First, FOX sideline reporter Pam Oliver says Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb told her, "point-blank ... my knee is not an issue ... [and the next place I go] I will win." Then McNabb denied ever making such statements (and Oliver denied McNabb's denial), and now it might not even matter.
On Monday, head coach Andy Reid indicated that the Eagles would be headed to the playoffs if not for a slew of injuries, and if he "had done a better job of play-calling in the red zone." (Can't every team say this?) But Reid also offered this:
Reid was as forceful and about as animated as the taciturn coach has been at a news conference when asked about the report by Oliver, who said she had spoken to McNabb before the game. [Reid] ... left the impression that he would like his chances with basically the same team next season, which means McNabb at quarterback.In an interview with Howard Eskin on WIP radio in Philadelphia recently, Eagles president Joe Banner remarked that he couldn't envision a scenario in which McNabb was not the quarterback next season.
"I know what he [McNabb] thinks. I don't worry about all that," Reid said. "To be honest about it, I'm so tired of talking about it. Every week I'm asked the same thing, and there's nothing that changes from week to week. Everybody in our organization said it, and I don't know what else needs to be said on it. It's been said. It's out there and, hey, let it ride. Let's go play."
Putting aside the "he said, she said," for a moment (and honestly, I have no reason not to belief Oliver; this isn't Skip Bayless we're talking about here; people actually respect her work), bringing McNabb back next season seems like a no-brainier. I mentioned earlier that if Philly jettisons McNabb, the organization is basically conceding to at least a one or two year rebuilding effort. If some fans thought things were rough this season, just wait until you get A.J. Feeley for 17 weeks.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. So, what they're indicating is, that if Reid was a better coach and McNabb was a healthy quarterback, they may have done a better job as far as the win-loss column goes, hmmmmm, seems to me that they're trying to "smokescreen" the maybe edict that Banner laid down, "Do your job, or you're both out of here!", and Pam Oliver just happened to catch McNabb after his tongue lashing from Banner, with Reid, Banner probably added,"And Keep your personal BS away from this team!" They both went to Philly together, and most likely, will leave together. Banner gave them a "vote of confidence" I bet, and their EGOS won't allow them to be talked to that way!
Posted at 10:38AM on Dec 19th 2007 by Rick Sangano
2. Eagles really underachieved this year, regardless of injuries. They're a 6-8 team that could just as easily be 10-4 if they didn't make stupid mistakes, particularly in the 4th quarter of games. See: Bears, Seahawks, Patriots, Packers, even the second Giants game.
Posted at 1:27PM on Dec 19th 2007 by Don
3. Why does andy reid love d-nabb so much? No matter what mcnabb does, reid always praises and supports him.
Posted at 4:01PM on Dec 19th 2007 by FitConnect.com - Fitness Social Networking
4. maybe McNabb meant at Dallas...sorry just don't like those cowboys... they are a team with dumb luck just like NE.
Posted at 1:58AM on Dec 20th 2007 by Moey
5. Side note, I never found out why the eagles wore the yellow and blue jerseys that one game. Can someone fill me in?
Posted at 11:57AM on Dec 20th 2007 by FitConnect - Fitness Social Networking
6. The information is incorrect. Jessica Simpson was at the Green Bay and the New York Jets game and the Cowboys won both. How stupid is this tactic???
Posted at 8:07PM on Dec 22nd 2007 by jmdesoto
7. Why are we only talking about the Eagles' millstone McNabb and Feeley? Why aren't we talking about Kolb? Why did they draft him so high if he is not destined to get a chance to play? We know McNabb and Feeley are not going to get any better, just continue to go down hill. Let's try somebody with some upside.
Posted at 1:43AM on Dec 23rd 2007 by Ron Sarson