In forcing the contract thing, McNabb is pushing the issue on his future. And he might not win. Don’t be shocked if he’s shown the door. The last thing they want is constant indecision about the QB.
Even though he already has one, Donovan McNabb wants a new contract. And he wants to retire as an Eagle. He also wants more weapons – a familiar refrain from McNabb at this time of year – but that was secondary to the notion that he doesn’t want to leave Philadelphia and wants to remain the quarterback in town until his playing days are done. “I want to retire as an Eagle,” McNabb said Friday to a small gathering of Philadelphia-area reporters in the Super Bowl media room. “I’ve had to answer (these questions) for 20 weeks this year and all last year as well. It’s tiresome but you know what, I’d rather people ask me every year than me be somewhere else and have people ask me how it was in Philly. – From Times Herald
The grumblings reached a crescendo when he was benched in Week 12. They picked up again this week in Tampa but came with a twist as Donovan McNabb made the rounds at the Super Bowl XLIII media center. “I want to retire as an Eagle,” McNabb said. – From ESPN
The fictional pool party Donovan McNabb envisioned yesterday sounded a whole lot more colorful than what the real contract talks between Eagles’ management and its quarterback are likely to resemble. McNabb suggested that he, Andy Reid and team president Joe Banner were going swimming in Tampa, with Reid “wearing a Speedo,” Banner carrying “a little float,” and Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie barbecuing, as they hashed out contract details. This would clear a major offseason hurdle for the team, and provide some memorable video footage, as well. – From Philadelphia Daily News
Dude, you lose the game and get your lawn trashed? What’s up with that? I can see if the Cardinals had lost, but they didn’t.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb recently had to play defense at his offseason home in Chandler. Two Arizona Cardinals fans hung their team’s flag in a tree and burned “Go Cards,” “Go Kurt” and “I heart AZ” in McNabb’s yard with diesel fuel, Chandler police Sgt. Joe Favazzo said Tuesday. Favazzo said the fans hung the flag Thursday, and McNabb laughed it off and even left it hanging. Then the fans returned Saturday and left a cardboard box in the driveway with “Go Cards” written on one side and “Beat Philly” on the other. McNabb laughed that off, too, when he discovered it at about midnight, Favazzo said. But McNabb stopped laughing when he went outside Saturday morning, smelled diesel fuel and realized someone had burned Cardinals cheers into his lawn, causing about $2,000 in damage. – From ESPN
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb recently had to play defense at his offseason home in Chandler. Two Arizona Cardinals fans hung their team’s flag in a tree and burned “Go Cards,” “Go Kurt,” and “I heart AZ” in McNabb’s yard with diesel fuel, Chandler police Sgt. Joe Favazzo said Tuesday. Favazzo said the fans hung the flag Thursday, and McNabb laughed it off and even left it hanging. – From SI
Willis McGahee was told by doctors that he should make a full recovery from a fierce helmet-to-helmet hit he took in the AFC Championship Game. McGahee had to be carted off the field. His team, the Baltimore Ravens, lost.
“> Anquan Boldin is unhappy with his involvement in the Arizona offense. The Cards went big-time to Larry Fitzgerald in last week’s victory that got them to the Super Bowl. Perhaps Boldin should be happy his team won more than his own personal playing time.
More complaining is coming out of Dallas where some players are privately saying that Tony Romo didn’t work hard enough in practice, and the team set up a different standard for him.
With the addition of Dom Capers as defensive coordinator, the Packers are talking about switching to the 3-4. Unfortunately, some of the Packers best talent – Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins might not be good fits. Kampman, at 265 pounds, might have to move to a hybrid LB/DE type player.
The Eagles are saying all the right things about Donovan McNabb and head coach Andy Reid – they’ll be back, no changes, etc. But don’t be surprised if both are gone.
Well this is one that few people predicted. The Cardinals are riding the hot hand of Kurt Warner and WR Larry Fitzgerald – and since they are in the bowl for the very first time – you can’t knock the results. WR Larry Fitzgerald was unstoppable – a star making day for the big receiver. Contrats to the Cardinals.
For the Eagles, they got a lot of big numbers, but much of it while behind. Don’t be surprised to see McNabb and Reid on the way out of Philly this offseason in an attempt to reboot the franchise.
