Bleacher Report - Donovan McNabb

Eagles' Win Over Redskins Was a Moral Defeat

Bryan Toporek — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:06:00 -0500

The Eagles ' win over the Redskins Sunday moved the team to 7-4 overall on the season (3-1 in the division) and firmly into the driver's seat for one of the two NFC wild card spots.

But in reality, it was about as close to a defeat as a win could be.

In fact, while the Redskins get credit for another moral victory for keeping the game so close, the Eagles can soundly call Sunday's performance a moral defeat.

Bill Simmons introduced me to the idea of a moral defeat in this reader mailbag of his , where a reader from Illinois proposed:

"[What's] a phrase for a team that plays poorly and barely wins a game that it should have won in a landslide? Why not 'moral defeat'? It's the exact opposite of a moral victory -- an inferior team playing out of its mind and almost toppling Goliath, but being satisfied ultimately with coming so close. You say moral defeat, and everyone knows what you mean: a win so ugly it feels like a loss."

That definition sums up the Eagles' most recent win over the Washington Redskins perfectly.

Yes, the Eagles won by three points, came back in the fourth quarter after being down eight, and showed some heart to move to 7-4 on the season...but why were they in that position in the first place?

Well, for starters: Andy Reid, a man who has outsmarted himself countless times, may have outdone himself yet again this season by opening Sunday's game with an onside kick.

Reid's done this crafty move before, with mixed results. In 2000, Reid caught the Cowboys off-guard and rolled to a 41-14 romp, perhaps signaling the impending changing of the guard in the NFC East that occurred in the early part of this decade.

Three years later, it backfired when the Cowboys' Randall Williams (why always the Cowboys?) recovered the Eagles' game-opening onside kick and ran it back 37 yards in three seconds for the fastest touchdown to start a game in NFL history.

And yes, I know that some NFL statistics websites (like advancednflstats.com , for example) will come out with charts or probabilities that prove a game-opening onside kick is a smart percentage play because the other team likely won't expect such tomfoolery.

But isn't there a point where you're outsmarting yourself? Maybe the other team isn't expecting a game-opening onside kick because it's not the logical decision?

When you're facing a divisional rival that you soundly beat earlier in the season with no major tricks up your sleeve, why, for the love of sweet, newborn, eight-pound Baby Jesus , would you give that team any breath of life the second time around?

I don't care if the ratio of recovering the surprise onside kick is above 50 percent. If the Eagles wanted the ball that badly to start the game, they could have simply elected to receive after winning the coin toss!

Instead, they found themselves down 7-0, two minutes into the game, against a suddenly potent divisional foe.

Make no mistake, the Redskins have been playing better since bringing Sherm Lewis out of the Bingo halls and into the play-calling booth, scoring a huge upset over Denver and giving Dallas the scare of a lifetime last week.

But no one's mistaking Jason Campbell for Peyton Manning any time soon, and with Clinton Portis still recovering from a concussion, the Redskins started a third-stringer named Rock Cartwright as their running back.

Had the Eagles simply kicked a typical kickoff to open the game, there's no reason to believe that the Redskins' offense would have run roughshod over the Eagles' D.

Instead, Reid put his players in a difficult position within the first two minutes of the game, and they had to focus on battling their way out of an early deficit.

The Eagles still looked on their way to another Raiders-esque tankjob, before Donovan McNabb rallied the troops in the fourth quarter to steal a win away from the 'Skins.

"I was proud of him just stepping up and talking over," Reid said. "He was into it. He said, 'Hey, we're scoring.'"

Reid's lucky to have McNabb, a seasoned veteran who could corral his young team and march them down the field at a crucial time in the game.

But the Eagles were missing a key element to their offense on that game-tying drive, as speedy receiver DeSean Jackson got knocked out with a concussion in the third quarter after scoring on a wide-open touchdown in the first quarter. With Brian Westbrook nursing himself back to health after suffering two concussions in four weeks, an injury like this to Jackson was virtually the worst-case scenario for the Eagles (besides a season-ending injury).

Overall, the Eagles may have managed to sneak out a victory on Sunday, but this game came as close to a defeat as a victory could possibly be. Against a team they should have comfortably beaten, the Eagles sloughed their way through nearly 60 minutes of play before pulling together at the end.

