Donovan McNabb's critics say he is a choker. They say he can't get the job done in the big game with a championship on the line.
Of course his fans beg to differ and talk about all the big games during the season and playoff games he's had to win in order to get in those championship games.
In this decade there are only two quarterbacks who have started over 100 games and have a better winning percentage than McNabb.
Their names are Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. That's not bad company to be in.
His critics use as evidence the fact that he was intercepted in the Eagles final drive of the 2001 NFC Championship game. Aeneas Williams stepped in front of Freddie Mitchell and the Birds Super Bowl hopes were dashed.
His fans talk about the fourth-and-26 throw to Mitchell in the playoff game against the Packers, which helped the Birds get in place for a David Akers field goal.
Time had nearly expired on the clock as the Birds tied the Packers. They ultimately won the game in overtime with another Akers field goal.
The fact was that he was throwing to Mitchell, a guy who couldn't get a job in the league after being released by the Eagles.
Again and again McNabb fans contend that he hasn't had enough quality talent around him, especially at the wide receiver position.
They say his greatness has been shown by the consistency he has been able to take less talent as far as it will go.
They point out John Elway going to the Super Bowl three times in a row and losing.
The Elway Broncos first lost to the Giants 39-20, and Elway thew for 304 yards with with one interception and one touchdown pass.
It got worse. Next up, the Elway Broncos lost to the Redskins 42-10 and Elway was 14 fro 38 for 257 years with three interceptions and one touchdown pass.
The Elway Broncos lost to the 49ers 55-10. Elway was 10 out of 26 for 108 yards with two interceptions and zero touchdown passes.
Some of McNabb's critics consider Elway to be the NFL's greatest quarterback yet the first three times he went to the Super Bowl his team's were blown out and he stunk up the place.
Of course he won two Super Bowl after he got the league's best running game led by Terrell Davis. If quarterbacks win by themselves, why did the NFL's greatest quarterback need the league's best running game.
Back to the late game disappointments, McNabb was picked off by Bucanneer cornerback Ronde Barber at the end of the Tampa Bay loss. The Eagles were inside the Tampa ten-yard line when Barber picked off the pass and ran it back for a score.
McNabb threw three errant passes in the last series versus the Arizona Cardinals earlier this year. There was plenty of time left on the clock, but McNabb and his teammates couldn't get the job done.
Kevin Curtis did drop the final throw but McNabb missed a couple of receivers who were open in that last series.
McNabb fans emphasize that the last pass hit Curtis perfectly. Five couldn't have handed the ball any better.
Where do you stand? Can McNabb get it done in the clutch or is he a choker?
