Donovan McNabb Finally Shown "Brotherly Love" as Washington Redskins Win

One of the most anticipated games this Sunday was the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles.  Donovan McNabb came back to Philly for the first time since being traded. 

The Redskins won the game 17-6.  McNabb didn’t have impressive numbers but made some key plays.  He was 9-for-18 passing for 125 yards.  McNabb rushed for 55 yards as well.

In a show of class the fans stood and cheered McNabb prior to the game but once the game started he was just another quarterback.

Michael Vick started the game but left early in the first half after sustaining rib and chest injuries after a 23-yard scamper.

Enter Kevin Kolb. 

Kolb came into the game to cheers as he tried to rally the Eagles but he couldn’t get it done. 

Vick being hurt was very ironic.  Kolb was hurt three weeks ago and Vick came in and played extremely well.  But when Kolb entered the game he didn’t set the world on fire.

Why would Philadelphia trade McNabb within the division in favor of the “Great White Hope” is beyond me.

Why did coach Reid publicly laud McNabb as his quarterback but behind closed doors fielded trades for him?

I’m aware the NFL is a business.  Players getting shafted has happened to white players but not to the magnitude of McNabb.

McNabb got some sweet revenge as he left Philadelphia with a victory over the quarterback that was supposed to be the savior.

Despite Reid’s handling of McNabb I applaud him for inserting Vick as the starter.  He was a man when he changed his mind to give the ball to Vick: But he doesn’t get any love from me based on how the organization treated McNabb before his departure.

Now with Vick hurt does Reid give the job back to Kolb?

I guess the Eagles will figure that out in due time but today was about McNabb.  The fans showed McNabb love today as a Redskin why didn’t they show it in his time of need as an Eagle?

McNabb wasn’t extended the “brotherly love” he deserved by the front-office, fans and the media.  McNabb shouldered a bunch of turmoil in his 11-years as the Eagles quarterback.

Before former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue could announce McNabb’s name at the 1999 Draft the Philly faithful were booing their new franchise quarterback.  I guess it was just “Something about McNabb” that didn’t allow him to be embraced.

You know what that “something” might be?

The negative press, Terrell Owens, quarterback controversies, boos from fans, racist statements by Rush Limbaugh, and a front office that couldn’t commit were just some of the things McNabb shouldered.

Despite the complicated treatment McNabb went on to have a successful career in Philadelphia. Not many quarterbacks can boast playing in five NFC Championship games, one Super Bowl and a six-time Pro Bowler for a franchise where he was never truly appreciated.

Did race play a factor in why McNabb was treated so poorly?

The franchise drafted the great Randall Cunningham.  The Eagles did draft Donovan McNabb and they gave Michael Vick a second chance.  Despite the latter race does factor in this equation.

I think a segment of the Philadelphia fan base never embraced McNabb because he was African-American quarterback.  I think over time a few people in the front office didn’t endear themselves to McNabb as well.  The mainstream media, as it always does, of creating the atmosphere for race to play a factor.

If McNabb was a white quarterback would he have booed on draft day?

If a white quarterback had a career like McNabb’s thus far would he have been subjected to such blatant disrespect?

If McNabb were white, would the Eagles be so in Kolb’s ability to win?

Remember when Jeff Garcia was in Philly?  People were suggesting Garcia gave the Eagles the best chance to win and McNabb should be traded.  They were saying the same thing about AJ Feely.

Where are those two quarterbacks now?

Now the Eagles finally figured out Kolb can’t really play.  He did nothing in preseason, against Green Bay, and against the Redskins to show he’s the No. 1 guy. 

As for Vick we know he’s playing better than ever.  Had he not got injured the Eagles surely would have had a better chance to win.  While no injury is a good thing at least it gave Reid even more evidence to see Kolb doesn’t give the Eagles a better chance to win than either McNabb or Vick.

Bottom line: I applaud the Eagles for giving Vick a second chance to make a first impression.  I applaud Reid for inserting Vick as the starter for an ineffective Kolb.

But the Eagles get no “brotherly love” from me based on how they traded McNabb away in favor of Kolb.

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