It goes down as a win in the W/L column, but does this win inspire any confidence in this Eagles team for the upcoming five weeks?

Welcome to the world of the moral defeat, Philly.

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Fantasy Football Week 12 Player Breakdowns

kevin roberts — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:46:48 -0500

If you haven't had the chance, be sure to check out this week's Start/Sit column, as well as our player rankings. For quick matchup analysis, read on for Week 12 's player breakdowns:

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills

QB Chad Henne: Has looked good, but Miami will run all day. **
RB Ricky Williams: Should see another big load, and Bills run defense is lousy. *****
RB Lex Hilliard: Should see more carries, but still barely a Flex play. **
WR Davone Bess: Gets a good amount of looks, but not the week to use him. **
WR Greg Camarillo: Too unreliable, and facing decent pass defense. **
WR Ted Ginn: Role isn't established, mostly only has value on returns. **
WR Brian Hartline: Only good for two catches per game, so weak play. *

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick: Looked ok last week, and Miami pass defense nothing special. **
RB Fred Jackson: Role is growing again, and Lynch is dealing with injuries. ***
RB Marshawn Lynch: Check his status, but role hasn't been great. **
WR Terrell Owens: Blew up last week, so the potential is definitely there. ***
WR Lee Evans: Has been quiet, but Fitzpatrick normally loves him. ***

Carolina Panthers @ New York Jets

QB Jake Delhomme: They should look to run the ball a ton, and he's no safe bet. **
RB DeAngelo Williams: Should be extremely active and Jets run defense has been weak. *****
RB Jonathan Stewart: Didn't do much last week, so hard to expect fireworks this week. **
WR Steve Smith: Should see a lot of the Jets top corner, but he's been on fire. ***
WR Muhsin Muhammad: Could see some looks if Smith is shut down. **

QB Mark Sanchez: Not a good option, especially with ultra-stingy Carolina pass defense. *
RB Thomas Jones: Panthers can be run on and Jones should have big workload. *****
RB Shonn Greene: Role has been small, but it's a good matchup. **
WR Jerricho Cotchery: Not a horrible play, but Carolina pass defense is very good. ***
WR Braylon Edwards: Has big-play potential, but can't love the matchup. **
TE Dustin Keller: Could be active as a dump-off guy, but low ceiling this week. **

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals

QB Brady Quinn: Was sharp last week and Bengals pass defense has been only so-so lately. **
RB Jamal Lewis: Should get enough touches to do some damage, but matchup looks tough. **
RB Chris Jennings: Has been involved, but can't expect much against a solid defense. *
WR Mohamed Massaqoui: Suddenly Quinn's go-to guy, or just another one-game wonder? **
WR Chansi Stuckey: Still can't be relied upon, and matchup doesn't help. *
WR Josh Cribbs: Can do some serious damage with returns, and role is ok. **

QB Carson Palmer: Matthew Stafford went off against them, so his chances are good. *****
RB Bernard Scott: Value dips if Benson plays, but Browns stink against run, so solid play. ****
RB Cedric Benson: If he plays he should get some good run with a nice matchup. ***
RB Brian Leonard: Has low-end Flex value if Benson is out again. **
WR Chad Ochocinco: Could have a huge day against very spotty secondary. ****
WR Laveranues Coles: Has a low ceiling, but matchup is fantastic. ***
WR Andre Caldwell: Not a viable fantasy option. *

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans

QB Peyton Manning: No reason to expect anything but elite numbers. *****
RB Joseph Addai: Remains very active and keeps scoring, so run with him. ****
RB Donald Brown: Doesn't have a great role, so not a good play. *
WR Reggie Wayne: Always a great play, so start him with confidence. *****
WR Pierre Garcon: Is good for some shots deep, so worth a play. ***
WR Austin Collie: Role has been weak lately, but not a bad matchup. **
TE Dallas Clark: Best tight end in football and Manning loves him. *****

QB Matt Schaub: Colts secondary is banged up, so he has a chance. ***
RB Steve Slaton: Still the starter, but role is uncertain. **
RB Chris Brown: Had the bulk of the carries last week, so has value. **
RB Ryan Moats: Didn't touch the ball last week, so not a great play. *
WR Andre Johnson: Always a must-start, but not the best match up. ****
WR Kevin Walter: Hasn't been doing much, but potential is there. **
WR David Anderson: Did well last week, and could be active underneath. **
TE James Casey: Could start working into a bigger role. **

