
Then a funny thing happened. The playoffs were no longer good enough. Fans demanded the team win in the playoffs. McNabb did that.
There is only one thing he did not do. And I am not talking about regurgitating in the Super Bowl.
I'm talking about winning one.
The Eagles fell to the Patriots in their only 'Super' appearance. The fans will never forgive Reid and McNabb for the way the Eagles played in the final quarter of that game, taking their time and consuming huge chunks of clock even though they were down by two scores. They came up five points short. The fans have never forgotten.
Yesterday, McNabb for some reason saw the need to apologize for not delivering on his promise to bring a Super Bowl championship - and the subsequent parade - to Broad Street.
He needn't have.
Maybe I'm mellowing in my old age. Or maybe I'm just not the rabid lunatic Eagles fan I once was. Donovan McNabb has nothing to apologize for. He is without question the best quarterback in Eagles history. Sorry, Jaws. It's not really even close.
Was he at times erratic? Sure. Did he throw an occasional ball at people's feet? Yes, and I was among those who cursed every time he did. But the truth is that stat is hugely over-inflated. Here's a few other things Donovan McNabb did during his career: In 2004 he set an NFL record with 24 consecutive completions. He now stands 12th in all-time wins; 17th in career passing yards; 22nd in career passing touchdowns; and ranks 24th in passer rating.
McNabb led the Eagles to five NFC championship games, including a remarkable four in a row. Granted, they lost two of those - to Tampa Bay in 2003 and Carolina in 2004 - in games most picked them to win.
I've made my peace with McNabb. Was he my favorite Eagle? Probably not.
Was he the best QB in Eagles history? Without question.
And there is one other thing that does not get said about McNabb nearly enough. He was a class act. Never once was his name linked to any kind of scandal. After every one of those tough losses, he stood and faced the questions.
In today's world of professional athletics, there is something to be said for that.
I can also now say this. I'm damn glad the Eagles did not take Ricky Williams with that draft pick,
Congratulations, Donovan. Thanks for the memories.
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