Subject: "Et tu, Hugh????? Got an extra large knife?"
http://www.philly.com/mld/sports/eagles
Posted on Thu, Feb. 02, 2006
Douglas questions McNabb's leadership skills.
By Marc Narducci Inquirer Staff Writer
Former Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas is employed as the team's ambassador, but his comments yesterday on WIP-AM (610) were far from diplomatic.
Speaking on the station's morning show, Douglas spread the blame for the team's disappointing 6-10 season, but he specifically questioned the leadership of quarterback Donovan McNabb.
"The thing that Donovan needs - it's been proven, especially this year - he needs other people to lead," Douglas said. "He's not a leader. He doesn't want to lead. He is the leader on the field as a quarterback; he isn't a team leader. He needs a good supporting cast."
Contacted last night, the 34-year-old Douglas modified the statement about McNabb, but only slightly.
"In order to be a leader, you have to be in people's face; if that is what you think, he isn't that guy," Douglas said. "Donovan will lead on the football field, and if you need him to give a Vince Lombardi speech, he won't."
Douglas said that he and McNabb talked yesterday after the radio show and that the Eagles quarterback was fine with what Douglas said when he explained the context.
McNabb was not available for comment.
Douglas was waived by the team in September and hired for his ambassador role. He also talked on the broadcast about the problems the Eagles' perceived lack of leadership caused for coach Andy Reid.
"Big Red thought he had a bunch of leaders," Douglas said. "When he realized , it was too late."
Douglas suggested on the show that some radical changes would be needed to address the leadership issue.
"At some point, is going to have to go in that locker room and make it like Beirut again, to be totally honest," Douglas said. "It's obvious right now that the guys who he thinks are leaders aren't his leaders, and the young guys aren't ready to lead."
Douglas did not back away from that statement last night, saying that he was going to tell the truth, regardless of whether he was a team employee.
"What kind of person would I be to tell fans that everything is fine?" Douglas said. "I don't think what I said was that bad."
Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown disagreed with Douglas' assessment.
"To me, that is disrespecting guys he played with," Brown said last night. "How can you say guys like Brian Dawkins or Jon Runyan aren't leaders? It's a comment that doesn't speak fairly to guys we have in the locker room, and I think that is just radio talk.
"I don't care what Hugh says," Brown said. "Quite frankly, the guys I am playing with I trust, and I trust the leaders we have. I am around them every day, and Hugh isn't around them every day."
Douglas also said he told McNabb he should not have resumed his feud with Terrell Owens in the media over the last two days.
Eagles president Joe Banner was unavailable for comment yesterday. Derek Boyko, the Eagles' director of media services, defended Douglas, but he would not comment directly on Douglas' statements.
"Hugh Douglas goes on the radio a lot and defends our players and team and cleans up a lot of the misnomers that are out there," Boyko said.
Brown and Douglas have at least some common ground. Both feel that the only way to move forward is to let go of this season.
"Donovan is still making too big a deal out of this," Brown said. "We come back, win games and get the job done, then the whole T.O. saga is done."
Good quotes from Sheldon Brown, regarding Hugh and the 2005 season. Sounds like he's[/i] ready to take a leadership role.
Don shouldn't have brought it back up, even if he was asked about it. Just get him out of your head and off our team...plus, this probably isn't helping his trade value. However, Spads said this was 'closure' for Donovan.
Douglas I think will be fired as 'bad-ass-ador', but I like how he tells it like it is.
If leadership is a question, maybe this means we throw (please) some more coin at Runyan.
Quote"In order to be a leader, you have to be in people's face; if that is what you think, he isn't that guy," Douglas said. "Donovan will lead on the football field, and if you need him to give a Vince Lombardi speech, he won't."
That's pure bullshtein right there. There are so many types of different ways for a person to project themselves as a leader... only one of which is getting in someone's face and screaming their head off. I think Hugh's been letting the WIPping boys get into his head a little too much.
So for Douglas, who is still employed by the Eagles, to go on WIP and ripping people currently on the team he is employed with is "telling it like it is."
Yet for McNabb to make comments on TO, who has repeatedly made comments ripping McNabb in the past year, is out of bounds and results in Eagles fans losing respect for him?
I just don't get it. McNabb can do nothing in this city without being torn to pieces.