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons

QB Josh Freeman: Falcons pass defense stinks, so he's worth a shot. ***
RB Carnell Williams: Falcons can't stop the run either, so solid play. ***
RB Derrick Ward: Bucs say they'll use all three backs, so some value here. **
RB Earnest Graham: Ditto. **
WR Antonio Bryant: Is healthy again, so has a chance at success this week. ***
WR Sammie Stroughter: Not very reliable, but has a good matchup. **
TE Kellen Winslow: Has a solid role and Falcons are terrible against tight ends. ****

QB Matt Ryan: Bucs can't stop anyone, and Ryan looked better last week. ****
RB Michael Turner: Will be a game-time decision, but too much of a risk this week. ***
RB Jason Snelling: Should be the starter, and matchup is rock solid. ****
RB Jerious Norwood: Could have a bigger role this week, but not reliable. **
WR Roddy White: Should be back to normal against weak Bucs secondary. *****
WR Michael Jenkins: Could find a big play or two against poor secondary. **
TE Tony Gonzalez: Always a solid option, especially with nice matchup. *****

Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles

QB Jason Campbell: Eagles pass defense solid last week, so not a good play. **
RB Rock Cartwright: Will get all the touches, but tough matchup. ***
WR Santana Moss: Has the potential, but has been very unreliable. **
TE Fred Davis: Is Redskins second best option, so should get some looks. **

QB Donovan McNabb: Redskins pass defense is solid, so not an elite play. ***
RB LeSean McCoy: Should get solid amount of carries, and 'Skins run D weakening. ***
WR DeSean Jackson: Tough matchup, but always a big-play threat. ***
WR Jeremy Maclin: Has been very consistent, but nothing special. ***
TE Brent Celek: A very solid TE1, but matchup isn't great. ***

Seattle Seahawks @ St. Louis Rams

QB Matt Hasselbeck: Look for Hass to bounce back against excellent matchup. ****
RB Justin Forsett: Will likely start and should have a huge role in the offense. ****
RB Julius Jones: Game-time decision and not a good bet this week. *
WR Nate Burleson: Should be fairly active in nice matchup. ****
WR TJ Housh: Has been a disappointment, but it's a good matchup. ***
TE John Carlson: Shredded them for 7/97/2 last meeting, so nice play. ****

QB Kyle Boller: Matchup isn't horrible, but he is. *
RB Steven Jackson: Should get the ball a ton. *****
WR Donnie Avery: Check his status, and is a very iffy play this week. *
WR Brandon Gibson: Should see a lot of targets, but own ceiling with Boller in. **

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers

QB Matt Cassel: He should be very active late in the game, so not a horrible play. ***
RB Jamaal Charles: Chargers can be run on, and he has good potential. **
WR Chris Chambers: Could go off against former team. ***
WR Lance Long: Hasn't done anything lately, but could do some damage this week. **

QB Phillip Rivers: Chiefs secondary is weak, so expect big day. ****
RB LaDainian Tomlinson: Usually finds success against Chiefs, and has looked good. ****
RB Darren Sproles: Not a huge role, but useful in return leagues. **
WR Vincent Jackson: Has been quiet, but could explode this week. *****
WR Malcom Floyd: Over-hyped and very unreliable. **
TE Antonio Gates: He hasn't been great, but potential and matchup bodes well. ***

Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Francisco 49ers

QB David Garrard: 49ers can be shredded, and Garrard has looked solid. ***
RB Maurice Jones-Drew: A must-start. *****
WR Mike Sims-Walker: Always a solid play, and 49ers secondary not playing well. ****
WR Torry Holt: Hasn't scored all season, and production is dipping. **
TE Marcedes Lewis: Very unreliable role, but matchup could help. **

QB Alex Smith: Solid matchup, and Smith looked good last week. ***
RB Frank Gore: Jags can be run on, and Gore should get plenty of carries. *****
WR Michael Crabtree: Should be fairly active, and matchup is nice. ***
WR Josh Morgan: Unreliable, but Jags secondary is vulnerable to big play. **
TE Vernon Davis: Great game last week and potential is always there. *****

