BQB-Site.com Editor Lloyd Vance was at Lincoln Financial
Field to watch Eagles QB Donovan McNabb answer his critics. McNabb was
magnificent in an Eagles 56-21 victory over the Detroit Lions.
September 23, 2007
(Philadelphia , Pa ) ---- After enduring a tough home loss the week before to the Redskins on Monday Night Football that dropped the Eagles to (0-2) and the untimely airing of a pre-season interview on HBO's Real Sports, Donovan McNabb stood tall in the pocket and off the field. To his credit McNabb stood by his opinion that African-American quarterbacks are criticized more harshly than white counterparts. He may be wrong in the eyes of some, but McNabb put everything behind him and had the game of his life against the hapless Detroit Lions zone coverage scheme and a crowd that featured some detractors.
Big 5 took off his knee brace, shook off his 2-game rustiness from his knee surgery, and dismantled the Lions along with his critics. Not even the smattering of boos that greeted him from his fans --one lady behind me screamed zealously over and over "You still s__k McNabb" until she was hoarse and she wasn't alone-- when he was introduced at the beginning of the game could stop the 8-year pro from doing his job. Ironically the boos quickly turned to cheers as the Eagles led by McNabb put up 21 points in the 1st and 2nd quarter on their way to a 56-21 rout. McNabb was pinpoint and had a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3, finishing 21-26 passing for 381 yards and four touchdowns. I don’t know if it was the throwback uniforms, the chip on his shoulder or his new repoirre with wide receiver Kevin Curtis (The next Steve Largent ???, finished with an amazing 11 catches for 221 yards w/ 3 TDs), but it was evident McNabb came to play
After the game, McNabb proved that he is not your average athlete by not giving cliché answers and speaking his mind about the game, his slow start, and his comments on HBO. He said about his comments on HBO, "What's been said has been said" and "Sometimes reality hurts. Some people don't want to accept it. Some people feel they aren't a part of it. But I don't take it back. I don't regret it."
Like him or not, McNabb is a player that will continue to succeed on and off the field for years to come.
--- Submitted by Lloyd Vance
