Hypothetical question about McNabb vs the Chargers

[WEST is GOD]

Most of you from what I read didn't want McNabb to have the surgery, and rightfully so. I think the guy deserves the benefit of the doubt because it's his body and he knows what he is capable of. But we all know even if McNabb plays bad because of the injury, then he won't make excuses because he's such a competitor.

If McNabb plays bad for his second straight game, and it looks like it's because of the injury and we lose to the Chargers in a game where our offense just can't get going. Would you change your stance on wanting McNabb to play through the pain and take the surgery instead? Or would you guys give it another week or two before you draw that conclusion?

[methdeez]

Definitely maybe.

[QB Eagles]

Sad thing is it would mean the Eagles already blew their chances at the surgery. Two losses and a bye could be done with Koy in there. Lose and take DMac out for another 4-6 weeks after that, and the playoffs look iffy.

[PhillyPhreak54]

If he says he can play with it, I will trust him.

What needs to be done is Andrew Walter Reid needs to take some f'ing pressure off of him and run the ball and get into a ball control offense. Go back to the dink & dunk with a deep shot mixed in here and there if need be.

[SD_Eagle5]

If he says he can play with it, I will trust him.

What needs to be done is Andrew Walter Reid needs to take some f'ing pressure off of him and run the ball and get into a ball control offense. Go back to the dink & dunk with a deep shot mixed in here and there if need be.

Starting every game without a 17-0 deficit would help too. 

[General_Failure]

They don't start the games that way, stupid. It takes like 5 minutes before that happens.

[Sgt PSN]

If he says he can play with it, I will trust him.

What needs to be done is Andrew Walter Reid needs to take some f'ing pressure off of him and run the ball and get into a ball control offense. Go back to the dink & dunk with a deep shot mixed in here and there if need be.

I agree.  I think it's kind of funny that back when McNabb broke his ankle and Feely had to come in Reid did a 180 with his playcalling and made the running game the focal point of the offense in order to protect his young and limit his mistakes but now that he's got a franchise qb with multiple injuries, not only won't he run the ball more but I beleive he's actually running it LESS. 

Now I know the 2 situations are different.  Feeley was a rookie and didn't have anywhere near the working knowledge of the offense that McNabb does but I still think that McNabb needs to be protected better and the best way of doing that is by letting him hand the ball off to a very explosive Westbrook and a powerful Gordon (who I've been quite impressed with so far). 

On the flip side though, it takes McNabb a while to loosen up and he does need to throw the ball a lot in order to stay loose so I can understand why Reid wants to keep throwing.  But if the pass aint working early on then he might as well hand the ball off anyway. 

I guess Reid's stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to making a decision on this one.  He kept throwing and throwing against the Chiefs all game and it worked.  He did it against Dallas and it didn't.  I don't know what the right answer is but I do know that if there is one job in the world I don't want it's being the head coach of any sports team in Philly. 

[MadMarchHare]

I was a proponent of having the surgery done right away.  I believe IGY suggested having the surgery after the brutal part of the sched is over (i.e. SD, @DEN, @WAS), when the teams ebb off a bit and we'd have a better chance of winning.  Unfortunately, it looks like the teams don't ebb off much.

Hard to say.  If Don misses the regular season, he could come in rusty, or too quickly.  So my guess is we'll just let him play unless/until it becomes a bigger problem.

[rjs246]

McNabb going under the knife = season over. This isn't the same defense that carried AJ to a 4-1 record and this team doesn't have the depth of that team on either side of the ball. An injured McNabb is better than a healthy Neckbeard/McMahon.

So the question is whether an injured McNabb is good enough to get us to and win the superbowl... I have no idea what the answer to that question is, but to me this looks like McNabb going under will be the end of the playoff quest for the team.

[MadMarchHare]

C'mon now, Tim Couch and Ryan Leaf are available.....

[MURP]

Look at McNabb in the 2nd half of the Chiefs game.  Did his hernia magically go away? no.   If he is playing like crap its because he has always been streaky and can have games where he just sucks.  He has had this hernia before the season started and was capable of winning NFC player of the month.   

[Larry]

^^^I agree.  I think the injury card is being played too much.  Not as bad as Favre and his bum thumb....yet.

[mussa]

Mr. Reid needs to get over the throw happy hump in certain situations like these, where McNabbs not 100% and also when we are facing a d-line thats getting pressure.  We all know healthy or not McNabb struggles with pressure.  So why not mix it up, it makes sense to most of us.  What happened to all the screens from last year?  Is it that hard to adjust to defenses?  A Westy and Gordon combo is fine by me.  They both are good enough to get into the NFL...look at guys like Parker from Pittsburgh.  Anyone could be an effective back in a system where they pound the ball.  Look at Denver.  Im all for pass happy offense when certain players are healthy, but when they arn't I think we have to adjust and not put so much pressure on McNabb.  I think more running will help keep defense's honest...and help McNabb be more comfortable in his current situation, thus leading him to performing better.

The other thing is the current pass first and all plan is hurting our defense also.  I mean how fast were some of our possessions last week, alot of three and out.  Thats not good.  The game plan needs to change.  If our O-Line is so great, then why not utilize them to the fullest potential.   

[mussa]

Look at McNabb in the 2nd half of the Chiefs game.  Did his hernia magically go away? no.   If he is playing like crap its because he has always been streaky and can have games where he just sucks.  He has had this hernia before the season started and was capable of winning NFC player of the month.   

O-Line protection, come on Murp. 

[MURP]

yeah the Oline needs to be at its peak, but some of the sacks against Dallas were McNabbs fault.