I am as sick of hearing about TO as anyone, and I am sick of ESPN once more turing into a freaking soap opera and playing this over and over again. Once more they go for the tabloid stuff instead of focusing on the Super Bowl. I wish that RJS was not just words, because then TO would have been napalmed and all this crap wouldn't be happening.
I suppose I'll be playing CDs on my hour drive this morning. What do you folks think: Seger, Springsteen or Tull?
Quote"To me, that is disrespecting guys he played with," Brown said last night. "How can you say guys like Brian Dawkins or Jon Runyan aren't leaders? It's a comment that doesn't speak fairly to guys we have in the locker room, and I think that is just radio talk.
"I don't care what Hugh says," Brown said. "Quite frankly, the guys I am playing with I trust, and I trust the leaders we have. I am around them every day, and Hugh isn't around them every day."
Btw... it looks like if there's one person in that locker room that definitely has McNabb's back, it's Sheldon Brown. farg what Hugh's talking about, it's Sheldon that's "telling it like it is". :yay
Sheldon Brown = SHOULD be Pro-Bowler and captain of the team. ;D
Without picking a fight (I know I'll get ::) from PG, but that's unavoidable), why are we discounting what Hugh says so quickly? It was clear that there was no leadership in the lockerroom this year, both while DMac was there and when he wasn't. The defense was a mess, and no one seemed to be able to pump them up. TO said he'd make the Eagles miserable if he didn't get his way; mission accomplished. And things never got better even after he was jettisoned. I love DMac, and want him here his entire career. Lead by example works in my business pretty well, but I don't have testosterone fueled egomaniacs for co-workers.
In a wolf pack, the biggest, loudest alpha male rules the pack. The rest eat the scraps.
Eh, whatever. Hugh has even less right to be running his gums in the media than Donovan does.
fwiw hugh did come on the afternoon show for some damage control...explaining what he said...in fact he was pretty hot at gargano for reporting that he had said mcnabb is not a leader...hugh called in unannounced to set things straight...he clarified it by saying that mcnabb wasnt a vocal leader but that he was a very good leader overall
Quote"In order to be a leader, you have to be in people's face; if that is what you think, he isn't that guy," Douglas said. "Donovan will lead on the football field, and if you need him to give a Vince Lombardi speech, he won't."
This is exactly what I've been saying for quite some time now. Donovan has always said that he leads by example and he's not the guy to get in folks faces.
Be glad this garbage is happening now in February.
And I kinda liked Hugh saying that Andy needs to start getting heavy handed a little bit again. Not "hey Hegamin push this sled 100 yards and then you're cut" or "hey Bill Johnson, you laugh on the flight after a loss you're cut". But a little ego checking.
Props to Sheldon too.
None of this will matter next September when the Eagles are back to their winning ways...as Sheldon said, when the game starts, all will be forgotten.
QuoteEagles cornerback Sheldon Brown disagreed with Douglas' assessment.
"To me, that is disrespecting guys he played with," Brown said last night. "How can you say guys like Brian Dawkins or Jon Runyan aren't leaders? It's a comment that doesn't speak fairly to guys we have in the locker room, and I think that is just radio talk.
"I don't care what Hugh says," Brown said. "Quite frankly, the guys I am playing with I trust, and I trust the leaders we have. I am around them every day, and Hugh isn't around them every day."
Looks like the scrappy puppy just turned into a full-on badass motherfarging junkyard dog.
:yay
everyone on the team should do themselves a favor and shut the farg up.
Quoteeveryone on the team should do themselves a favor and shut the farg up.
A farging men
Well, McNabb should for sure. Hugh is a paid radio commentator...shutting up isn't part of that equation.
Quote from: Zanshin on February 02, 2006, 09:19:22 AM
Well, McNabb should for sure. Hugh is a paid radio commentator...shutting up isn't part of that equation.
Hugh was paid by WIP for today's interview? I don't know abou that. Since when is he on staff at WIP as a radio commentator? I haven't listened to it in a LONG time, so I wasn't aware that he was hired by them.
I believe he is paid.
