The Real Truth: Why Donovan McNabb Has No Chance in DC

The McNabb story is neither new or interesting, it is neither controversial or remarkable, and it is neither current or worth covering.

Over the course of his 11 or so years in Philadelphia, McNabb had whatever he wanted: money, fame, prestige, and his mother in a lasting advertisement. What he did not have was news only as the apologists ramped up their commentary. His coach was no good. His team choked. His team did not like him. Some people are racists.

The bottom line is that neither McNabb or the huge support could get rid of the fact that McNabb, despite quickness, touch and scrambling ability, simply could not win the big one.

Now McNabb sets his sights on our Nation's Capital, a sorry affair for many who have tried, and a few famous ones who may have never won, but were oh so close (Sonny Jurgensen and Sammy Baugh).

Jurgensen is the best example. He started in Philadelphia and ended up as a Redskin...just like McNabb. He played in critical games and led the NFL in a season marked with productive offense.

Jurgensen won no NFL championship rings while at Washington, although he did have one at Philadelphia when it was quarterbacked by Normal Van Brocklin. Once in DC, Jurgensen's most productive year was his first.

You can make a lot of arguments about comparing McNabb and Jurgensen: Whose potbelly is bigger? Who has the better arm? Is there more pressure today than in the 1960's and 1970's?

But in the end, winning is more than an attitude and as freshness fades, failure becomes a cloak that mars talent, wherever it is.

McNabb surely has the skills to ensure that he is considered a contender, but nothing seen so far tells us that he will succeed only 100 miles or so from his last team.  

In fact, the real truth is that nothing in the past or likely future tells us that McNabb will last for as long as Jurgensen. We see gradual decline for McNabb and nothing more, but perhaps far less.