This Time It’s McNabb Who’s Wrong
Wednesday - February 08, 2006
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Del.icio.usWe were with you for a moment, there, Donovan, but you lost us. Caught up in seeking a half-pound of flesh from your old teammate, you mis-stepped or misspoke.
During a lengthy interview with ESPN, Donovan McNabb referred to Terrell Owens’ agreement that Brett Favre would be a better quarterback for the Eagles, calling it “black-on-black crime.”
McNabb is too smart to say something so stupid.
If the Eagles’ QB wanted to take a few shots at Owens while the receiver interviews for a new job in a possible attempt to return some of the hurt, so be it. No one will begrudge him that. Owens had thrown McNabb under the proverbial Greyhound far too many times for anyone to feel sorry for the wideout. It’s just that we have come to expect more from McNabb.
During the interview, McNabb said, “and to say if we had Brett Favre, that could mean that if you had another quarterback of a different descent or ethnic background, we could be winning. That’s something I thought about and said, ‘Wow.’ It’s different to say if we had Michael Vick, Daunte Culpepper, Steve McNair, Aaron Brooks, Byron Leftwich. But to go straight to Brett Favre, that slapped me in the face ... “
After all he has been through, McNabb is probably a bit gun-shy. It’s easy to understand. From the day he was drafted and booed by Eagle fans to Rush Limbaugh, J. Whyatt Mondesire, T.O. and most recently by former team-mate and current team ambassador, Hugh Douglas, who said McNabb was not a leader, the man always seems to be answering critics. Quite surprising for someone who led his team to three straight divisional championships and a Super Bowl.
What T.O. did was hardly a crime nor does it resemble anything like the massive social and legal problem that haunts African-American communities. To casually throw around terms logically associated with America’s continuing urban decay and economic trends that have left behind generations of people, and to use it to describe a peeing contest between two millionaires, is just wrong.
Mike Jones, a storekeeper and shipmate aboard the submarine USS Los Angeles said years ago his re-enlistment was not about the Navy, but about keeping himself out of a situation where most of his high school friends were either dead or in prison. That’s what the term refers to. Hopelessness.
And what about T.O.?
Word has it that talks between him, agent Drew Rosenhaus and the Denver Broncos went rather nicely. One would think Owens was on his best behavior considering his job prospects are rather limited. But will they go for it? We should know soon enough.
Owens is too good, and too many coaches think they possess the sage-like wisdom to help turn around a player like Owens. Whether Shanahan is that person or if it can even be done remains to be seen, but there is no question that Denver has to take a serious look at bringing him aboard. If they don’t someone else will.
With Rod Smith nearing the end of the line and Ashley Lelie showing no signs of being the dominating play-maker the Broncos had hoped, Denver needs a solution at receiver. They did make the AFC title game with the current cast, but it’s not going to be long before age catches up with Denver’s title hopes.
How Owens would get along with Jake Plummer is the $64 question. He had problems with his last two delivery men and both came with impressive resumes. Then again maybe that’s exactly what Terrell needs and wants. A quarterback that will take his cues from him and not the other way around.
What the heck. It didn’t work the other way.
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