Quote from: PhillyGirl on February 02, 2006, 09:21:01 AM
Hugh was paid by WIP for today's interview? I don't know abou that. Since when is he on staff at WIP as a radio commentator? I haven't listened to it in a LONG time, so I wasn't aware that he was hired by them.
i think he has a consistent part-time schedule with them, so i'm pretty sure he's getting paid something.
Yep. He's in like twice a week. I think like Monday's and Wednesday's.
Is he not still employed by the Eagles?
Yes.
Eagles
WIP
NBC
Hugh's all over the place.
i haven't heard anything to say he doesn't still work for the Eagles.
Hugh was paid by WIP for today's interview?
it wasnt an 'interview' it was during his regualr reoccuring appearances on the morning show....for which he is paid
I just don't understand why either of them would dredge this farging bullshtein up again.
It's over and done with.
Let it lie, for chrissake.
:P
I love Hugh to death, but the maybe the teams class clown isn't the best authority on leadership. If he would have kicked TOs ass sucessfully and earlier maybe some of this would have been avoided.(wishful thinking)
If Hugh is still employed by the Eagles, then yes...he should also keep his farging mouth shut.
If he was only a radio commentator, he'd be able to say what he wants. But he's not. He still collects a paycheck from the Eagles.
Well, he's both...which is why it's a conflict of interest, really.
Quote from: PhillyGirl on February 02, 2006, 09:25:04 AM
If Hugh is still employed by the Eagles, then yes...he should also keep his farging mouth shut.
If he was only a radio commentator, he'd be able to say what he wants. But he's not. He still collects a paycheck from the Eagles.
the greedy bitch is collecting paychecks from everywhere.
Quote from: PhillyGirl on February 02, 2006, 09:25:04 AM
If he was only a radio commentator, he'd be able to say what he wants. But he's not. He still collects a paycheck from the Eagles.
so what if he's collecting a paycheck from the Eagles? he has a job on the radio and during that job he was answering questions about the team. he gave his opinion.
If Donovan should keep his mouth shut, which he should....then so should Hugh.
Hugh doesn't get a pass because he's on the radio. That's my point.
Quote from: PhillyGirl on February 02, 2006, 09:34:12 AM
If Donovan should keep his mouth shut, which he should....then so should Hugh.
Hugh doesn't get a pass because he's on the radio. That's my point.
well, for people who are saying Donovan should keep his mouth shut, you have a point.
but i don't think Donovan should just shut him mouth altogether, he should just stop bringing up race.
Here's an idea, if you can win an argument using facts and reason and intelligently stating your opinion, speak all you want! If you can't, keep it farging zipped up because no one wants to hear it.
Quote from: rjs246 on February 02, 2006, 09:41:18 AM
Here's an idea, if you can win an argument using facts and reason and intelligently stating your opinion, speak all you want!
just like Joey Porter.
donovan should keep his mouth shut not because hes an employee of the eagles but because he sounds retarded
the greedy bitch is collecting paychecks from everywhere.
everybody gotta eat
Hugh best shut the farg up, McNabb's got enough critics. i don't care, Hugh is employed by the team, there should be no shtein talking. thats what got TO suspended. shtein talking is also why TO kicked his old ass also. so shut the farg up Hugh. we have enough pressure from the outside.
hugh did nothing wrong...i heard the whole show...all he said was donovan is not a vocal leader...which he isnt...and he didnt say it ina tone that was even close to criticizing...im far from being obssesed with bashing the press at every turn like a lot of heads on this board but they are blowing this one out of proportion
hugh lover ::)
Quote from: ice grillin you on February 02, 2006, 09:57:04 AM
hugh did nothing wrong...i heard the whole show...all he said was donovan is not a vocal leader...which he isnt...and he didnt say it ina tone that was even close to criticizing...im far from being obssesed with bashing the press at every turn like a lot of heads on this board but they are blowing this one out of proportion
So you're whining about McNabb and how he should stop talking about all of this, yet its okay for Hugh?
Explain.
So you're whining about McNabb and how he should stop talking about all of this, yet its okay for Hugh?
Explain.
hugh isnt on the team...hugh is everything spadaro should be...pro eagle but also man enough to have a mind of his own
I can vouch for IGY on one thing here...
I heard Hugh yesterday too. And if you compare what he said then and then look at it in print it sounds WAY more harsh than he said it yesterday.
