Talon_60
11-21-2007, 04:53 AM
McNabb backlash continues
Eagles QB says jammed thumb influenced decision to sit out
By GEOFF MOSHER, The News Journal
PHILADELPHIA -- Donovan McNabb has a unique, almost puzzling way of drawing the same verbal barbs he receives on the field when he's merely a sideline observer.
The latest backlash stems from his presence on the sideline Sunday afternoon. Bundled in a parka, he watched the Eagles offense slog through another bout of inconsistency against a winless team while he nursed a sprained ankle.
If a broken ankle couldn't keep him from tossing four touchdown passes and throwing for 255 yards in a 38-14 stomping of Arizona almost five years before, how could a mildly sprained ankle relegate him to spectator status?
On Monday, in Andy Reid's press conference, the Eagles coach penned a giant "X" over the comparison. McNabb also had jammed his right (throwing) thumb, an injury Reid said affected the quarterback as much -- if not more than -- his ankle sprain.
"I'm as worried about the thumb as I am about the ankle, maybe a little bit more because that's what he's gripping the football with," Reid said. The coach declared McNabb as "day-to-day" until he's further evaluated Wednesday, when the team assembles at the NovaCare Complex to prepare for Sunday night's game against 10-0 New England.
After Sunday's lackluster 17-7 win over Miami, McNabb didn't elaborate on the thumb, which was wrapped in a bandage. But he defended his decision to sit out the second half, also dismissing parallels between the Arizona game five years ago.
"In that situation, I didn't know the ankle was broken until the end of the game," he said. "In this situation, it was a sprain where I couldn't really run or drop back. For me to go out there and be a sitting duck takes away from us as an offense, of what we are trying to accomplish."
McNabb also said he would do everything imaginable to be able to play against the Patriots, but Reid didn't hesitate Monday to say A.J. Feeley will start if McNabb isn't ready.
Aside from a pocket of swelling on the back of McNabb's ankle, the sprain apparently isn't severe. It was minor enough that Reid said he felt comfortable with McNabb on the sideline in the second half instead of undergoing the standard treatment of rest and ice.
Ideally, McNabb would practice at some point this week, especially given the opponent (did Tom Brady just throw another touchdown pass?) and the repeated roadblocks encountered by the Eagles offense. It needs work.
But if McNabb needs five days off to make Sunday night's showdown, Reid is willing to give him the rest.
"I think Donovan is far enough along in his career where you can get away with it, more so than one of the younger guys," he said. "So, would you like him to be there for the preparation? Absolutely. But if he can't physically, then that's the way we go."
Sunday's first half was the worst of McNabb's career. He completed just 3-of-11 passes for 34 yards and was intercepted twice.
The second interception, McNabb said, was the byproduct of miscommunication with receiver Kevin Curtis. On the first, McNabb waited too long to find an open receiver and then forced a pass toward Reggie Brown.
McNabb had hoped Brown would break off his route and come back to the ball but Dolphins cornerback Jason Allen jumped in front of Brown for the first of his two picks.
"Again, great defensive play on their part," McNabb said, "and if I had the opportunity, I probably wouldn't do it the same."
The best McNabb pass was erased from the stat sheet when a holding call on tight end L.J. Smith negated a well-orchestrated flea-flicker that ended with a wide-open Brown hauling in a 45-yard pass and walking into the end zone.
Aside from that, McNabb's numbers were abysmal. When cornerback Michael Lehan ended McNabb's afternoon midway through the second quarter with a crunching hit, McNabb retreated to the locker room. After another interception, this one by Feeley, the Eagles went into halftime down 7-3 and exited the field to a chorus of boos.
After being examined, McNabb said he knew immediately his return wasn't possible. His role for the second half would be as a cheerleader.
"As far as going on the field, I wanted to make sure that he could run," Reid said. "I don't want to put a guy out there that can't run, and he didn't feel like he could push off well enough to run. So, I thought it was best that we just kept him out of there."
