McNabb's amazing career built on proving doubters wrong [Limbaugh]

USA Today ^ | 1/14/04 | Ian O'Connor

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Recruiters would come to Frank Lenti's door on the South Side of Chicago, men who did not necessarily subscribe to RUSH LIMBAUGH'S articles of faith, and they would tell the head coach at Mount Carmel High how much they wanted Donovan McNabb to play for their teams.

[uncbob]

Kenny Jackson ???

Surely you jest

But maybe you forgot Freddy Barnett and Charlie Homeboy Smith

[Hannity4prez]

bump for later

[Alberta's Child]

Wasn't he the highly-touted player who was drafted in the first round out of Penn State, then quit football a few years later to go back to school for an MBA?

[3Lean]

The endorsements and NFL promos are what did Rush in. Never make the mistake of taking on the hot property of the moment. Think how much money would have been lost if Rush had punctured the myth...

[uncbob]

Tore a tricep muscle against the Skins and was operated on last week

[uncbob]

That he was but never lived up to his potential

[Duke809]

If I owned a NFL team, McNair would be my guy. He's the real deal. Brady too. Or maybe Pennington, with a little more experience. But I never said McNair was a stiff now did I?

New England, probably wins the whole thing. Never heard of Dan Marino. Was he a wide reciever? What's your point? The measure of NFL success is winning the big one. At least that's what everyone on this thread keeps saying about McNabb. Don't like it when your boy Manning gets the same treatment do you?

The Colts get squashed by New England.

McNabb as Pro Bowl starter. I don't think he deserved it either. Maybe doesn't even belong on the team. But again, the measure of success is winning, isn't it? And save the line about the Eagles defense carrying the team. That's crap and you know it.

As far as "crying" about bashing Philly, I don't think so. I don't live in Philly and if Philly fell of the face of the earth, makes no difference to me. Makes no difference to me wether the Eagles get in the Super Bowl or fold the team. It has no affect on my life except as a three hour distraction, once a week. I can find other distractions. But to listen to some of these "experts" on it, it's a little much to take. Especially when some of these guys live in really cool places like Dirtwater, Arkansas, and Frozen Sphincter, Minnesota.

So we'll just agree to disagree.

[Duke809]

Stop with Flutie. His claim to fame is one Hail Mary. Let me ask you this, You are a NFL owner. In his prime, do you take him with your #1 pick?

If he's so wonderful, then you take him, don't you?

Stat me all you want. Unwanted by the NFL. Had to go to the CFL. Sure he wins a Grey Cup or two, which is equivalent to the USFL Championship. Wow. Comes back to the NFL and loses his job to Rob Freaking Johnson, a guy who put the "st" in stiff. And ends up in San Diego.

Pretty much says it all, don't it. Doug Flutie. Please.

[Hannity4prez]

No offense good freeper, but that statement is ridiculous. Mcnabb is a far superior quarterback then Randall ever was. Bottom line if Randall was in his prime at this time ( your scenario) and D Mac were on the same team, Reid would show Randall the door quicker than you can say Cunningham. Reid would not deal with his undisciplined style. Not for a minute. Randall only became the "Ultimate Weapon" due to Buddy Ryans negligence towards the offense. Their defense back then was so good that as long as the offense did anything at all they would win. I like our defense of today, but it in no way compares to the defense of the late 80's early 90's. Randall at the helm now and we would be no where close to where we have gone the last 3 years

[rintense]

Duke, darling, you've never heard of Dan Marino???? He was the QB for the Miami Dolphins for years, and considered one of the best to ever play the game. He made it to the Super Bowl once and lost. That's it. But it doesn't make him any less of a QB. He will surely make it into the Hall of Fame on the first try.

[KneelBeforeZod]

You have never seen an ad with McNabb?

I've heard one on the radio a while back...

Do you even watch the NFL?

Sometimes...didn't see him in any ads during the playoffs, or I didn't notice. I see the bret farve ad all the time and it's never during any games. So apparently mcnabb isn't that big of a commodity.

[jimfree]

It's irrelevant whether the statement was foolish or not. The media found it's chance to go after Rush, and they took it. He should have used better JUDGEMENT, knowing how much they despise him.

