Donovan McNabb Released: Hopefully, This Is The End
by Sean Keeley on Dec 1, 2011 7:48 PM EST
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Former Syracuse Orange quarterback Donovan McNabb reportedly requested his release from the Minnesota Vikings and the team complied with his wish, officially making the move on Thursday. McNabb took to Sportscenter on Thursday to flaunt his wares in a last-ditch attempt to attract another suitor.
"You’re bringing a veteran who can bring experience to your ball club, athletic ability, a guy who is not a locker room cancer, he works hard — great work ethic and only wants to win," McNabb said. "And you know I’m a winner and I’ve proven that, and a guy who will make the players around him better."
He's right. He's a stand-up citizen. A great guy. The kind of teammate that isn't going to cause much trouble.
He's also is at the tail-end of his career, is apparently more out of shape that he should be and just had to go on national television in order to try and convince other teams he can still play.
Hopefully, they won't bite. As much it might sound nice for McNabb to finish his career in his hometown of Chicago, it's just too late. It will end terribly. No longer a franchise QB, McNabb flew through the journeyman phase of his career and has entered the "please retire and start your long, lucrative TV career before you get seriously hurt" phase of his career.
I love Donovan McNabb. He's a Syracuse icon. I had the privilege of watching him play up close for three seasons. He'll always be adored by his Syracuse fans even if not by his Philadelphia (or Washington and Minnesota) ones.
Maybe he'll make the Hall of Fame. Maybe not. If that's important to him then he should have walked away two years ago, let alone right now. If it's not, it's not.
I understand the urge for a guy like McNabb to keep playing. I can't blame him for it. It's up to the other NFL teams to decide if they want to roll the dice with him. Hard to tell at the moment but I hope not. I hope he ends his career now and moves on to Phase Two. He's tailor-made for studio work and will probably attract a bidding war from the networks.
The sooner the better.
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Do the Bears need an old war horse who can throw balls into the ground?
FIve feet in front of the receiver. If so, call.
Um
What the fuck makes Tom Pelissero an expert on who’s in shape and who isn’t.
Also
he had his best game of the year the week the vikings benched him. I notice they’re still not winning with ponder at quarterback.
Agree
He has been plagued with some bad teams here at the tail end here and coaches that dont give him much of a shot in their system. If he got picked up by the texans (a team on QB #3 already) he could win a few games with offensive weapons like that and a stingy defence on the other side of the field. I’d love to see him get one more shot at the top.
I do think there might be a conditioning issue that he needs to address look at the way clemens kept up his conditioning and excersize and pitched long into his career…Oh wait…but still donovan should work out if it will help.
Retire as an Eagle
As much as it most likely won’t happen, I want McNabb to sign a small deal with Philly and retire there. He did so much for this franchise, even though his last couple years were mediocre at best. But between 1999 and 2008, he completely turned this franchise around even though he didnt always have the weapons at WR (besides TO’s one drama-free season, where we reached the Super Bowl). I may be one of the few Philadelphia McNabb supporters still around, but he deserves to retire with the franchise that he carried on his back, while not always having the support of the fans.
by AceOfSpades24 on Dec 1, 2011 8:06 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Agree
I always wanted my favorite player to retire with my favorite team. Seeing him play for the ‘Skins was weird. And purple didn’t suit him either.
http://twitter.com/#!/TeabagDunk
Yea its a shame he was treated so poorly here.
by AceOfSpades24 on Dec 1, 2011 8:16 PM EST up reply actions
As I watch the Seahawks pwn the Eagles, I wonder, maybe just maybe he could help, maybe.
http://twitter.com/#!/TeabagDunk
by I miss DIAP! on Dec 1, 2011 10:22 PM EST up reply actions
To be fair,
He would probably have played better if the Vikings had a decent offensive line. They don’t.
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I still feel that he is
a better than average QB right now.
You've pretty much nailed my thoguhts here Sean
He was so great in Philly but the past two years have been just so brutal, and i feel that its just tarnished his career just a bit.
So can my grandmother.
Can’t run like him though. They’re both winners though.
by DMF on Dec 1, 2011 9:20 PM EST up reply actions
I was at that game.
That was your grandmother? Awesome, she dominated.
Philly and the Vick experiment
is bombing. Looks like Kolb in AZ is bottoming out. Put it this way, could McNabb have done any worse?
SU 97
I love Donovan, I love my Eagles, and would love to see him retire in Philly
But I think if Andy brought him back the fans would murder him. They’re already calling for his head.