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings

QB Jay Cutler: Minnesota pass defense can be beat, and he'll be throwing all day. ***
RB Matt Forte: He's no match for the Williams Wall. **
WR Devin Hester: Should be active with Bears throwing a ton. ***
WR Earl Bennett: Could be active, but is inconsistent. **
WR Johnny Knox: Big play ability is there, and matchup is ok. **
TE Greg Olsen: Great matchup, as Vikes stink against tight ends. ****

QB Brett Favre: Bears pass defense stinks, so expect solid numbers. *****
RB Adrian Peterson: Bears aren't horrible against the run, but he should be fine. *****
WR Sidney Rice: Could torch Chicago corners, and is absolutely on fire. *****
WR Percy Harvin: Always a solid WR3, so a solid play this week. ***
WR Bernard Berrian: Not as involved as you would like, but has a good matchup. **
TE Visanthe Shiancoe: Always a threat in the red-zone, so decent play. ***

Arizona Cardinals @ Tennessee Titans

QB Kurt Warner: Head appears to be fine, and should pass a ton. ****
RB Tim Hightower: Titans stop the run well, so don't expect the usual. ***
RB Chris Wells: Should see the usual carries, but matchup not great. ***
WR Larry Fitzgerald: Always a great play, and should be very active. *****
WR Anquan Boldin: Looked good last week, and should play big role again. ****
WR Steve Breaston: Role has been solid, so decent play this week. ***

QB Vince Young: Cardinals pass defense stinks, but he won't be too active. ***
RB Chris Johnson: Has been awesome, and matchup is decent. *****
RB Lendale White: Scored last week, so could see some run this week. **
WR Justin Gage: Still out with a back injury.
WR Kenny Britt: Has been starting and playing ok, so decent option this week. ***
WR Nate Washington: Solid matchup, so not a horrible WR3 this week. **
TE Bo Scaife: Role has been small, so find another option. *

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

QB Ben Roethlisberger: Check his status, but matchup bodes well. *****
RB Rashard Mendenhall: Ravens stop the run well, so not a great play. ***
WR Hines Ward: Should be very active, and matchup bodes well. ****
WR Santonio Holmes: Hasn't scored since week one, so this could be the week. ****
WR Mike Wallace: Could see solid amount of targets with nice matchup. ***
TE Heath Miller: Was very active last week, so solid play against Ravens. ****

QB Joe Flacco: Steelers can be passed on, and he should throw a lot. ***
RB Ray Rice: Could still be active through screens, but Steelers stop the run well. ***
RB Willis MGahee: Only has value near the goalline. *
WR Derrick Mason: Should be active, so solid WR3 this week. ***
WR Mark Clayton: Very unreliable, but Ravens will have to pass. **
TE Todd Heap: Not a big role, and just not very explosive. **

New England Patriots @ New Orleans Saints

QB Tom Brady: Should be fine in a huge matchup. ****
RB Laurence Maroney: Saints can't stop the run, so good play. ****
WR Randy Moss: Saints will have trouble with him early and often. *****
WR Wes Welker: Will be extremely active as usual. *****
WR Julian Edelman: Role fairly small, but potential is there. **
TE Ben Watson: Hasn't done much lately, so not a great play. **

QB Drew Brees: Patriots can be passed on, and he'll be needed. *****
RB Pierre Thomas: Should be active early, but Pats are decent against run. ***
RB Mike Bell: Had a good game last week, so should have decent role. ***
RB Reggie Bush: Iffy this week, but role is inconsistent, anyways. **
WR Marques Colston: A solid start in a huge game, and was active last week. ***
WR Devery Henderson: Hasn't been very good lately, but potential is there. **
WR Robert Meachem: Has scored in three straight, so a solid WR3. ***
TE Jeremy Shockey: Hasn't done much lately, so only a so-so play. **

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Week 12 Fantasy Football Versus: Coin Flip

kevin roberts — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:39:17 -0500

Even with all the Start/Sit and Waiver Wire advice in the world, sometimes fantasy owners are left to be frantic, panicking over their decisions going into Sunday's games .

In Fantasy Coin Flip, we take a look at three different positions and a possible matchup between two players of solid value that could be fighting it out for a spot in your team's line-up this week. Read on for some information and analysis that could help push you in the right direction:

Donovan McNabb , QB, PHI (vs. WAS) VS. Matt Ryan, QB, ATL (vs. TB)

This is an interesting matchup, as McNabb would be the usual consensus pick, but with his last performance against a reasonably tough Washington pass defense in mind, Matt Ryan definitely deserves his argument to be heard here.

