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SO, IS McNABB ON CLOUD NO. 7?
Mom suggests team's success with Garcia bittersweet
By LES BOWEN
bowenl@phillynews.com
THIS HAS TO BE a strange situation for Donovan McNabb, who has lived through a few of those in recent years.
McNabb is rehabbing a torn ACL in his right knee while Jeff Garcia leads the Eagles into the playoffs. McNabb is a daily presence to his teammates - the rehab is being done at the NovaCare complex - but to the public, he has become invisible, by choice. Meanwhile, his backup has become the NFL's late-season sensation. A fan base that has often had issues with the Eagles' franchise quarterback, even as he appeared in five Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl, now is drawing unfavorable parallels between Mc-Nabb and Garcia.
If you're McNabb, is there a point where you're hoping Garcia doesn't do too well? You have to know already that if Garcia signs again with the Eagles, every pass you throw next fall will become a referendum on your leadership, your touch, your tenure.
An Eagles spokesman said yesterday that McNabb hasn't done a news conference since his Nov. 19 injury because he doesn't want to be a distraction as the Eagles try to wrap up the NFC East title Sunday against the visiting Atlanta Falcons. The spokesman said McNabb, who has done a few brief TV interviews, doesn't plan to speak in depth until the season is over.
But McNabb's mother, Wilma, nationally famous for her Campbell's Chunky Soup ads, addressed the subject yesterday on the family blog at donovanmcnabb.com.
"The win this week was great, and I could actually say that's what I wanted for Christmas," Wilma McNabb wrote. "Yes, now we have solidly beat the Cowboys with my son and without him. But I can hear you asking, mama McNabb, what are you really thinking? Well, here it is, the real deal. It's kind of bitter sweet for me, as my son, the quarterback, sits out on injured reserved watching the game during his rehab. I polled my family, too, and they feel the same. We want our team to win and even go to the Superbowl and win it in Miami, especially if they continue to play as they have. But oh oh, if they win the Superbowl without my son, what would be the real outcome with the fans? Will they crucify him? Maybe then the trade talks would begin. Off season madness, worse than last year's fiasco. But guess what, I guess I'll have to take the beating if it comes. I would have to hope that scenario of the madness would not happen or be that bad. Well, let's wait and see. Bitter sweet."
Wilma McNabb's feelings reflect the context of her son's history in Philadelphia, which started with him being booed by fans on draft day because he wasn't Ricky Williams. McNabb's teammates said yesterday that he has been supportive and excited during the four-game win streak that has taken them back to the playoffs after a 1-year absence.
"Donovan is a grown man and he understands what's going on," free safety Brian Dawkins said. "He's excited for what's going on with us. He's not in the background, backbiting and being upset. He's excited for what we're doing and also excited for what people were saying we weren't going to be able to do without him."
Obviously, how this success will affect McNabb isn't foremost in Garcia's mind as he prepares to lead the team against the Falcons.
"I don't really think about that and I can't think about that," Garcia, 4-1 as the starter, said yesterday. "I think about how I would be in his position, and I would be supportive of the team, first and foremost. And hopefully he is feeling that same way. I do believe that he is. I really believe that he is that type of guy - he's not necessarily threatened by his position, but more so looking at the accomplishments of the team.
"This is his position. I have a temporary hold on it. I'm just trying to do the best possible job that I can do to help this team win. And I think he's very supportive of that."
Garcia said he speaks with McNabb frequently in the training room.
"We don't necessarily discuss football," Garcia said. "The main thing he says to me is just, 'Handle your business. Keep doing what you're doing.' And my main thing is to let him know that we're all in this together. And he is helpful, even though he's not on the sidelines with us, and he is definitely a motivation, an inspiration to this team."
Coach Andy Reid said he isn't worried about McNabb's perspective.
"I talk to Donovan all the time and Donovan is one of Jeff's biggest fans," Reid said. "He's in here every day, encouraging people and being Donovan. He's pulling for the team. I don't think he's going to worry about the other thing [fan reaction]. He knows he's going to work like crazy and get himself back and ready to go."
As the winning continues, the question of Garcia's future here becomes more and more relevant.
"I'll really cross that bridge when the time comes," Garcia said. "It's not something that I'm too concerned with. I feel that I will have employment somewhere next year and I hope that it's here in Philadelphia."
Garcia's agent, Steve Baker, said he did not want to comment on any possible contract talks with the Eagles. Baker said playing in Philadelphia "has been an incredibly positive experience for Jeff." He also said he believes Garcia "has proven he can still play at a Pro Bowl level" as Garcia approaches his 37th birthday, Feb. 24.
Garcia has mentioned that having been a starter in losing situations in Cleveland and Detroit the previous two seasons, he is not looking to repeat those experiences. Given the uncertainty over whether McNabb would be ready for the start of the 2007 season, and the uncertainty over whether he would stay healthy, you'd have to think the Birds would be very interested in retaining Garcia, and that this situation would remain appealing for him - even if it's clear that a healthy McNabb will be No. 1 again. Sources close to situation have confirmed that speculation.
"I think whenever you've gone through the experiences like I have, playing the game of football, you really value the positive times," Garcia said yesterday. "You really value everything that you've gone through in order to get to points like this in your career. I realize that it's taken a lot of hard work and perseverance throughout my career to be able to scratch the surface, to be able to get into a position where I can compete at a high level.
"And being back in that position here with the Eagles has been an outstanding opportunity for me. Just to be surrounded by a group of guys like I have in that locker room, guys who go to war with you every single weekend, guys who represent themselves in a great way, take care of business on and off the field. It's a great family to be a part of, and I'm very fortunate for that."
