Donovan McNabb: The Most Underappreciated Quarterback in the NFL

No. 5 has to be the most unappreciated quarterback in the game today. So I find it hard to believe that some Eagle’s fans want to see the back of him, for basically an unproven rookie in Kolb.

McNabb has nearly 30’000 yards, and 200 touchdowns in 10 seasons. Of those 10 seasons, he’s started at least 14 games in six of them. His highest number of turnovers in a season, is 13. Yes, 13, in his first full season. In six of his 10 seasons, he has thrown less than 10 picks.  

Brady has only one season of less than 10 picks. As does Peyton.  What we have here is the least intercepted quarterback (per throw) in NFL history, and a true Franchise Quarterback.

So I’m perplexed when I hear Eagle’s fans wanting to see the end of the McNabb era, and a move to Kevin Kolb. I think it represents an obvious disregard to how hard it is to find a franchise quarterback in pro football.

Once you have one, you don’t just give them away, while they are still at the top of their game.

For me, Donovan carried the team last season. He was one of the only parts who performed. Putting up nearly 4,000 yards, at 60 percent completion,  with 23 touchdowns and only turning the ball over 11 times. He was only sacked 23 times as well.

That’s a great season, that should be praised. Especially seeing as Donovan doesn’t have a Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald or Reggie Wayne to throw to every week. Instead, fans are pinning the blame on him. And not the rest of the underachieving side, who didn’t show up.

The play off game against the Cardinals is a prime example. Donovan threw for nearly 400 yards, and three touchdowns, with only one pick, against a rejuvenated Cardinal’s D, with no running game to speak of.

He makes two or three bad throws in the game, and the blame gets put on his shoulders. Not the Philadelphia D, who barely made a stop on Arizona all night. Seriously, we lost that game because we couldn’t stop Arizona.

Donovan did more than enough to win it with a quality defence.

I think we need to accept that we haven’t won a championship because we haven’t had a championship calibre team in the last decade. Very close, but not quite there. Blaming the quarterback, who really hasn’t had a bad season since he was drafted, and has been putting up HOF numbers for a decade is pushing it too far.

Golden rule of football. If you haven’t got a franchise quarterback, try and get one. If you have, try and keep him. Certainly don’t give them away, and help some other team win.

The Eagles need to strengthen to win. In all areas. We need a stronger D. A younger line. A stronger running game. A legit, elite target for McNabb.  Only then, with McNabb, will we have championship.

Will we be a better team with Kolb. No. We are lucky enough to have a Franchise Quarterback, at the top of his game. The only quarterbacks I would put ahead of No. 5 at the minute are Manning, Brady, and Rivers.

So appreciate the fact, and help him out.