APS Editorial: Defending Donovan

Am I a Philly homer? Yes.

Does that cloud my ability to call it straight down the middle? No.

The other night, my buddy Brandon 'Big D' Dietz sent me a message on myspace following the Eagles-Cowboys game that was your typical Cowboy bullshit....think Emmitt Smith's commentary, only in English. It was 'TO all day...blah blah blah...Donovan McNabb is the most overhyped QB since Kyle Boller."

What?

You're shitting me, right? Kyle Boller? Are you smoking crack? Someone call the rehab facility, Dietzy is messing with that freebase shit again!!!

Ive been brooding over it for a day or two now, and Ive about got the shits of hearing it. SO Im going to set the record straight once and for all. McNabb is EASILY one of the top 25 quarterbacks to EVER play the game, and as far as the modern era goes, hes one of the 15 best- and easily top five for this decade. Anyone who thinks differently is either a complete idiot or doesn't have a firm grasp on what football is really about.

Lets take a look at the facts, shall we...

1. McNabb was not only the best QB, but the best player in his draft class...

The 1999 NFL Draft was supposed to be so deep at QB that it would rival the 1983 draft as the best of all time. I remember actually thinking (at age 17 mind you) that Akili Smith was the best QB, and like other Philly fans, I wanted Ricky Williams too. I was aggravated when we drafted McNabb out of Syracuse. Look at the other QBs taken in that draft: Tim Couch (Bust-Retired), Daunte Culpepper (retired), Akili Smith (Bust-played in CFL), Cade McNown (Bust-Retired), Shaun King (ESPN analyst), Joe Germaine (Arena Football), Aaron Brooks (unemployed), Kevin Daft (retired), Michael Bishop (AFL & CFL), Chris Greisen (Arena League) and Scott Covington (retired). Only Culpepper made enough impact not to be labeled a flop, as he ended up being a flash-in-the-pan, putting up some solid seasons before injuries and being mysteriously blackballed.

2. McNabb is still an elite QB in the NFL...

Five Pro Bowl appearances. 6-4 in playoff appearances. Thats ten playoff games hes led the team into, which is only behind Favre, Brady and Peyton Manning out of all active QBs. He has the lowest TD/INT ratio of any QB in NFL history. Four consecutive NFC Championship appearances, even in three losing efforts, is in all likelihood (with the exception of Brady, Favre, Manning) better than whoever is under center for your team. Also, as far as the NFC is concerned, he is statistically better than any NFC QB that played in the Super Bowl during his career (Chris Chandler, Kurt Warner, Kerry Collins, Brad Johnson, Jake Delhomme, Matt Hasselbeck, Rex Grossman and Eli Manning). I know McNabb hasnt won the big one, but are you going to tell me that Trent Dilfer or Mark Rypien belong in the Hall of Fame more than Dan Marino and Jim Kelly? McNabb's career is far from over at this point, you should keep in mind that John Elway was on the losing end of THREE SUPER BOWLS (XXI, XXII, XXIV) and the 1991 AFC Championship Game before rattling off two Super Bowl wins to end his 16 year career. Its funny, but most of you probably forgot about those losses.

3. He's injury prone...



Okay, Ill give you that. In '02 he missed 6 games with a broken ankle. In 2005, after the Owens fallout, he missed 7 games due to the sports hernia. Not having fully recovered from that, in 2006 he tore his ACL and missed the final 6 games. Any expert will tell you that an ACL takes a full year to two years to completely recover from. Ask Carson Palmer. He was 8-6 as the starter last season and finished the season with some strong outings. Im sure you all will give Tom Brady a free pass next season when he comes back significantly weaker than what you're used to.