AND, Hugh also clarified his remarks and even CALLED Donovan after the show to tell him and Donovan had no problem.
Sometimes being a vocal leader isn't everything. Anyone watch Marino when the Fins were on TV during his playing days? There were shots of him yelling at recievers when they dropped passes, or when he thought they ran the wrong pattern. But where did it get him as far as playoffs and SBs are concerned? I feel that if better players are brought in, both through the draft and FA, McNabb will have at least two more SBs in him--which is more than Danny had.
Quote from: ice grillin you on February 02, 2006, 10:09:54 AM
So you're whining about McNabb and how he should stop talking about all of this, yet its okay for Hugh?
Explain.
hugh isnt on the team...hugh is everything spadaro should be...pro eagle but also man enough to have a mind of his own
He's right :-D
Hugh might not be a player on the team but he played with all of these guys and should keep his mouth shut.
Comparing him to Spadaro in any way is ridiculous.
Quote from: PhillyGirl on February 02, 2006, 10:50:46 AM
Hugh might not be a player on the team but he played with all of these guys and should keep his mouth shut.
Comparing him to Spadaro in any way is ridiculous.
would you rather hear the usual nothing banter from Reid (and Spadaro), or hear some
real inside scoop from Hugh...even if it insiteful or "damaging"?
Nothing banter would suit me fine, thanks.
I think comparing him to Spadaro is fine - they are both faces of the team, in different capacities. Does Hugh really have a pulse on the team? Who the hell knows. But his statements seem reasonable when you just read that within the quotations. Everything else is reporter hyperbole, and you have to be careful how to take his statements in or out of context.
McNabb isn't a forceful leader. I think that's pretty clear. The question is: do you have to be to lead a football team on or off the field? Having never played, I wouldn't know.
Quote from: PhillyGirl on February 02, 2006, 10:50:46 AM
Comparing him to Spadaro in any way is ridiculous.
they go to the same barber
Quote from: MadMarchHare on February 02, 2006, 11:04:51 AM
I think comparing him to Spadaro is fine - they are both faces of the team, in different capacities. Does Hugh really have a pulse on the team? Who the hell knows. But his statements seem reasonable when you just read that within the quotations. Everything else is reporter hyperbole, and you have to be careful how to take his statements in or out of context.
McNabb isn't a forceful leader. I think that's pretty clear. The question is: do you have to be to lead a football team on or off the field? Having never played, I wouldn't know.
As individuals within a group, be it business or football, respond to different types of leadership, having multiple types in the locker room is what would be ideal. As long as you have those "in your face" types on both sides of the ball to balance out those who lead through example & teaching, the chemistry should be what they need.
Why does the QB have to be the "in your face" type?
The problem,
I think is that you need leaders at every position, and for the team as a whole. I think that there something might be wrong with the team. Besides you need a few teamleaders, some vocal, some "in your face", some by example. And I think there might be some failures in that department as well. And in that respect you do not necessairly need an in your face type as QB.
The biggest thing however, I think that for a leader, especially the "in your face type" you need someone who has accomplished something, and so commands the respect of the team. And on the offensive side these are, maybe apart from Runyan, sorely lacking so it seems. On the defensive side things do not seem that bad... though the new leaders should be groomed there right now to take over when the days of Trotter and Dawkins are over.
Just 0.02 euro's.
Dutch, did you MISS Sheldon Brown's comments?
The guy has already been groomed into a leader.
Who's Sheldon Brown?
You know that commercial with the guy in the cheap kangaroo suit stealing jerseys? He's the one holding hands with Tito.
I hear your job's your credit at Eastern Motors.
Can I get an 89 Sunbird there? That's a sweet car.
Quote from: PhillyGirl on February 02, 2006, 10:28:23 PM
Dutch, did you MISS Sheldon Brown's comments?
The guy has already been groomed into a leader.
But what has Sheldon done for the offense?
You need the guys in the locker from for the team as a whole, and they could play any position. You need them per section (offense, defense, special teams) as well. The whole defense could be a vocal or "in your fase" leader, but that does not affect or help the offense a iota. And if Sheldon is the only guy on defense, you are in trouble as well.
If anyone else on the defense had some talent they might be willing to step up. Or not. You never know. You'd figure Jim Johnson would want some asskickers on his defense though.