The 2007 Offseason Thread

[Rome]

This is gonna be a long motherfarging offseason. 

[Seabiscuit36]

Will IGY try to murder Banner? Or go for the LJ Smith Autograph

[Munson]

IGY...McNabb, let alone his "not caring about losing", are not what has lost this team a few NFC Championships. Andy Reid's horrible play calling, lack of commitment to the run, and most recently crappy defense has been what has plauged this team. If McNabb cared about not losing in 2001, it wouldn't have been enough to overcome the fact that Marshall Faulk was carving up the run defense, and Andy Reid stopped running Duce in the 2nd half even though he was pretty effective. 2002 I think was probably the true choke job of this team, but even that you can't blame ALL on McNabb. His caring about losing would not have overcome the WR's playing piss poor. 2003...McNabb didn't even play half the game. He got drilled on a late hit roughing the passer call that was never called. 2004....Patriots were the better team, plain and simple. Eagles defense again showed up small in the big game.

McNabb is a great player, and can carry a team...but only so far. With so many things working against him (Bad play calling, lack of running game, defense playing bad, crappy WR's for 3 NFC Championship games)...It doesn't matter how much McNabb does or does not hate losing...there wasn't much more he could do.

Besides maybe 2002 of course, which I think was probably the biggest choke job ever. Bucs, at home, in the cold, wehere you've domianted them in recent years...and you lose. And the Bucs go on to get an EASY SB victory against the Raiders.

Let's call the QB who threw 4 TD's on a broken ankle and tried his best to play through a sports hernia despite the TO problems and a divided lockerroom...lets call him coddled. Just because he doesn't act tough and show over the top emotion...he's soft, not a leader, etc blah blah blah.

I know it's a long offseason...but there are MUCH bigger worries on this team right now besides McNabb's mind set. Like his knee, for example. Or the state of the front 7 on defense.

[Diomedes]

milquetoast

[ice grillin you]

mcnabb has been close enough more than enough times with teams more than capable of winning a title for me to say that his inner being is the reason they havent won a championship

but by all means if it makes you feel better about your teams qb...please keep making every excuse in the book for him

[PhillyPhreak54]

Reid 'Disappointed' By Speculation
January 23, 2007
By BOB KENT


Head coach Andy Reid said Tuesday that he was "disappointed" in a published reports that franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb is unhappy with the Eagles organization and uncertain about his future in Philadelphia.

"I hate to see people have to make things up that aren't really true," Reid said in a conference call from the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL. "He (Donovan) knows what's the truth and what isn't the truth. I'm not worried about that."

Despite the speculation, Reid stands by his decision last week to cancel McNabb's press conference that was scheduled for last Friday.

"It was my choice, not Donovan's choice," Reid said. "I don't feel any different."

A couple of different reports have said indicated that McNabb has been at odds with the team regarding issues ranging from his post-surgery rehabilitation to his standing in the locker room to the fact that he was not taken on the team charter for the playoff game in New Orleans.

The widely-read web site, ProFootballTalk.com had this report over the weekend: "As we hear it, McNabb was at some point determined to be behind schedule in his recovery from season-ending surgery to repair the injury that he suffered against the Titans. And McNabb has, on at least one occasion, blamed the delay on well-respected trainer Rick Burkholder.

"There's a school of thought that Eagles coach Andy Reid put the kibosh on McNabb's recent press conference due in part to concerns that McNabb would blab about the brouhaha.

"Complicating matters is the fact that the players have a strong affinity for backup Jeff Garcia, who led the team to a berth in the divisional playoffs. An industry source tells us that guys like tackle Jon Runyan and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, both members of Reid's 'veterans' committee' have expressed strong support for Garcia."

Then, a column in The Trenton Times cited "people close to" McNabb as saying he "is not pleased with a lot that has happened since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a loss to Tennessee on Nov. 19."

At the time of the injury, McNabb had been near the top of the league's charts in passing yards (2,647), touchdown passes (18 ), and QB rating (95.5). Along the way, he became the seventh player in NFL history to throw for 20,000 yards and rush for 2,500 more.

The story continued ...

"The franchise quarterback's unhappiness includes the fact head coach Andy Reid did not allow him to travel to the team's playoff game in New Orleans. There is a team rule that players on injured reserve do not travel ...