4. He's done it without a major weapon at wide reciever....

Aside from Terrell Owens (04-05), name the leading reciever for the Philadelphia Eagles at any given point throughout his career? Torrance Small (1999), Chad Lewis (2000), James Thrash (2001), Todd Pinkston (2002-03), Reggie Brown (2006), Kevin Curtis (2007). Not exactly a whos who of fantasy football, huh? Four NFC title games, five Pro Bowls, and one of the best records in the NFL over the last decade with that supporting cast. It reminds me of when I was a kid and saw that they never tried to put a decent offense around Randall Cunningham. Hmmm, geriatric Herschel Walker? Keith Byars? Mid Level recievers Calvin Williams and Fred Barnett. Yeah, sure they set him up to win big time. Only difference is that this team has usually had a damn good O-Line to protect 5, unlike the the swiss cheese line they used to protect QB Eagles. Hopefully the emergence of Brian Westbrook and the development of Desean Jackson will make the puzzle complete soon.

5. In an era of overhyped crybabies who cant handle the pressure, Donovan has endured PHILLY for 10 seasons...
Vince Young, you think your situation is bad. Sunshine, you would have offed yourself on draft day if you played for us. Im serious, this is the toughest city to play for. Our fans are bitter, spiteful, brutish hooligans. Our media does its damndest to put superstars under a microscope until we run them out of town (see: Barkley, Charles; Iverson, Allen; Cunningham, Randall). Ive said it a thousand times, we dont DESERVE to have McNabb, who has endured WAY more bullshit than the average NFL quarterback should. He survived the boos on draft day, Rush Limbaugh, the TO fiasco, the Super Bowl, the Madden Curse, the fans pulling for Jeff Garcia to take over, drafting Kevin Kolb and the omnipresent trade rumors every damn season that are ALMOST ALWAYS started by the Philly Inquirer OR Sal Paolantonio-and he's done it with a smile on his face. Do you know how much easier it would be for him to play in Miami, Kansas City, Baltimore, Chicago or any other place that is a QB wasteland. He would be elected mayor the first freakin' day--but not here, not Philly. Our collective fanbase is too stupid to admit that McNabb is the greatest QB this team has ever had, and we are in for a rude awakening once he is gone. Remember life before McNabb? Rodney Peete, Bobby Hoying, The Detmer Brothers, Doug Pederson?? Yeah, brace yourselves for a reality like that once number 5 is gone. There we will be, all with bags on our heads again, watching our team go 4-12 year in and year out, then what?

We will retire his number, talk about the good old days when we were contenders, and wish we didnt treat the poor guy like shit when all he ever did was win.

Thats all.

Uh...yeah...

Desean Jackson: I need an adult!!! I need an adult!!!

Thanks to Deadspin.com for the incriminating pic of our Coach Reid going all Canteen Boy on our new star wideout.

Patriot Blues Part 1....

See folks, real life is alot like the movies. Remember Varsity Blues? That movie about the West Texas football team that was led by a vindictive evil coach, also had the superstar quarterback with the hot girlfirend who just happened to get hurt. Yeah, and then the backup comes out of nowhere to become the star of the team. Turns out, thats how its working in New England these days....

In America we have laws.
Laws against killing. Laws against stealing.
It's accepted that, as a member of society, you will live by these laws.
In Foxborough, Massachusetts, there's another society that has its own laws.
Football is a way of life.

Coach Belichick: (at Pep Rally) Tonight we play Kansas City. Tonight, we beat Kansas City. In my years of coaching in New England, I have brought three Super Bowls and four AFC Titles. Count them! And this year, with your support for this great team, I will bring number four. Go, Pats ! Go, Pats! Now I present to you our captain, Tom Brady. Let's hear it !


Tom Brady: (thunderous applause). Last night I was lying in bed, and I had a dream we were beating Kansas City by ten...but I woke up kinda sad (girls go awwww), cause I know we can beat Kansas City by way more than that.

Chiefs vs. Patriots

Commentators: Now you have Matt Cassell coming in, who hasnt started a game since high school. He was a backup to both Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC. You have to wonder if this guy is even worth the charmin he wipes with....

(Cassell throws a touchdown to Moss)

Good Lord, Belichick pulls out another one. Where did this kid come from?

Matt Cassell: Holy shit!







Doctors: Looks like Brady is out for a year to year and a half. We removed a significant ammount of scar tissue.

Belichick: He never told me anything.

Cassell gives Giselle a ride to Wes Welkers party...

