"We should trade McNabb for whatever we can get and use Jeff Garcia as our starting quarterback."

No, thats not my opinion. But that sentiment is being echoed CONSTANTLY on local Philly sports radio, and the debate has even been talked about on ESPN. Sportswriters have all been giving their take on it. But the sheer volume of people that were so quick to jump on Garcia's bandwagon and are now calling for McNabb's departure is amazing.

Never mind the complications of a major salary cap hit, and the concept of starting over with a 37 year old Quarterback. The bigger issue is that Donovan McNabb gets absolutely buried by an overwhelming number of football fans, Philadelphia people and nation people alike.

Wearing a McNabb jersey around Philadelphia these days is considered by many an act of defiance, a bold statement.

How is this possible? How could a pro-bowl QB with his kind of numbers be so disrespected? Before this year started people had no faith in McNabb as a fantasy quarterback, they saw him as being lost without Owens. Even after Stallworth was added to the team, still people did not consider him a legitimate passing leader.

Constantly I am arguing with people (some of whom are Eagles fans, but many of whom aren't) that McNabb is a good quarterback. In fact, its extremely rare that I find non-Eagles fans doing anything but ripping the guy.

"But he was on pace to have a borderline MVP Year this season!" I say
"Not in his last game or two." they reply
"But he had a combined QB rating of 95.5 and he was on pace to throw for over 30TDs and only 9 interceptions! He had a QB rating of 114 in the 4th quarter, the highest in the NFL. He was even running the ball better than anyone except Vick." I plead
But none of it seems to matter, and all people want to do is bury the guy.

McNabb getting hurt, people say, is the best thing that could have happened to the Eagles. Not because it forced Reid to run the ball, but because in their minds Garcia is a far superior QB. They also say that McNabb is "fake", that he never says what they want to hear in press conferences and is too jovial. They say he is incapable of winning a Super Bowl. They say that his career in Philadelphia is one of tremendous failure. They say he is injury-prone. They say he is a choke artist. They say that he can't throw the short pass in stride like Garcia, that he isn't a leader like Garcia.

I was talking to a woman yesterday who says that she hopes McNabb suffers as much as he can suffer watching the Eagles go deep into the playoffs without him. Her thinking was that McNabb makes her, a fan, feel bad. So she wants him to feel bad too. Wow.

So I'll just sum up my point of view into a sentence:

Donovan McNabb is the most disrespected athlete in America.

"family football" alive and well in the city of brotherly shove.

I hate the Eagles. But, I will give credit where credit is due, McNabb isn't a bad quarterback. But he isn't the best either. If the guy could stay healthy for a whole season he may excell into a top QB. I mean he's only played 3 full seasons in his 8 years in the NFL. Let's look at numbers .....

He averages 2760 yards and 19 TDs per year.

Favre averages 3880 yards and 25 TDs a year, hardly anywhere close.

Brady averages 3590 yards and 25 TDs a year, AND he brings home superbowl rings.

Someone who gets hurt and can't play all year is useless. His average numbers are below average, and let's face it, his career is starting to wind down, he is going to be 31 this year. Perhaps the sportscasters in Philly are thinking logically, the Eagles may need to start looking elsewhere, so when McNabb gets hurt next year and has to miss games, they can throw in thier new shiney QB and ride him into the sunset and fire fragile Dmac.

mcnabb was my mvp for as long as he was healthy.

but the fact remain that this eagles team right now, with garcia at the helm, is the best eagles team of the season. that doesnt mean garcia is a better player. it means garcias 2006 eagles are a better team than mcnabbs.

Not to throw McNabb under the bus, but this next season will be very interesting.

McNabb is not a pocket quarterback, he is dangerous because, when healthy, he can run. He focused on being more of a runner again this year.

However, something bad happened, that being an ACL injury. How bad was the ACL injury? How mobile will he be next year, or for that matter, from now on? Take away his mobility, and what does McNabb become in terms of quarterback ability? These are answers that the Eagles are going to have to be asking themselves this offseason as they make plans on who to keep around, and who bring in, and who to target in the draft. Do they start thinking about McNabb's replacement now rather than risk waiting until it is too late?

I agree...it will be interesting to see what they do, but I highly doubt they give up McNabb for Garcia no matter how well he picked it up this season.

I think it is funny how they want Garcia as their starter, when just a few weeks ago they were booing him and wanting the #3 guy.

McNabb was very good this year. I can't believe people are actually claiming they want Garcia, of all QBs, over McNabb. Just goes to show you how short-sighted some "fans" can be.

Guys this JEFF GARCIA we are talking about. I mean are we seriously debateing if Garcia is better then McNabb??

im not i just think that the "fans" think that garcia is better

you need a qb that will remain healthy, work with everyone to the best of their capabilities, give the defense different looks, and be consistent.

im not afraid to say i would take garcia if i were a coach over mcnabb.
is garcia the better qb?
no.
but he isnt far off, and remains healthy and is doing a hell of a job as a leader.

Ironically so far in the post there has been almost no positive things mentioned about McNabb and plenty of negatives.

So heres a question:

Name me another athlete, in any sport, in any city - who is more disrespected than Donovan McNabb.

I am 100% serious, because I really cant think of one. The guy had a QB rating of almost 100 behind a pass happy offense where he was expected to be Superman. They've given him James Thrash and Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell... and he was a pro bowler with a strong regular season and playoff record, great stats to boot.

i cant. i just think its funny that people think garcia is good, hes not even better then rex grossman

That would be tough to do. Tom Brady has won 3 super bowls and still doesn't get the respect he deserves. Those 2 guys stick out in my mind.

Tom Brady does not get disrespected like McNabb.

Probably not, but if there were another guy in the NFL that is close. He would be it.

Ok lets back up at the begining of the season there was MVP talks for McNabb now we are talking about Jeff Garcia and if Garcia is better then McNabb.

So you'd take Garcia over Donovan because the defense is playing better? Call me crazy but I don't think that makes sense.

Which do you pick... a qb that your guys can get use to, and is consistently strong.
Or a superb qb who will be out in a couple weeks, and fuck up your season plans.

You dont need a pussy as a qb, and thats what it boils down to.

id like to see you in mcnabb's shoes, then u can say stuff like that