Attention, Philadelphia: Leave Donovan McNabb Alone

Donovan McNabb has endured things that no professional football player should ever have to, especially one that has been successfull on and off the field like he has been.

It is not enough that he was booed when he was drafted with the second overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. I mean, who else did you want? Tim Couch (drafted first and retired), Akili Smith and Cade McNown (out of football by their fourth season)?

He was named the full-time starter in his second season, finished second in the MVP voting, played in the Pro Bowl, and was ridiculed by Rush Limbaugh, who was working for ESPN at the time, saying that he was only successful because he was black.

Stephen A. Smith summed it up best in his column in the Philadelphia Inquirer:

"He should demand a conference call with coach Andy Reid, team president Joe Banner, and the rest of the Eagles' brass. Then he should tell each of them to go kick rocks, for all he cares. He should tell them that he's sick and tired of being this team's scapegoat, and that they're free to ship him out of this city so it gets what it deserves: the same old tired Eagles."

How quickly you forget Eagles fans that before McNabb arrived, your team was still in its rebuilding stage after Randall Cunningham.

Since your quarterback was drafted in 1999, he led the team to four consecutive NFC East championships, five NFC East title games, one Super Bowl (with Terrell Owens), and has been just as upstanding individual off the field.

You failed to have a winning season without him before and you will not when he is gone.

The city and the management of the team should be ashamed of themselves of how they have handled their franchise player and easily the best quarterback in team history.

Just remember that he has been quiet and walked a fair line through his entire time in Philly. He is a sleeping dragon waiting to explode. Somewhere down the line, it is going to happen and I feel pity for all that are in his wake.

When the time is right, he will tell the Eagles to do more than just "kick rocks".