Former Syracuse QB Donovan McNabb would trade his NFL career for the NBA

While most average people would probably pick an NBA career over the NFL if they had to choose — due to less long-term injury risk, better pay, more marketability at this point — you don’t usually hear that perspective from current or former pros. Of course, there are always exceptions and one of those is former Syracuse Orange quarterback Donovan McNabb.

He recently told TMZ Sports that assuming he could have had the same sort of success (big assumption), he’d pick basketball over football for his pro career. McNabb played for SU basketball and appeared on the 1996 Final Four team, so he had the skills to play at the Big East level at some point. Still, the fact that given how his NFL career went, he’d still pick hoops is a little striking.

Given the long-term injury concerns around football right now, I’d see the positives. And same as a life-long Philadelphia sports hater. Granted, McNabb never won a title with the Eagles. But getting rid of his presence that led to four straight NFC title game appearances (and a Super Bowl loss) is fine by me.

Would you make the same pick? Obviously assuming a reasonably and similarly successful career in either sport here.

That, plus the rest of your Syracuse-related links below:

Longtime Eagles QB Donovan McNabb says he’d trade his NFL career for one in the NBA (CBS Sports)

“Basketball,” he said, without hesitation, when asked to choose. “Listen, I grew up watching Michael Jordan. ... It’s the great platform of playing with other great athletes. At the end of the day, it’s about playing team ball, moving that ball around, what we’re seeing from Golden State.”

Woody Newton’s high school coach analyzes Syracuse’s newest recruit (Syracuse.com)

“I see a lot of Woody in those guys,’’ Scott said Tuesday night following Newton’s announcement on Twitter that he would attend Syracuse. “He fits their system up there the same way those guys did. He’s long, agile and athletic. Everybody thinks it’s the perfect choice for him.’’

How sustainable was Syracuse’s 10-win season? (SB Nation)

Granted, S&P+ thought of Syracuse as a product of its withering surroundings (plus about three points per game in turnovers luck) and not as a true top-15-caliber team. But after nearly two decades in the wilderness, this program has found itself again. And if it can survive a quarterback change, it could take long-term advantage of the ACC’s 2018 stumble.

Big East born 40 years ago today (Providence Journal)

Forty years ago today – May 29, 1979 – the Big East was born. After extensive meetings in Providence led by Providence College athletic director Dave Gavitt, the athletic directors of seven schools announced they were pulling out of the ECAC and forming a new conference. The release, written by future commissioner Mike Tranghese, states that “the new league brings together seven nationally prominent teams that are committed to producing the best basketball league in the East.

LSU coach Will Wade evades questions about federal wiretaps, ‘strong-ass’ offers (Yahoo)

Wade says he addressed the wiretap allegations in an April meeting with LSU officials and NCAA investigators — a meeting he originally refused to have, leading to a lengthy suspension. After the meeting, the school reinstated Wade — albeit with a modified contract that leaves him with diminished job security. So this bizarre kabuki dance continues. Wade has his job, and even managed to land a five-star recruit last week. Yet he’s still immersed in evasive maneuvers.

Who made the most money at Syracuse University in 2017? (Syracuse.com)

Predicting the winners of each college football conference in 2019 (Bleacher Report)

Emily Hawryschuk, Sarah Cooper named to Media All-American 2nd team by Inside Lacrosse (Daily Orange)

“The Bane of My Existence”: U.K. Sportswriting’s Access Crisis (The Ringer)