Does Donavan McNabb Deserve More Respect?

So now that the NFL 2008 season has come to a conclusion, let's ask ourselves and review if Donavan McNabb deserves to have a bit more respect from the fans of Philadelphia and around the NFL.

We are all aware of the mid season game in Baltimore when head coach Andy Reid benched McNabb at the start of the second half.  At the time fans were left with the continued rhetoric from the announcers questioning the move.  McNabb for his part stood on the sidelines visibly displeased and rejected.

The following week McNabb once again was the starter and remained so for the rest of the season.  The results ultimately landed the Eagles once again in the NFC Conference Championship game, a position that the Eagles, and their fans, have become accustomed to with their fifth trip in eight seasons.  

So why does McNabb always appear to be upset?  Why is there a feeling that McNabb is not respected by the fans of Philadelphia?  And at the end of the season while the rest of the league (during the past few off seasons) waited to see if Brett Farve would play another game, Eagle fans were left to see if McNabb and Reid, or McNabb and the fans could make up.

It does appear that McNabb deserves some respect.  During the past 10 seasons the Eagles have only missed the playoffs twice.  As for the results in the playoffs, the Eagles have played in more NFC conference Championships (four) than any other team during that time.  Not to mention, the Eagles went to the Super Bowl XXXIX following the 2004 season.  A place the Eagles and their fans had not been since the days of Ron Jaworski and Dick Vermeil.

So why is there such a "Love Him/Leave Him" relationship with McNabb and the Philadelphia fans?  While during those same ten years the Eagle fans have seen the Ravens, Rams,  Buccaneers, Colts, Giants, Patriots, and Steelers all win Super Bowls. 

As for the matter of respect, all McNabb needs to do is win that ring.  If McNabb can achieve that goal, he will be forever an Eagle that the Philadelphia fan will place on the throne along with Carlton, Schmidt, McGraw, Dr. J., Bobby Clark, and the rest of the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies.

But since that has yet to happen all the Eagles fans are left with is the fact that McNabb is not equal to Tom Brady, (three rings); Ben Rothlesburger, (two rings); Payton and Elli Manning (one ring each), and Kurt Warner, (one ring).

So will McNabb ever earn the respect he so desperately craves?  All we can do is wait and see.