Donovan McNabb may some day reveal the true emotions he felt after getting benched for the first time in his career.
McNabb got yanked at halftime of a 10-7 game at Baltimore on Nov. 23, the Eagles fell apart. A three-point deficit turned into a 36-7 rout.Now isn't the time. Not with the Philadelphia Eagles making a push for the playoffs and McNabb leading the way.
McNabb got yanked at halftime of a 10-7 game at Baltimore on Nov. 23, the Eagles fell apart. A three-point deficit turned into a 36-7 rout.Now isn't the time. Not with the Philadelphia Eagles making a push for the playoffs and McNabb leading the way.
"The only thing I'm focused on at this particular point is playing the Cleveland Browns," McNabb said.
The Eagles (7-5-1) host the Browns (4-9) tonight in a game that has important playoff ramifications. No one could've imagined Philadelphia playing meaningful games 2½ weeks ago.After McNabb got yanked at halftime of a 10-7 game at Baltimore on Nov. 23, the Eagles fell apart. A three-point deficit turned into a 36-7 rout.
The Eagles were 5-5-1 and going nowhere. McNabb's future with the team after 10 seasons was clearly in doubt. His relationship with coach Andy Reid was being questioned.Watching a healthy McNabb stand on the sideline in a hooded sweatshirt and jacket while Kevin Kolb ran the offense was strange. It seemed to signal the end of an era in Philadelphia.
McNabb never pouted, though. He didn't criticize coaches, blame his teammates or demand a trade. Instead, McNabb responded like a leader.
"He's always been positive," running back Brian Westbrook said. "He remained the leader of this team, a person that everybody on the team looks at as the leader and goes to for advice. That situation with being benched, I'm sure it was a situation that made him sad or depressed or whatever. But he came back to work, worked hard to be that leader and he helped us win those last two games."
Behind McNabb's arm and Westbrook's legs, the Eagles beat NFC West champion Arizona 48-20 on Thanksgiving and upset the conference-leading Giants 20-14 at New York last Sunday.
The Eagles will make the playoffs if they win the last three games and the Falcons lose once.McNabb has completed 67 percent of his passes (46 for 69) for 451 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions since his benching. Reid said the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback just needed a break from the action.
"He's a great player," Reid said. "Sometimes you just need to take a step back and things kind of clear up for you. He's playing great football right now."
