As we all come to terms with the fact that Donovan McNabb is no longer the Eagles starting quarterback, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the fond, and not-so fond memories from the last eleven seasons. Whether you favor the decision to wave goodbye to 5 or not, the dude was an integral part to some of the franchise’s greatest moments.
He was also at the center of a tornado of controversy during his days in Philly, a portion of which was was none of his doing. When he was at the top of his game, he was one of the city’s most beloved athletes. When he was off his game, he faced a mountain of criticism reserved only for those who play quarterback in front of the toughest fans in the NFL.
It’s difficult to narrow down the good and bad of the McNabb era to just ten things, but my attention span is short, so ten will have to do. Here it goes (after the jump):
10. The trade rumors – Beginning sometime around 2005, the Donovan McNabb trade watch became the giant pink elephant sitting in the NovaCare Complex lobby. Which current Eagle will now assume this coveted honor? I nominate Jason Peters.
9. His wardrobe – The man knew how to dress. Snazzy three piece suits, sharp looking ties and stylish glasses were a staple of post-game press conferences. Kevin Kolb‘s western shirts, cowboys hats and spit cup for his chaw will take some getting used to.
8. Balls in the dirt – You could always count on Don hurling at least two or three worm burners a game. I haven’t seen enough of Kolb to discern if he has dirt balls in his repertoire. My hope is he doesn’t.
7. 50-yard TD bombs – I’ve been watching football for 25 years. I’ve seen a lot of quarterbacks toss a sweet looking deep ball. Donovan had one of the best.
6. The injuries – Sprained thumb, broken ankle, bruised sternum, sports hernia, torn ACL, busted ribs. You name it, McNabb suffered through it. Needless to say, he left plenty of body parts across many a field and stadium during his eleven years in midnight green.
5. All those regular season wins – 92 of them. Hate all you want, but Donny Mac won a lot of games under center. Guys with his track record are hard to find. KK has some big shoes to fill.
4. The hair – Be it a massive fro, tight corn rows or shaved dome, Don went through his fair share of coiffes. Kolb has good hair, but it’s kinda boring.
3. His loyalty – For all the shit he had to endure, and there was a steaming mound of it, McNabb never trashed the organization or threw players under the bus. He may change his tune now that he’s gone, but I bet he keeps things relatively classy. He’s good like that.
2. Pukegate – Did he or didn’t he vomit during Super Bowl XXXIX? It might be the most ridiculous story of the McNabb era. He threw three interceptions and they lost. That’s what matters.
1. His resiliency – He was kicked while he was down and kicked some more. When he got back up and straightened himself, Donovan did what he always did. He laughed it off, or at the very least tried. After over a decade of being pelted from all sides, here’s hoping he finds solace in the nation’s capital. He’s earned it.
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