Contact Geoff Mosher at gemosher@delawareonline.com
Eagles QB says jammed thumb influenced decision to sit out
By GEOFF MOSHER, The News Journal
PHILADELPHIA -- Donovan McNabb has a unique, almost puzzling way of drawing the same verbal barbs he receives on the field when he's merely a sideline observer.
The latest backlash stems from his presence on the sideline Sunday afternoon. Bundled in a parka, he watched the Eagles offense slog through another bout of inconsistency against a winless team while he nursed a sprained ankle.
If a broken ankle couldn't keep him from tossing four touchdown passes and throwing for 255 yards in a 38-14 stomping of Arizona almost five years before, how could a mildly sprained ankle relegate him to spectator status?
On Monday, in Andy Reid's press conference, the Eagles coach penned a giant "X" over the comparison. McNabb also had jammed his right (throwing) thumb, an injury Reid said affected the quarterback as much -- if not more than -- his ankle sprain.
"I'm as worried about the thumb as I am about the ankle, maybe a little bit more because that's what he's gripping the football with," Reid said. The coach declared McNabb as "day-to-day" until he's further evaluated Wednesday, when the team assembles at the NovaCare Complex to prepare for Sunday night's game against 10-0 New England.
After Sunday's lackluster 17-7 win over Miami, McNabb didn't elaborate on the thumb, which was wrapped in a bandage. But he defended his decision to sit out the second half, also dismissing parallels between the Arizona game five years ago.
"In that situation, I didn't know the ankle was broken until the end of the game," he said. "In this situation, it was a sprain where I couldn't really run or drop back. For me to go out there and be a sitting duck takes away from us as an offense, of what we are trying to accomplish."
McNabb also said he would do everything imaginable to be able to play against the Patriots, but Reid didn't hesitate Monday to say A.J. Feeley will start if McNabb isn't ready.
Aside from a pocket of swelling on the back of McNabb's ankle, the sprain apparently isn't severe. It was minor enough that Reid said he felt comfortable with McNabb on the sideline in the second half instead of undergoing the standard treatment of rest and ice.
Ideally, McNabb would practice at some point this week, especially given the opponent (did Tom Brady just throw another touchdown pass?) and the repeated roadblocks encountered by the Eagles offense. It needs work.
But if McNabb needs five days off to make Sunday night's showdown, Reid is willing to give him the rest.
"I think Donovan is far enough along in his career where you can get away with it, more so than one of the younger guys," he said. "So, would you like him to be there for the preparation? Absolutely. But if he can't physically, then that's the way we go."
Sunday's first half was the worst of McNabb's career. He completed just 3-of-11 passes for 34 yards and was intercepted twice.
The second interception, McNabb said, was the byproduct of miscommunication with receiver Kevin Curtis. On the first, McNabb waited too long to find an open receiver and then forced a pass toward Reggie Brown.
McNabb had hoped Brown would break off his route and come back to the ball but Dolphins cornerback Jason Allen jumped in front of Brown for the first of his two picks.
"Again, great defensive play on their part," McNabb said, "and if I had the opportunity, I probably wouldn't do it the same."
The best McNabb pass was erased from the stat sheet when a holding call on tight end L.J. Smith negated a well-orchestrated flea-flicker that ended with a wide-open Brown hauling in a 45-yard pass and walking into the end zone.
Aside from that, McNabb's numbers were abysmal. When cornerback Michael Lehan ended McNabb's afternoon midway through the second quarter with a crunching hit, McNabb retreated to the locker room. After another interception, this one by Feeley, the Eagles went into halftime down 7-3 and exited the field to a chorus of boos.
After being examined, McNabb said he knew immediately his return wasn't possible. His role for the second half would be as a cheerleader.
"As far as going on the field, I wanted to make sure that he could run," Reid said. "I don't want to put a guy out there that can't run, and he didn't feel like he could push off well enough to run. So, I thought it was best that we just kept him out of there."
Contact Geoff Mosher at gemosher@delawareonline.com