Eagles' gigantic collapse had familiar ring

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 9.18.06 | Bill Conlin

[Tallguy]

Ooops! I heard that TO would (probably) miss the game in Philly. I just assumed it would be next week. My bad.

[meandog]

...thing about it is the NY-Philly media, because of the liberal Northeastern location of the Eagles, give McNabb the status of walking on water simply because he is A-A. IMHO, there are (Culpepper, McNair) equal A-A qbs as well as better ones: Doug Williams and Warren Moon. But, despite their stats, these guys don't stack up against the untouchable one in Northeastern MSM's opinion.

[NCC-1701]

No worries, Tallguy. I just feel the receivers we do have are more than adequate for the task ahead. T O still hasn't gotten the offence down yet.

[Tallguy]

McNabb has one career statistical area in which he leads all active QB's: TD to INT ratio. This is why he 'grades' as highly as he does. As for being overrated, I'll leave you to your opinion. I think he's solidly in the Top 5 among actives.

I happen to think most QB's are a little bit overrated when you come right down to it. I exclude Tom Brady from that last statement. I refuse to argue with Superbowl Rings. It's foolish to argue against the 'hardware'.

I saw your earlier listing of great QB's. Why'd you put Fran Tarkenton on that list? I remember him well, but the Vikings aside, he played for some pretty mediocre teams. I know he was career passing yards leader for a while, but he never really won anything.

[sully777]

I hate the Eagles. I love the Giants. And I have always thought McNabb was overrated. But...

That said, I saw the game yesterday. Looks like McNabb is trying to convert over to a passer as he ages. He's getting wiser. Front line is protecting him early in the game. Looks like a transitional period in the team. If McNabb can transition to a passer and he gains confidence in the new strategies and the whole offense makes proper adjustments the Eagles and the line can protect him late and the defense can stay strong...Eagles could be a Superbowl winner.

Still hate the team but I love the game and appreciate what the Eagles are trying to accomplish.

JMO

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I watch the Giants every week, and normally root for them - but you can't take the Eagle fan out of the boy, just because he moved to NY at the age of 27. And it took just a little bit of luck for the Giants to pull this one out.

• Eagles attempt a field goal, and the ball hits the upright an bounces to the inside of the goal - but solidly enough that the ball doesn't go through the goal but lands in the end zone. IOW, it missed by about an inch.
• Plexico Burris fumbles a ball on the ten, an Eagle gets it at the five - and the result is a touchdown for the Giants. No luck there at all!

Whatever, the Giants won. But you sure don't go to the Superbowl counting on that much luck every game.

[Tallguy]

I just feel the receivers we do have are more than adequate for the task ahead. T O still hasn't gotten the offence down yet.

More balls headed toward Terry Glenn. This also might take a little bit of heat off Bledsoe, ironically.

[Cyclopean Squid]

It wasn't a great pass, but he has the weapons to do that and still look good. Plaxico was the hero, but Eli does get credit too for keeping them in the game. Mostly it's on Philly for not playing all 4 quarters.

[b4its2late]

Doesn't change the fact that he threw a duck on the last play.

And the duck just happened to fall in Plexico's open arms at the goal line. Imagine that...... what a strange coincidence.

[Cyclopean Squid]

The problem is that rings are a team effort. When it comes down to it it's really hard to determine how much a great QB does that is from his effort, and how much is due to a solid O-line and receivers with good hands. Brady is a superb QB, so is McNabb, but Vinatieri deserves as much credit for Brady having the rings as Brady does. And Bruschi. And someone from their line (it's sad when the most important part of a team are largely anonymous).

[meandog]

Guess you guys have never been to an Eagles' game where you wore the cap of an opposing team...and I advise you never to do that because the fans will spit on you. It's the same with the Phillies. A die-hard Braves fan (and you should know I die hard for being a fan of that team) I went to a baseball game last season to watch the Bravos and to see the new stadium...I left drenched in beer and the insides of someone's mucus cavity as a cup was purposely dropped on my Braves hat from the upper rows. I despise everything about Philadelphia, from the way the city has allowed graffiti artists to sully the historic places where America began to the "Yo" rudeness of the citizens and I cheer loudly for any team that whips the Eagles and Phillies!

[Tallguy]

When it comes down to it it's really hard to determine how much a great QB does that is from his effort, and how much is due to a solid O-line and receivers with good hands. Brady is a superb QB, so is McNabb, but Vinatieri deserves as much credit for Brady having the rings as Brady does.

Exactly. A championship QB may have weaknesses that just aren't apparent. It's what makes it difficult to criticize objectively. Brady is a very efficient QB. Could he do the same for another team? We won't know until he does.