McNabb has to Stay

I’m  a little confused on the Donovan McNabb situation right now.  There is a ton of talk about the Eagles jettisoning him after this year.  But it’s coming from media outlets like the Philly Daily News, which we all know needs to sell newspapers right now.

But still, both local and national outlets think it’s a foregone conclusion that McNabb is traded after this year and, personally, I think that’s ridiculous.  Could it happen?  Sure, but it would be moronic.  
 
I was just shirking my regular work responsibilities and sifting through the message boards on PhiladelphiaEagles.com.  I think it’s safe to say that the average IQ of some of those posters is less than McNabb’s jersey number.  It’s not everyone, but it’s enough.  These people are parroting the media (and some going even further) and calling for McNabb’s head on the chopping block.  If you are one of these people, then I need you to close your eyes and think of a number.  1998.
 
We have become drunk to McNabb’s elite status and forget just how good he is.  Has he at his best this year?  Nope, we can all agree on that.  Is he still well above average?  Absolutely.  He won’t be fully healthy until next year, that’s a fact.  If the Eagles defense found a way to make one play on the last drive against the Bears, are we even talking about this?  Or are we talking about how McNabb found a way to get it done (yet again) when he had to?  
 
Going back to 1998, I want everyone to really think and remember what Sunday was like. Bobby Hoying didn’t so much look five yards down the field.  A five-yard gain was a thing of beauty back then.  Offensive coordinator Dana Bible was stripped of his play-calling duties and replaced with Bill Musgrave.  I remember how they were talking about going to five-wide receiver sets.  With what?! They didn’t even have two WR’s (Jeff Graham was useless and Irvin Fryar was at the end) that could play football, let alone spreading out five.  What a joke.  I remember thinking it was quite possibly the worst offense I had ever seen.  If you think 2-4 is frustrating, 3-13 with blowout after blowout is much worse.  
 
And oh did they get blown out.  38-0 against Warren Moon and the Seahawks on opening day was a nice one.  I remember rookie RB Ahman Green getting 100 yards and a TD on six carries.  But it didn’t stop there that year.  34-0 on Monday Night at home against Dallas, I loved that one. 20-0 at the NY Giants.  28-3 at the Washington Redskins.  These games were over before they started.
 
When McNabb starts a game, you know you always have a shot to win.  Will he win every time?  Of course not, but that’s a luxury that few others can boast. All of you people calling for McNabb to get the boot, can you say the same for Kevin Kolb?  Can you say that you have a chance every time out to win with Kolb?  Maybe one day that will be said, but it won’t be this year or next year I promise you that.  
 
Eagle Nation has become spoiled by McNabb, who did so much with so little over the years. There shouldn’t be any talk of him leaving until after the 2008 season.  Fans of other teams around the league think Eagles fans who don’t want McNabb are certifiable lunatics.  They’d take him in a heartbeat.  Getting rid of him means officially starting over. Know that for sure.  They might as well dump Westbrook too, who would just be wasting his talents and flailing about on a terrible team.
 
The NFL is a league of parity and full of garbage teams.  The Eagles aren’t far off, but they are off.  I don’t think the Giants and Redskins are that good, but they’ve been just good enough to beat up on bad teams.  There is a fine line right now in this league between finding ways to win and ways to lose.  A 100% healthy McNabb would be able to push them over the top, but they don’t have that right now.  After all those years that McNabb carried so-so talent, he needs a little help now.  I don’t think it’s too much to ask to get him some.  
 
Looking at the losses this year, would you blame the Green Bay game on #5?  He was good enough to win, it was the punt returners that weren’t.  No one was good in the Redskins game.  He was sacked 12 times against the Giants and the coaches refused to adjust. His fault?  Didn’t Reid get the memo that he has a bum knee and can’t run like he used to right now?  And I already talked about the Bears game.  One defensive play at the end and we aren’t even talking about McNabb right now.
 
This season isn’t on McNabb, so let’s find somewhere else to direct the outrage.  
 
micahw@feverpitchmedia.com