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/16333184.htm
Mom suggests team's success with Garcia bittersweet
By LES BOWEN
bowenl@phillynews.com
THIS HAS TO BE a strange situation for Donovan McNabb, who has lived through a few of those in recent years.
McNabb is rehabbing a torn ACL in his right knee while Jeff Garcia leads the Eagles into the playoffs. McNabb is a daily presence to his teammates - the rehab is being done at the NovaCare complex - but to the public, he has become invisible, by choice. Meanwhile, his backup has become the NFL's late-season sensation. A fan base that has often had issues with the Eagles' franchise quarterback, even as he appeared in five Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl, now is drawing unfavorable parallels between Mc-Nabb and Garcia.
If you're McNabb, is there a point where you're hoping Garcia doesn't do too well? You have to know already that if Garcia signs again with the Eagles, every pass you throw next fall will become a referendum on your leadership, your touch, your tenure.
An Eagles spokesman said yesterday that McNabb hasn't done a news conference since his Nov. 19 injury because he doesn't want to be a distraction as the Eagles try to wrap up the NFC East title Sunday against the visiting Atlanta Falcons. The spokesman said McNabb, who has done a few brief TV interviews, doesn't plan to speak in depth until the season is over.
But McNabb's mother, Wilma, nationally famous for her Campbell's Chunky Soup ads, addressed the subject yesterday on the family blog at donovanmcnabb.com.
"The win this week was great, and I could actually say that's what I wanted for Christmas," Wilma McNabb wrote. "Yes, now we have solidly beat the Cowboys with my son and without him. But I can hear you asking, mama McNabb, what are you really thinking? Well, here it is, the real deal. It's kind of bitter sweet for me, as my son, the quarterback, sits out on injured reserved watching the game during his rehab. I polled my family, too, and they feel the same. We want our team to win and even go to the Superbowl and win it in Miami, especially if they continue to play as they have. But oh oh, if they win the Superbowl without my son, what would be the real outcome with the fans? Will they crucify him? Maybe then the trade talks would begin. Off season madness, worse than last year's fiasco. But guess what, I guess I'll have to take the beating if it comes. I would have to hope that scenario of the madness would not happen or be that bad. Well, let's wait and see. Bitter sweet."
Wilma McNabb's feelings reflect the context of her son's history in Philadelphia, which started with him being booed by fans on draft day because he wasn't Ricky Williams. McNabb's teammates said yesterday that he has been supportive and excited during the four-game win streak that has taken them back to the playoffs after a 1-year absence.
"Donovan is a grown man and he understands what's going on," free safety Brian Dawkins said. "He's excited for what's going on with us. He's not in the background, backbiting and being upset. He's excited for what we're doing and also excited for what people were saying we weren't going to be able to do without him."
Obviously, how this success will affect McNabb isn't foremost in Garcia's mind as he prepares to lead the team against the Falcons.
"I don't really think about that and I can't think about that," Garcia, 4-1 as the starter, said yesterday. "I think about how I would be in his position, and I would be supportive of the team, first and foremost. And hopefully he is feeling that same way. I do believe that he is. I really believe that he is that type of guy - he's not necessarily threatened by his position, but more so looking at the accomplishments of the team.
"This is his position. I have a temporary hold on it. I'm just trying to do the best possible job that I can do to help this team win. And I think he's very supportive of that."
Garcia said he speaks with McNabb frequently in the training room.
"We don't necessarily discuss football," Garcia said. "The main thing he says to me is just, 'Handle your business. Keep doing what you're doing.' And my main thing is to let him know that we're all in this together. And he is helpful, even though he's not on the sidelines with us, and he is definitely a motivation, an inspiration to this team."
Coach Andy Reid said he isn't worried about McNabb's perspective.
"I talk to Donovan all the time and Donovan is one of Jeff's biggest fans," Reid said. "He's in here every day, encouraging people and being Donovan. He's pulling for the team. I don't think he's going to worry about the other thing [fan reaction]. He knows he's going to work like crazy and get himself back and ready to go."
As the winning continues, the question of Garcia's future here becomes more and more relevant.
"I'll really cross that bridge when the time comes," Garcia said. "It's not something that I'm too concerned with. I feel that I will have employment somewhere next year and I hope that it's here in Philadelphia."
Garcia's agent, Steve Baker, said he did not want to comment on any possible contract talks with the Eagles. Baker said playing in Philadelphia "has been an incredibly positive experience for Jeff." He also said he believes Garcia "has proven he can still play at a Pro Bowl level" as Garcia approaches his 37th birthday, Feb. 24.
Garcia has mentioned that having been a starter in losing situations in Cleveland and Detroit the previous two seasons, he is not looking to repeat those experiences. Given the uncertainty over whether McNabb would be ready for the start of the 2007 season, and the uncertainty over whether he would stay healthy, you'd have to think the Birds would be very interested in retaining Garcia, and that this situation would remain appealing for him - even if it's clear that a healthy McNabb will be No. 1 again. Sources close to situation have confirmed that speculation.
"I think whenever you've gone through the experiences like I have, playing the game of football, you really value the positive times," Garcia said yesterday. "You really value everything that you've gone through in order to get to points like this in your career. I realize that it's taken a lot of hard work and perseverance throughout my career to be able to scratch the surface, to be able to get into a position where I can compete at a high level.
"And being back in that position here with the Eagles has been an outstanding opportunity for me. Just to be surrounded by a group of guys like I have in that locker room, guys who go to war with you every single weekend, guys who represent themselves in a great way, take care of business on and off the field. It's a great family to be a part of, and I'm very fortunate for that."
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/16333184.htm
