Donovan McNabb Injured; Media Circus To Follow

Let me take you back to when I watched this thing unfold.

I was sitting down watching the Eagles game on my 32 inch high definition television. My girlfriend and my brother were going crazy because their team looked amazing after a rocky first quarter. I kept trying to bring them down to reality as I stated over and over that the game was not over but my brother wouldn’t hear it.

Next thing I know Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb scrambles towards the endzone on a goalline play and scores. My brother erupts into an uproar but the rest of us sit down and are upset because McNabb immediately clinches his lower back/side. The Eagles fans in the room returned to reality after this play.The announcer states that it’s a knee problem but we know what it is.

The first thing that came to my mind was “Great! ESPN is going to have a field day with this and Michael Vick coming back in Week three if McNabb can’t come back into the game.” No sooner than I said this did FOX shoot up to the visiting team owner’s box to show Jeffrey Laurie, Paul Tagliabue and Michael Vick and I knew what was coming if this injury was serious.

Well the preliminary diagnosis is that McNabb has a rib injury that will keep him out two to four weeks. If this is true than it means that, at worst, Michael Vick will get one start to the season this year after a long hiatus from the NFL.

Now I won’t even make this article about my feelings that Vick cannot carry the Birds to a win on either his arm or legs at this point against a regular season foe; even if they are the Buccaneers and Chiefs. No, this is about Donovan McNabb and how Eagles fans will treat him after this. You may recall earlier that I stated that Vick’s presence will allow for a change in the perception of Eagles fans. Well that time has come earlier than expected and I ask Philadelphia fans to head the words of advice from that article.

If Vick proves me wrong and comes out and plays one hell of a game – again this all speculative to the earlier report that McNabb is out two to four weeks – than you know what I am insinuating will happen. The “we love Vick” chants will come as will the accompanying phone calls to 610 WIP and 950 ESPN Radio Philadelphia stating that it is McNabb’s time to go because he is often injured.

I mean no sooner than McNabb walked off the field did one of my friends - a “loyal” Eagles fan - have a Facebook status update stating “what a surprise. McNabb gets hurt”. I imagine what kind of support McNabb would get if Vick does have a good showing. What upsets me the most is that Kevin Kolb made an appearance today and continued to look like a guy who didn’t know what a football was but all that came to mind for most football fans was week three and Michael Vick. While my thoughts on Vick’s play is simply speculative I do know something for fact; ESPN and the national media will have a field day with this.

If you thought that it was a media circus when Vick was first signed or even when he took snaps in week three of the pre-season imagine how it will be in the weeks leading up to this game.  Rather than talk about what is actually happening on the field for the 31 other NFL franchises one can expect this to be the biggest NFL story heading into the week three weekend. Heck as I type this McNabb’s fractured rib is the top story on ESPN.com’s side bar full of stories.

While I know appealing to ESPN and the national media’s better sense of judgment is meaningless because they’re going to run away with these stories I ask that anyone that reads this article not get caught up in the ridiculous hype that is about to follow. To do so all you have to do is let things go as they occur.  

Don’t get caught up in the hype if Vick has a good game.

Don’t get involved in the McNabb trade/where is he going next year speculation that would follow. 

Don’t add the fuel to the fire of the numerous stories and segments that ESPN will run.

Simply put… just let things occurs as they should and don’t add the fuel to the flame that is the media circus to follow.