Stephen, G, I know you think Mcnabb receives too much criticism, but with any player who receives a lot of money and a huge contract, it comes with the territory.
Palmer doesn't get tons of criticism because the Bengals defense has stunk for years, not really giving them a chance to win. The truth is, Mcnabb is just not a Philly type of guy. Brian Dawkins is, but Mcnabb is not. He's not real emotional on the sidelines or at press conferences, and he tends to make excuses, as he did this past week. I remember when Jim McMahon was quarterback, and one game he just played awful and we lost. In the post game press conference, he said "I stunk the joint out. I was horrible, there is no excuse, and I apologize to the fans of Philadelphia." Guess how much reaction there was against him? None.
Let's not forget about a couple of these things.
1. The black on black crime comment, and Mcnabb telling Derrick Gunn "if you don't understand it it wasn't meant for you to understand." He said it in a real snotty, condescending tone. Gunn had asked him to explain the comment.
2. Regardless of whether he feels black QB's get more criticism..and he could be right, you DON'T say that as the leader of a football team. You're job is to bring people of all races, faiths, and backgrounds together and to be unified, and this does nothing towards that goal.
3. Remember after the Tampa game last year, when he threw to LJ Smith at the 3 before the the half and he was tacked in bounds. Mcnabb said "If I had to do it again I'd make the same throw." That's just stupid and not taking responsibility. With no timeouts, he had to throw the ball in the end zone or out of bounds. It was a dumb play and it cost us a FG.
4. Now he gets too much criticism, but didn't he also get tons of praise and credit when we were playing good? Again, as a leader on a football team, you don't take shots at other players or the organization by saying you get too much blame. He should know it is just the nature of the QB position. (By the way, Manning got plenty of criticism before he won a Super Bowl)
5. Remember when the whole TO thing happened? I expected teammates to FLOCK to Mcnabb's defense, but they did not. Which makes me think that TO was a problem, but that teammates thought Mcnabb was being oversensitive and that he should have just put it behind him.
Stephen,
First of all with regards to Palmer what does what you said have to do with him not being criticized for lack of leadership when Chad Johnson and he were arguing during the game and on the sidelines. Not one reporter questioned his leadership even though his team is going south and he's got his number one receiver in a war of words with him. Their argument during the game seemed a lot like Owens and McNabb but it wasn't treated the same.
Remember Palmer hasn't won one single playoff game and he was the number one pick in the draft, plus he's throwing to one of the best wide receiver tandems in the league. The Bengals are going to be out of the playoffs again this year.
Secondly, the black on black crime comment was blown up by all these people who could care less about the black on black crime that's going on here in Philadelphia. After the comment I couldn't believe all the people who never mention the black on black crime that goes on in the city and nation wide, but all of a sudden they were offended by the comment. I'm black and I knew what he meant by the black on black crime statement and I wasn't offended.
They happened to be a lot of the same ones who were supporting Owens as he exhibited the same type of erratic and out of control behavior that pushes so many of these young black kids on the unemployment line.
All this talk about leadership is a bunch of garbage as far as I'm concerned. It's all a matter of perception. As far as I'm concerned, Donovan reacts defensively to all the criticism he's received here in Philly. I talk to players all around the league who say that this city is the most negative place in the league. There are other young Eagles players who just shake their head at all the negativity around the sports in the city.
I've never heard people talk about the player as if his teammates were supposed to help him win.
