Posted on 02/08/2005 11:49:37 AM PST by West Coast Conservative
PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was so ill in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl that a teammate had to call a play in the huddle, center Hank Fraley said.
"He fought to the end," Fraley told Comcast SportsNet on Monday. "He gave it his all. He was almost puking in the huddle. One play had to be called by (wideout) Freddie Mitchell because Donovan was mumbling because he was almost puking."
Offensive lineman Jon Runyan also echoed Fraley's comments in the same interview aired on two local radio stations on Tuesday after the Comcast report.
McNabb was shaky in Philadelphia's 24-21 loss to the England Patriots on Sunday, throwing for 357 yards and three touchdowns, was also getting picked off three times.
McNabb misfired on several passes early, held the ball too long in other instances and made several poor decisions. One of the best scramblers in the NFL, McNabb had zero yards rushing on just one carry and was sacked four times.
An Eagles spokesman did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday.
First - All the reports describe statements by offensive linemen, not McNabb. So he's not making excuses.
Second - Did you see the TD pass to Westbrook? The TD pass to L.J. Smith? How many other NFL QBs could make those throws?
Third - The second stringer was Koy Detmer. I'll take a sick McNabb over a healthy Koy any day so give up on the "he should have pulled himself" line.
Last - As an Eagles fan, I have watched and read McNabb's public comments over the past five years. He has only said exactly the right thing every single time. He is an admirable man and has handled unwarranted abuse with great restraint.
Hey, I'm a big Limbaugh fan. I also think his McNabb comments were taken out of context and twisted to fit the left's name calling agenda. Reasonable minds can differ as to McNabb's football ability (I happen to think he is excellent). There is no doubt, however, that McNabb is a complete gentleman and professional. We should admire his restraint, his public behavior and his exemplary personal life, not trash him.
excuses excuses
Can't say why he was like that, but I noted it at the time. I also noted that there were other players sucking wind, but MacNabb was actually wobbling. Could well have been the stress combined with the letdown.
No way could they have done a hurry-up offense without replacing the offense wholesale. They were clearly having to use the time to get their breath back.
THAT was the best defensive team?
Oy Vey!
"And who can forget the classic 1982 AFC playoff game between San Diego and Miami, in which Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow made 13 catches in the overtime win (one of the greates NFL games ever played) despite exhaustion and dehydration? He also blocked an attempted field goal at the end of regulation that would have won the game for the Dolphins."
I'd venture to say that there aren't too many people in this forum who weren't in diapers in '82. But it was a great game!
But get him in the big dance and he has two left feet.
"The thing about Tampa Bay occurred during the summertime of 2004 and was all over the sports news outlets."
Well...that explains it...I was not in the position to be able to watch the various sports news outlets over the last summer...but I'll take your word for it....
You are right.....They are making EXCUSES for McNabb.
He did have an off day, but then again, he has been prone to a few off days...
Chris Collingsworth, "If Philadelphia is going to win, it will be by the passing of McNabb" (a media type PROVES what Rush said...the media will give McNabb all the credit if they win).
The lost, by his interceptions, and horrible control of the clock in the last two minutes.
Man, after Rush made his comments about McNabb, Philadelphia has lost about 3 games, not counting the last two regular season ones this year where they didn't try. His comments seem to have put fire in McNabb's heart.
Not if they've got a concussion, particularly a bad one. Your head spins, its difficult to concentrate, and you feel like puking. I'm sure McNabb was hoping his head would clear, and it just didn't. If you want to blame him for anything, blame him for not taking himself out of the game.
Actually, one of his teammates should have said something to Reid. But maybe they thought that, concussed or not, McNabb gave them their best chance to win.
Give McNabb credit for hanging in there. Whether or not it was the right thing to do, I don't know. He probably wanted to be in there to help his team and not let them down, but if he was not up to par in the big game, one must weigh that against taking a seat and letting the sub have a try.
That said, New England just won the game. They do what it takes to win (within the rules, of course) and that is what makes champions. Brady and the Pats had the experience going into the game, and it showed. They stuck with their game and did what they had to do.
So New England has the Lombardi Trophy and the World Series Trophy to parade around. Great. But don't let it go to your heads. You're still stuck with sKerry and Tiddy, and Malarkey (Markey). Bunch of 'Rats they are...
You nailed it - all of your points are right on! Also give the Pats kudos for having the stamina and the conditioning to not run out of gas at the end of the game (even with some players going both ways) AND for having the ability to put enough of a hurting on enough of the Eagles players that they did appear to have nothing left in the tank at the end. Belichik and team found a way to win. Again.
It was the soup, the Chunky soup!
Ewwwwwwww!
That's dis-gust-ing!
Agree. Bottom line, however, the Pats are/were a better team & would win again if played next week.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.