How many times did you say “wow” or “whoa” while watching Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on Sunday? Fitzgerald (pictured) teamed with Kurt Warner to lead the Cardinals to a 32-25 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC championship. Warner threw three first-half TDs to Fitzgerald, who scored on plays of 1, 9 and 62 yards to give the Cards a 24-6 halftime lead. Fitzgerald would later make three receptions on a fourth-quarter drive that led to the game-winning TD. In all, Fitzgerald finished with nine catches for 152 yards, while Warner finished 21-of-28 for 279 yards and four TDs. – From Sporting News
That’s not a mirage rising out of the desert, folks. It’s the Arizona Cardinals soaring to their first Super Bowl. Yes, the Cardinals, founding members of the NFL, but historically among the most dysfunctional of franchises, finally have joined the big boys. Capitalizing on Larry Fitzgerald’s three first-half touchdown receptions, then coolly marching downfield to Kurt Warner’s 8-yard scoring pass to rookie Tim Hightower with 2:53 left, they beat the Philadelphia Eagles 32-25 Sunday for the NFC championship. – From ESPN
Shane Reichenbacher stomped, danced and exchanged high fives with anyone with a hand. That’s what watching the Larry Fitzgerald show will do to you. Reichenbacher, a life-long Cardinals fan who moved to Phoenix in 1988, the same year the team came, said at halftime he liked the Cards’ chances with a 21-6 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles and 30 minutes to play. “This is unreal!” he said, after watching Larry Fitzgerald score three touchdowns in the first half and the Cardinals defense hold the Eagles to two field goals. – From East Valley Tribune
The Steelers and Cardinals can look toward the Super Bowl, but all they, as well as the Ravens and Eagles have questions looming this offseason. Here’s the burning questions and decisions for the 2009 season.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cards have questions about the future of their heralded WR corps, but nothing hangs over them like the impending free agency of QB Kurt Warner. Warner was supposed to be the vet who baby sat Matt Leinart. But Warner outplayed the #1 pick out of USC the past two seasons and this year turned in an MVP-quality performance. But at 39, is Warner the future in the Cards? The answer is yes. The Cardinals should score him a two-year deal and trade Leinart (who won’t want to sit around as a backup). Warner has earned the job. He has connected with the coaching staff and the receiver corps. The club would be wise to ink him to a deal and make another high-powered push toward the playoffs, using the draft to fortify the leaky defense. This team, more than any others, has questions, and will be toughest to keep together due to impending free agency and significant needs. The Super Bowl appearance should almost guarantee a return for Warner.
Baltimore Ravens
Nothing personifies the Ravens defense like its linebackers. Pro Bowlers Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis are both unrestricted free agents this year. Lewis, while aging, is still one of the best. While some of his physical skills have eroded, the coaching staff plays to his strengths and Lewis works within the system. Watch for him to resign a deal to keep him in Baltimore for the rest of his career. He should have a couple of excellent years left – the key will be for him to let it go when he can’t step up like he used to. Happily, that time hasn’t come yet. Suggs is a different story – young, fast and productive. His pass rush ability has netted 53 sacks in his six years, someone will want the man for his ability to get to the QB. The Ravens are wary of overpaying, however. They may give him the franchise tag and ride him another year, but don’t be surprised if he leaves, as the team feels it has enough stars to get by without him. While the Ravens will need to settle on a RB next year, the play of rookie QB Joe Flacco has to be encouraging for the team, as no matter what happens, they should improve offensively in 2009.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles offseason will not focus on impending free agents (such as long time safety Brian Dawkins), but instead on coach Andy Reid and QB Donovan McNabb. Both have been lightning rods for criticism the past few years. Many feel Reid has overstayed his welcome, and that McNabb doesn’t have the ability to ‘win the big one’. Earlier this season, McNabb was benched for the first time in his NFL career. There were rumblings of a trade (Minnesota was one popular destination). With the lose to the Cardinals, owner Jeff Lurie may decide it’s time to reboot the franchise, and send Reid and his star QB packing. Watch for a bloodletting in Philly.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers continue to play Steelers ball. They pound the ball, try and control the game, don’t make mistakes and win with smart play and tough defense. That said, the one thing they lack is that big-play ability at WR and RB. Their longest run last year was 34 yards. They had only one pass reception over 50 yards. RB Willie Parker looks like he’s slowing down, and his understudy, Mewelde Moore, is strictly a change of pace guy. Pittsburgh likes to build through the draft, and watch for them to try and land a breakaway type back, or perhaps a big back that can take the rock for 25 times a game, with Parker relegated to situational duty. The team’s top-flight defense will make the Steelers a contender in 2009, no matter who’s on the offensive side of the ball.
The Eagles let the Viks hang around for this one. Huge play by Westbrook. Tarvaris Jackson simply does not look like a good enough player to lead a team deep into the playoffs.
For the better part of Sunday’s National Football Conference wild-card game, the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense managed merely three field goals during an afternoon of frustration against an injury-depleted Minnesota Vikings defense. Philadelphia led by 2 points only because cornerback Asante Samuel returned an interception for a touchdown, but the Vikings appeared one big Adrian Peterson play away from stealing the game. Then the Eagles turned to Brian Westbrook, their gifted runner and receiver who spent much of the season battling injuries. With less than seven minutes to play, Westbook took a short pass from Donavan McNabb, turned upfield, juked free and dashed through the Minnesota secondary for a 71-yard touchdown. That was enough for the Eagles to finish off the Vikings, 26-14, before a boisterous, white-towel-waving crowd of 61,746 at the Metrodome. – From NY Times
Brian Westbrook took a short screen pass 71 yards for a touchdown to shatter a two-point second-half deadlock with 6 1/2 minutes to play, and the Philadelphia Eagles went on to post a 26-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC Wild Card bout. Following a 16-14 Philadelphia halftime lead, neither team was able to alter the scoreboard until the Eagles started their fourth drive of the second half with a little under seven minutes to play. – From Sports Network
Donovan McNabb elbowed his way through a pack of his teammates in the first quarter and grabbed Brian Westbrook by the helmet. McNabb held Westbrook in a headlock all the way to the sideline, and Westbrook played along. The tandem’s second touchdown of the game had done wonders to lighten the mood in a stadium expecting the ugly fallout of McNabb’s benching last Sunday. – From the NY Times
SUDDENLY, NOTHING was a problem for the Eagles last night, in a 48-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Third-and-1? Kyle Eckel in a cameo, up the gut for 2. Third-and-23? Throw it to DeSean Jackson and watch him turn the corner for 24. – From the Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was benched after the first half of Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens following a miserable performance in which he committed three turnovers and failing to produce any points. – from AP
