Since being drafted by Philadelphia in the 1999 draft, quarterback Donovan McNabb has helped the Eagles become one of the more consistent pro football teams in the age of parity.
McNabb led Philly to four straight NFC championship games, and to the Super Bowl in 2004. He is a five-time pro bowler and 2004 offensive player of the year. McNabb has thrown for over 28,625 yards, 190 touchdown passes and has a career passing rating of 86 in his 10-year career.
For most of his career, McNabb has never played with a legitimate No. 1 receiver other than the year-and-a-half he spent with Terrell Owens. The majority of football fans all know how that turned out in the end.
McNabb has been a lightning rod for the tough Philly media and the city’s abrasive fan base. Despite leading the team to four consecutive NFC title games, McNabb lost three of them and was labeled by many observers as a choke artist.
When the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl in 2004, but fell short to the Patriots, McNabb came under fire for his performance where he threw three interceptions.
After the fallout of the T.O. turmoil in Philly, the following season, there were eyebrows raised whether teammates had lost faith in McNabb as their general on the field. In addition, McNabb began to be plagued by injuries and failed to finish the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
Before the ‘07 season, the Eagles drafted a quarterback in the second round, which didn’t sit to well with McNabb. It led to speculation his days in Philly was numbered. McNabb struggled to regain his form during the early portion of the season.
The belief was that he came back too soon from the torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his right knee. McNabb came on strong at the end of the season, but Philly missed the playoffs for the second straight year.
This season, McNabb took heat for not knowing a regular season game could end in a tie following the Eagles’ 13-13 tie to the lowly Bengals in Week 11.
The following week McNabb was benched by long-time head coach Andy Reid at halftime of the Eagles’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The defeat dropped Philly to 5-5-1, a long shot to make the playoffs and it look liked the Eagles would miss the postseason for the third straight year.
However, McNabb used the benching as motivation and guided his Eagles to four wins in their last five games.
Philly got the help it needed to have a chance for a wild card spot in the final week of the regular season. The Eagles secured the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs with a 44-6 stomping over their rival and over-hyped Dallas Cowboys at home.
On the sideline during the game, McNabb was seen being jovial as he was performing a little dance around his teammates.
During the controversy, which swirled about his benching, McNabb handled the situation like a professional. Just like the way he has done throughout his career, like the T.O. incident or the Rush Limbaugh dilemma.
His laid back demeanor may have led some Philly fans to believed he is too nonchalant at times, but his even keel personality has helped him survive and thrive in a city that shows no Brotherly Love on many occasions.
Hopefully, this is the year McNabb and the Eagles, fly away with a Super Bowl ring.
Contact sports reporter Corey Davis at 997-3111, ext. 44; e-mail cdavis@yourdailyjournal.com
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