Giselle: So hows things with you and Lauren. Is there a future?? (changing clothes in car)

Matt: (trying not to look) Uh, yeah. I mean we are married. We've been together since college. How about you and Tom, you love eachother, right?

Giselle: Things change, Matt. Youre the starting quarterback now. I dont really want to think about it. Are you coming in?

Matt: No. I just need to clear my head, with Tom being all fucked up and all.

Giselle: You know, Matt, you dont always have to do the right thing.

Matt goes to see his wife, Lauren...

Lauren: Heard you played a great game tonight.

Matt: Yeah, it was strange.

Lauren: Strange being a god?

Matt: I dont know, I mean, we did win, you know?

Lauren: You want me to come out?

Matt: No, I think Im just going to walk around.


The following week, struggling with stardom, Matt visits Giselle...

Matt: Am I too late?

Giselle: No come on in!

Matt: Uh, nice house.

Giselle: Thanks, Its weird having you here.

Matt: Yeah I feel like Im doing something illegal.

Giselle: Not yet...Look at me Im a mess. Nobody ever sees me like this.

Matt: I think its the best Ive seen you look.

Giselle: Aww, youre so sweet, Matt. Im gonna go make us some ice cream sundaes. You want one?

Matt: Yeah sure.

Okay, I couldnt find a picture of Giselle in a whipped cream bikini, if I did Id have more readers...

Matt: I, uh I cant. Its just its you and theres Tom. I dont know if I love Lauren but I know I dont love you. What if Tom loves you?

Giselle: It was never about love, Matt. It was about getting out of New England. Now hes gonna have to stay here and coach JV football and manage Wal Mart. I just wanted to go with you.

Matt: Youll get out of New England. Youre smart enough to do that on your own.

Giselle: (sobs) Thanks.

The next day at Practice...

Wes Welker: Bitches are all just panty droppers. You give them percocet, two vicodins and a couple of beers and the panties just drop. Its very nice.

Matt Light: You think youll enjoy prison?

Wes Welker: I dont know.

Part 2 later this season.....

I like you, DeSean Jackson, but Im not sure I can commit...

Sure, you were a great reciever/returner in college, worthy of a high second round pick--but its not you.

Its me.

You see, DeSean, as an Eagles fan after all Ive been through its really hard for me to just open up and pin all my hopes on you. I know your type...and I just dont want to get stuck in another fan-to-man relationship just to be let down. Here in Philly, we have a bad track record. Ive been burned before in situations like this.

In 2000 we drafted Todd Pinkston 36th overall, and that didnt work out because he was a pussy. When he wasnt dropping passes, he was injured.

Then there was that whole thing where we fell hard for Freddie Mitchell (1st round, 25th overall), who had the size, the speed and all the shit talking ability you would expect from an elite reciever...except he wasnt very good. Sure, we had 4th-and-26, and he caught 2 TDs in a divisional playoff game, but wasnt ever truly consistent....actually, aside from those two highlights he was just dogshit awful. The worst part is that we passed over Reggie Wayne, Chad Johnson Ocho Psycho, Chris Chambers and Steve Smith for this shithead. That hurts the heart man. Hurts. The. Heart. Those four recievers are all Pro Bowlers...Freddie disappeared and is now a substitute teacher at Mishawaka High School in Indiana. I can only assume he tries to pick up underage girls with his NFC Championship ring.

Look, I know youre not like those other guys. Youre tougher than Pinky. Youre smarter than FredEx. We need a big play guy though, and youre only 5'9" 175. Dont get me wrong, youre one of the fastest players in the game and will totally fuck shit up in the open field, but youre smaller than our kicker. Coach Reid doesnt start rookies, though...youll probably not play unless something catostrophic happens like, Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis both get hurt at the same time.....

Kevin Curtis (sports hernia)
Reggie Brown (pulled hamstring)

Shit.

Looks like you might get some playing time. Remember, nobody expects too much from you. Just go out there and play a good game, dont get carried away and try to make the highlights. It takes a reciever at least 3 seasons to master this offenisve system....

6 catches - 106 yards. 47 yard reception on his first career catch.
8 returns - 97 yards 203 total yards.


Dont let this be a fluke DeSean. Dont you toy with my emotions...