I hope he walks away. I’d love to say he’s a sure fire HOF’er but he’s not a HOF’er IMHO. The career numbers just aren’t there, and the no rings adds to that. He should make the college football HOF.
Donovan McNabb, the third best QB to never win the Super Bowl(I’d put Jim Kelly a close second…. Sorry Bills fans).
#BeatEveryone
Sorry but he'd have to be 4th
Tarkenton was a better QB.
IDK
Tarkenton would be number 5 on my list with Donny in there.
Marino
Kelly
McNabb
Moon
Tarkenton
#BeatEveryone
by theNYsportsguy on Dec 2, 2011 12:25 AM EST up reply actions
He should have retired 2 years ago
It’s been a downhill slide for him for some time. I really can’t see him playing a significant role for another team anymore. He just isn’t any good.
I can’t believe he’s 35….
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
Why
I think McNabb is still going to be fine.. look at the teams he was on.. Redskins and Vikings suck
So do the Eagles
damn……
#BeatEveryone
by theNYsportsguy on Dec 2, 2011 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
I can't root hard enough for the Bears to pick him up
Check the poll on the left side – so far, “Yes. He’s better than Caleb Hanie and would be coming home to Chicago. (1232 responses)” is winning with 61% of the vote.
I love McNabb
Really, I do. He is my all time favorite SU QB. He cannot play anymore. He looks slow. His penchant for throwing it at the receivers shoelaces is growing from a once in a while thing to an at least once every series thing. Any team that counts on McNabb to improve their fortunes on the field is making a mistake. If he will take a back-up role somewhere, maybe you bring him in because he’s fun in the locker room and has a lot of experience to share with a young QB. But he could have done that in Minnesota, and he asked to be released, so presumably he still wants to start.
I am about 90% sure that someone will give him another shot, even though he’s done little to warrant it in the last couple seasons. Maybe he can replace the QB on a mediocre team and stay mediocre, but he’s days of being an important part of a conference champion are very likely over.
F#&% the Big East
His penchant for throwing it at the receivers shoelaces is growing from a once in a while thing to an at least once every series thing.
I think you mean, “He’s interception averse.” ;)
that's one way to look at it.
winds up being reception averse as well a whole lot too…
F#&% the Big East
true
but he was throwing 60% through 6 games this year. He’s not what he used to be – not by a long shot – but as a game manager, he is fine. Unfortunately Minnesota needed more than that because they have lousy receivers (other than Harvin, but he’s inconsistent) and a bad OL. It didn’t help him that the defense would crumble in 2nd half either.
Chicago really doesn’t need more than a game manager…they score like 3 TDs/game on def+special teams. haha
by DMF on Dec 2, 2011 1:16 PM EST up reply actions
McNabb
is the past. He was awesome, and I love him, but at 35 you are at the end of your shelf life as a pro athlete playing in the NFL. If he was still riding high it would be one thing, but his last 4 years have all been trending in the same downward direction.
He should get a job as a quarterback coach, or in commentating. He is definitely someone you would want bringing up your new QBs. He is a class act and very intelligent, but also a very proud man. I get it though. Its tough to know when. Some men have it decided for them, and that’s hard, but some men have to come to the realization themselves when its time to hang it up. Either way, the end of career decision is a tough process to go through.
I think McNabb is going to have to find out his playing career is over the hard way
When finally no one wants him anymore. Not sure that’ll be this time though…
F#&% the Big East
HOF
I love McNabb. He’s the reason I became an Eagles fan. He was a truly special player fo a long time. Keyword, “was”. He came into the league as a “running QB”, and while he improved his game over the decade or so he was in Philly, he was never a great pocket passer. He had a great run with the Eagles, but nothing I’d consider HOF worthy. If good/great QBs that never won a Super Bowl, he’s prolly near the bottom of the list for me. I love him. I’m proud to have rooted for him. I’m proud that he represents my alma mater. But a Hall of Famer he isn’t.
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
Should be? yes
Has to be? No. He looked pretty awful in his few games with the Vikings and only part of it could be blamed on the O-line.
McNabb was one of those guys who could compensate for shaky fundmentals with athletic ability. And I don’t just mean taking off and running. That athletic ability is gone so his deficiencies are highlighted.
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
by FeloniousPhunk on Dec 2, 2011 12:10 PM EST up reply actions
McNabb went unclaimed...
Who the hell did he piss off that no one claimed him?
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