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.
As well they should be. Three losses to the Rams (a .500 team) in '04 (2 at home)... the inability to win meaningful games...a receiver corps that can't catch. They have every right to be on Holmgren's case. Why they don't get on McMillan may be because he wasn't billed as the 'savior' as Holmgren was.
let's try a little exercise. instead of criticizing mcnabb because he's (black/an eagle/famous/successful), how about comparing his day to other QBs who faced the same defense this year?
he's not the first QB to start the superbowl jumpy. most don't even settle down - why do you think so many are blowouts?
Obviously he's not seen Joey Harrington.
Great point! Bill Russell had a bucket near the Celtics bench that he used on a regular basis. To him, it just sort of came with the job.
Did I say anything about race?
The guy has a history of not winning the big game, that's all I'm saying.
In the Atlanta game he blew a FG when the Eagles were in the redzone. He had time to throw a TD pass (in the endzone) or throw it out of bounds and take the three. He did the one thing you don't do in that situation he threw a pass to the 3 yard line...time expired.
Poor leadership and decision-making.
Kelly had a better supporting cast. Thurman Thomas is far superior to any running back the Eagles have had the past few years.
and even MORE guys have a history of never winning the smaller game to even GET to the bigger game.
he's perfectly capable of winning a superbowl, and if they continue to run the franchise well, he will.
Most of T.O.'s antics are harmless and stir up a lot of "controversy" i.e. ratings. I don't have a problem with it.
Calling Jeff Garcia gay however is eighth-grade stuff that T.O. ought to be ashamed of. I expect that kind of behavior from Jeremy Shockey, not T.O.
An incredible simple point by a very simple poster. Where do you get all of this deep stuff? Using your "mentality", every QB except those few that win the Super Bowls are losers. Such a mentality is typically held by those who never played or accomplished much themselves.
Firstly, nice capitals, Sparky. Too bad you can't respond in crayon as well for the full effect.
Secondly..HUH?? "Bush and the democrats"?? What planet are you dealing with? It's a football thread. Do yourself a favor -- order a ginger ale, and stay put on that stool until your cab arrives.
"if BRETT FAVRE (swoon) threw 3 TDs and 3 INTs while puking, it would be a heroic, gutsy effort by a gunslinger. but not for mcnabb. not to mention all the good christians rooting for someone's career to end."
Now who's believing the hype? Are you T.O.'s towel boy? I heard him say pretty much the same about Favre.
IF you have been following ANY of the playoff threads about Favre, you'd have a clue. But alas, you don't.
"you people make ME want to dry heave."
I haven't much patience for sanctimonious little pr*cks who've demonstrated they've got more serious problems than calling out Freepers as a bunch of "racists."
Playing hypotheticals with teammates is ridiculous. Unless it's a blow out it comes down to maybe one play that one player makes that wins the game. It's a team sport and the QB is suppossed to be the leader of the offense. McNabb had a terrible day with all those interceptions. I'm sure he won't deny it. He's still a good player but needs to get over the hump, it's really hard to get to the superbowl.
I agree he is good enough to win a Superbowl. They had their shot to win this one even with the turnovers.
He will have to do 2 things to win the SB:
1)throw the ball away when the pass progressions aren't there
2)run out of the pocket at times.
Belichicks gameplan included as one of his two priorities, not letting McNabb run - Reid and Mcnabb didn't even attempt to run him out of the pocket - big strategic mistake.
*The other thing that could help the Iggles win a SB is to move Westbrook around to slot, Hback and RB, and have a bigger more durable runner that can gain some inside yards against the 3-4 defense.
So every silver medalist out there is a loser.
Since I doubt you came in first place every year in your bowling league, that makes you a loser, too.
Show me someone who plays sports to come in second and you won't find them anywhere near the top of the game.
Hear ya.
The coaches may have figured McNabb had a method to his madness. And he did toss that TD pass amidst the confusion and lackadaisical mien.
"Anyway, even if he did have a concussion, its his team's fault and his for him getting nailed that badly. When OSU beat Miami for the National Title, they knocked out McGahee with a knee injury, and knocked the QB loopy for awhile too. Those aren't excuses for Miami -- that's a damn good job by an aggressive OSU defense. Same with the Pats.... The concussion, if he had one, isn't an excuse. It's an explanation."
I guess in the coming days we'll get the true scoop. If McNabb indeed had a concussion, he was gallant near the end, but Philly needed much more from him in a game their running game got completely shut down.
Difference:
T.O.'s charge about Garcia was personal.
Shockey was just trying to get into Parcell's head.
Philly does have a running game....NcNabb WAS what offense they had (that is a fact)...the reason Philly had no running game was due to the players on the other side of the line, also known as the Patriot defense...
But even without a running game, it was McNabb's HORRIBLE, BAD decision throws for interceptions, and Philly's stupid use of the clock in the last two minutes that cost them the game...they were, in my view, the better overall team, but bad decisions by their QB, and poor time managment doomed them.
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