McNabb had a great day against the San Diego Chargers two weeks ago and had another solid performance against the Chicago Bears, but after seeing how the Redskins held Tony Romo and the Cowboys passing offense in check for almost four quarters, we're not in love with McNabb's chances.

His inconsistency, past performance, and the Redskins defensive potential beg us to consider all options.

Ryan, on the other hand, has been progressing in recent weeks, and was solid last week in a loss to the New York Giants. His stud receiver, Roddy White, looks to be fully healthy, and his star running back, Michael Turner, could possibly return this week.

Verdict: Regardless of their individual arguments, Ryan is going up against a still pathetic Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, and has to be the play this week, making him a "coin flip" suggestion for the second week in a row.

Cedric Benson, RB, CIN (vs. CLE) VS. Michael Turner, RB, ATL (vs. TB)

It's the battle of the injured studs . The question isn't necessarily which will perform better against his scheduled cakewalk match-up, but more, which will play? And even if both play this Sunday, which can we expect to have a bigger role?

Benson is reportedly "ready to play", while head coach Marvin Lewis seems unwilling to commit to a status for the star running back for Week 12. Benson's hip figures to be almost (if not completely) 100 percent, but with an easy opponent like the Cleveland Browns, it wouldn't shock us to see the Bengals sit him for the second consecutive week.

As for Michael Turner, while he hasn't practiced all week, his high ankle sprain is reportedly healing faster than expected, although head coach Mike Smith isn't saying anything about it.

The word is that Jason Snelling is going to be the starter this week, especially considering the Falcons haven't even begun to discuss a timetable for Turner's return.

Verdict: Both running backs hold good value if they play this week, and both have a decent shot at a return. However, we're leaning toward the guy that has the hip injury, and not an ankle injury that can easily be re- injured. Run with Benson if you must.

Lee Evans, WR, BUF (vs. MIA) VS. Terrell Owens, WR, BUF (vs. MIA)

This is the matchup between the Bills top two receivers, pitting the guy Ryan Fitzpatrick used to be enamored with (Evans), against the guy he hooked-up with constantly in Week 11. Will Evans get the bulk of the looks like usual, or has T.O. truly broken out?

The noodle-armed Ryan Fitzpatrick was unwilling to go deep to Terrell Owens when he first took over as the starter two weeks ago, and it was the same story in spot duty before that. However, he and Owens connected on a 98-yard scoring strike last week, while Owens ended the game with 197 yards receiving.

Verdict: We like Evans to garner some more attention due to his better catching ability and Fitzpatrick's tendency to throw shorter passes, but Owens' potential should have him being your choice as an elite WR3 this week.

For all of our Week 12 Fantasy Player Rankings and more fantasy advice, go here .

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QBER/Week 11: Numbers Say MVP Award Is Favre-Fetched Idea

Paul Ladewski — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:25:56 -0500

(QBER is short for Quarterback Efficiency Rating, a more comprehensive, easily understood rating system that I devised to place the emphasis where it belongs—on the ability of a quarterback to advance the ball, avoid negative plays, and score touchdowns in comparison to his peers. A rating of 100.0 is the league average.)

It’s too a bit too early for apologies, but the critics who wrote off Brett Favre months ago should be advised to have their my-bad's ready.

Not only is Favre the top-ranked quarterback in the league, according to the most recent QBER calculations, but the longer the season progresses, the better he has been. At a time when 40-year-olds are supposed to slow down, his QBER has improved from 125.1 to 138.1 to 138.5 to 141.6 to 148.2 in the last four weeks.

Can you say Most Valuable Player, boys and girls?

There are several worthy candidates for MVP honors, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning also among them, but Favre should rate as the early favorite for the award. Even though feature Adrian Peterson has been fairly average by his standards, the Vikings own a 9-1 record largely because Favre has stepped up as a highly efficient quarterback and unquestioned team leader.

What stands out about Favre is his ability to avoid negative plays, which is in stark contrast to the later stages of his Green Bay Packers career. In 334 pass plays, he has been guilty of only four turnovers, the best rate in the league. He also accounts for one touchdown per 15.9 pass attempts, which is 75 percent above the league average.