Such an easy thing it is to assert that Rush should have anticipated that the controversy ESPN wanted him to offer would be turned against him. Rush thought these were guys he could be honest with and have fun with. He was suckered into believing that they loved football as much as he does. The tape of the exchange would seem to bear that out - his view was supported by one or two of his colleagues. The drawing and quartering they did of Rush the following Sunday was a despicable (that's not quite a sufficient word to convey the vitriol for vitriol's sake that I heard) display of PC grandstanding and me-tooing. I know that many in sports journalism and commentary are left of center. I still thought they might be real men and might be real professionals. Sadly these guys surrendered any claim to either of these attributes with this episode as they stood in the studio while the sports journalists of Philadelphia made their mouths move.

[leprechaun9]

The comments that I heard on that broadcast were directed at the media, NOT McNab. In fact, at the end of the segment, one of the other talking heads agreed that Rush had a point.

There seems to be more of a fuss over anyone suggesting that RACE is an issue in the media (Jayson Blair) or in the NFL. What happened to the teams that did not interview the correct recipe of potential coaches before making a selection? They were fined!

I heard Rush's comments again today and they are as I remembered hearing them the first time. He was commenting on the desires of the media to promote a successful negro as an NFL quarterback.

[hobbes1]

Stop with Flutie

He has a record of 35-25 (.583) as a starting quarterback in the NFL, including a mark of 21-7 (.750) in home games.

1 Pick, two choices, McNabb, or Flutie?....Both 23,24 yrs old...I'd take the better Quarterback.

And let the next guy draft McNabb.

In all fairness, the one thing not being considered here, and it is a legitimate observation, Flutie came into the NFL, when the Pure Pocket passer was King.....Marino,O'Brien,Kelly,Elway et al....Those type of guys aren't flourishing any longer....Look at Bledsoe...

But enough...Look Does McDrabb suck, obviously not. He is a middle of the road Quarterback, in the top half probably, but definitely outside of the top 25%....

[Hatteras]

"OK, whatever you say. Jake Delhomme. Hahahahahaha"

Heh, heh, heh....

[cardinal4]

-Sound of Cardinal4 making choking sound-

He is an overrated QB, just like the team is. And before anyone points to the regular season record, let me just say that doesnt mean shiite, when you have had three shots at the big dance and have blown them all. The team is overrated and the QB is mediocre at best..

[Moby Grape]

Do you pay attention to FACTS? What did Rush ACTUALLY say? Not what the liberal media said he said. Do you know that just AFTER Rush made his comments that the media was building McNabb to be more than his (at that time)playing warranted, that Michael Irving said, "Rush has a point"?

Did you know that at the time Rush said the MEDIA was placing too much hope on McNabb while INGNORING problems with the Philly defense, that McNabb was the lowest rate QB in ALL of the NFL? Did you know that the SUBJECT of the segment that day on ESPN was "What is WRONG with McNabb"?

[FLAUSA]

I watched McNab play for the first time Sunday. I was impressed by his running ability but not by his quarterbacking ability. What really drew my attention were the announcers. They continued to make excuses for every mistake McNab made. They blamed the recievers. They blamed the offensive line. They blamed everyone except McNab.

As the game wound down and it became obvious that Philly would lose, they continued to express a belief that Philly would have won if only McNab was not hurt.

McNab is a good quarterback, but certainly not a great one. Rush was right. The announcers wanted Philly to win because thier quarterback was black. Even the camera crew was interesting. They must have showed ten times more footage of McNab than of the winning quarterback. What was his name again? I think the announcers had a tough time remembering who he was, but then again he was just another white quarterback.

The best part was that before the game started all three of these announcers proclaimed that Philly would win. After the game all three said they were not suprized that Philly had lost. I think my wife is right. Football is best watched with the sound off!

[cardinal4]

Your wife is quite correct, it is best viewed with the sound off. Especially with that boob Collinsworth calling the game. And you are right, they made more excuses for Mcnabb than were neccessary. Those of us watching the game could see what was happening; a middle of the road team, winning in a division that doesnt have much to offer, getting trounced by a team that has won all of their playoff games on the road. After the first half, the Eagles needed a leader to rally and a good QB to begin the rally. The Eagles had neither. If Mcnabb had lived up to the hype and Rush bashing, it would all be academic..

[hobbes1]

OK, whatever you say. Jake Delhomme. Hahahahahaha

I'm sorry, you were saying?