"McNabb also may be getting a vibe that some in the organization prefer (Jeff) Garcia over him. Lastly he was not pleased with the way his mother, Wilma, has been portrayed by Eagles fans and the local media for her blog on his Web site in which she stated that watching the Eagles win without her son 'is bittersweet.'"

Garcia was a more-than-sufficient replacement for the injured McNabb down the stretch. In seven games (6 starts), he threw 10 touchdown passes and only two interceptions on 188 attempts. Most importantly, he led the Eagles to a 5-1 record and an NFC East division championship.

The story went on to indicate the rumors are surfacing that McNabb or Garcia could land in Minnesota or Tampa Bay before next season.

Reid was not asked about the particular report. But he did reiterate his displeasure with what's being reported.

"I'm disappointed that people are making things up. That's the part I'm disappointed in," Reid said. "I think that people are making a lot of things up here that aren't true."

Reid goes after Eckel even though he doesn't drop his name. Eckel already hates Reid so I'm sure we'll see a column by Eckel in the next few days responding. And I'm sure we can count on Cataldi & Hughes to defend Eckel tomorrow.

[Munson]

mcnabb has been close enough more than enough times with teams more than capable of winning a title for me to say that his inner being is the reason they havent won a championship

but by all means if it makes you feel better about your teams qb...please keep making every excuse in the book for him

Seriously, name a year besides 2002 that the Eagles SHOULD HAVE won the Super Bowl.

2001-They weren't even supposed to be in the NFC Title game, and the Rams were defiantely favored.

2002-Favored, should have won it all them

2003-McNabb was hurt for the entire 2nd half. But yeah, that loss...his fault

2004-Got them there, couldn't handle the Patriots D. Not many teams could that year.

2005-We all know what happened there.

2006-Was off to a great start, numbers stagnated, then he blew out his knee.

If this team can have the same commitment to the run next year with McNabb healthy, and the defense doesn't completely suck....They could have another chance. Other then that, I don't see a lot of teams that SHOULD have won the title and didn't because of McNabb's "weak pysche". 2002 is the only one that definatetly SHOULD HAVE, and McNabb choked hard in that game...as did the rest of the team.

[ice grillin you]

Seriously, name a year besides 2002 that the Eagles SHOULD HAVE won the Super Bowl.

i never said should have

no team ever should win..teams can win tho

the eagles have had teams that were 'more than capable' of winning


excuses are the words of losers....YOU are a loser

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Isn't one year when a team "should have" won the Super Bowl and didn't enough reason to shake some things up?

[Munson]

Isn't one year when a team "should have" won the Super Bowl and didn't enough reason to shake some things up?

Not with the franchise QB. In other posistions, definately. They waited a year on it though, and again the WR's killed them in 03'. They went out and finally got the star WR in '04....and you know the rest of hte story.

If you're inferring that coaching changes should probably be made...yeah. Reid's an idiot. But then again, how many teams do YOU know of that go to the NFC Championship game, lose, and get fired for it?

And IGY, the Eagles could have won it THIS year, if you want to go by that logic. THe Eagles could have won it in 1999. The fact is that they probably SHOULDN'T have won it in 01, 03, and this year....2002 they should have...2004, maybe, but exactly how many teams could handle the Patriots that year? 2? The Eagles weren't one of them.

There's a difference between making excuses and giving reasons as to why you can't just say "These teams didn't win the Super Bowl because McNabb has a weak pysche." Just stop it.

[ice grillin you]

There's no difference between making excuses and giving reasons as to why

precisely

[MDS]

JJ Outlaw = Superbowl

[BigEd76]

Eckel declined to appear on DNL....probably because Runyan was there...

[Mad-Lad]

Eckel declined to appear on DNL....probably because Runyan was there...

do they not care for one another or is Eckel just afraid to make eye contact with Eagles players?

[PhillyPhreak54]

Barkann read the PFT.com story directly to Runyan since Jon was named in the PFT report as being one of the veteran committee guys who was said to have expressed a preference towards Garcia.

Jon said (paraphrasing)"He's the starting QB at that time. What else are we going to say? You have to pledge your support for whoever is playing. That's the way it is. Donovan was out hurt so we had to get behind him (Garcia)"