It was in Week 14 of a year ago that Favre began his free-fall because of shoulder problems. His detractors may not like it, but a rerun doesn’t appear to be likely this time around.

The QBER Leaders Through Week Eleven of the Regular Season:

1. Brett Favre 148.2

2. Peyton Manning 134.6

3. Donovan McNabb 130.0

4. Aaron Rodgers 129.3

5. Drew Brees 128.3

6. Tom Brady 127.6

7. Philip Rivers 127.5

8. Matt Schaub 125.3

9. Eli Manning 119.0

10. Kurt Warner 114.5

11. Kyle Orton 114.2

12. Tony Romo 112.4

13. Joe Flacco 110.5

14. Carson Palmer 109.7

15. Ben Roethlisberger 106.6

16. Matt Hasselbeck 104.0

17. Matt Ryan 101.5

18. Matt Cassel 101.4

19. David Garrard 90.0

20. Chad Henne 87.2

21. Jay Cutler 85.8

22. Marc Bulger 82.3

23. Jason Campbell 81.6

24. Matthew Stafford 80.5

25. Trent Edwards 79.3

26. Kerry Collins 78.4

27. Mark Sanchez 59.6

28. Jake Delhomme 57.2

29. JaMarcus Russell 50.1

A Few Observations

If Vince Young isn’t a big fan of the QBER system, then he should be. According the NFL passer rating formula, the Tennessee Titans signal-caller would rank 17th overall if he had the required number of pass attempts—two spots worse than he would on be on the QBER list. The QBER formula credits Young for the 147 yards that he gained on runs off pass plays, while the NFL system ignores them. The Titans haven’t lost since Young regained his starter role, and his improved play has been a primary reason for the turnaround.
Maybe Pete Carroll was right, after all. The Southern California head coach said Mark Sanchez would have been better suited to remain in college one more year, and the numbers support his contention. The New York Jets' rookie has been plagued by turnovers—19 of them. Only Jay Cutler has as many in the league.
While Sanchez has regressed, Detroit Lions rookie Matthew Stafford has headed the other way. His QBER jumped from 58.7 (28th overall) to a semi-respectable 80.5 (24th) in that span. It should be noted that he played against the Cleveland Browns last week.
The play of Philadelphia Eagles veteran Donovan McNabb may be as consistent as any point in his career. His QBER ranking in each of the last six weeks: fourth, fourth, second, third, third, and third.
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers earned the Mr. Clean Award last week. In 22 pass plays, he did not have a scramble, sack, fumble, or interception.

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Donovan McNabb-Jay Cutler Talk Draws Scrutiny for McNabb

Bob Cunningham — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:28:00 -0500

After last night's game against the Chicago Bears, in which Donovan McNabb willed his team to a victory, McNabb and Jay Cutler met in the middle of the field and spoke for about three minutes.

Well, actually, McNabb talked and Cutler just listened.

The mics were able to pick up a little of what McNabb was saying at the end, but it seemed as though the gist of the conversation was McNabb giving Cutler some invaluable advice on how to deal with a city on your back and the media down your throat.

Let's be honest, if anyone knows how to deal with a situation like that, it's McNabb.

And now we see why McNabb knows how to deal with the situation that Cutler is in. After his talk with Cutler, McNabb is drawing scrutiny from some members of the Philadelphia media. Apparently the talk was "over the top" and should have happened behind closed doors.

To me, this is lunacy. McNabb was simply giving a young quarterback some good advice and showing what a class act he really is, and yet the media still finds a reason to find fault in something he did.

Instead of talking about how he led the Eagles' offense down the field for the game-winning touchdown by making the keys throws they needed to be made and avoiding the pressure when it was there, we're left to read about how he shouldn't have talked to Cutler for so long.

It seems like no matter what he does, the media will never give McNabb the credit he deserves for what he has done for this team and this city. Even if he were to never win a Super Bowl here in Philly, he, along with Reid, have brought respectability back to a franchise that had none for a good portion of the post-Dick Vermeil era.

Yes, Randall Cunningham did a lot in opening the door for McNabb to be successful, but like McNabb, Cunningham will never get the respect he deserves as "The Ultimate Weapon," even though he's held in a much higher regard than McNabb.

And even "The Ultimate Weapon" didn't have the success that McNabb has had.

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