Post by EagleGene on Apr 30, 2005 6:22:00 GMT -5
McNabb fires back at Eagles critics
By Bob Brookover, Inquirer Staff Writer
The intended receivers were Terrell Owens and Freddie Mitchell, but this time, their quarterback wasn't throwing passes in their direction.
Instead, Donovan McNabb responded yesterday to derisive comments made by his teammates during what has been a turbulent off-season for the Eagles and their franchise quarterback.
McNabb's primary target, as usual, was Owens, who obviously struck a nerve earlier this month when, in the midst of a campaign to get the Eagles to rework his contract, he took a shot at the quarterback. Owens' seven-year deal has six years remaining.
"I wasn't tired, so whatever comments have been made, I don't know if it was directed toward me... [but] I just wanted to set the record straight - I wasn't tired," McNabb said of his Super Bowl performance last season. He spoke after the Eagles began their post-draft minicamp with a workout at their practice facility yesterday.
Though neither player ever mentioned the other by name, it was safe to assume that the remark was directed at Owens, who proclaimed during an interview with ESPN.com that "I wasn't the one who got tired in the Super Bowl."
The remark was a thinly veiled reference to an issue that surfaced the day after the Eagles' 24-21 loss to New England. Center Hank Fraley and offensive tackle Jon Runyan suggested on a local television show that McNabb couldn't call a play in the huddle because he was sick during the team's final touchdown drive.
Questions were asked about the drive because the Eagles did not appear to be in a hurry, although they trailed by 10 points with less than four minutes to play.
"Whatever has been going on, I don't play games in the media," McNabb said. "If someone has a problem with me, they can call me."
"My job is to work hard and to help this team win. We've been doing a great job with that. If there are excuses to be made as to why something didn't happen or whatever it may be, pretty much keep my name out of your mouth."
McNabb, talking to local reporters for the first time since the Super Bowl, said he had not spoken to Owens or Mitchell recently and had no plans to do so.
"If a comment was made about me, it would take that person to call me," he said. "I don't have to reach out to anyone. Again, I'm going to be a man about it. What you're going to see is somebody who is inspired to go out and play every day."
Mitchell said that McNabb lacked the confidence to throw to him, and that they had not developed a rapport.
The quarterback may never have another conversation with Mitchell, who was told by coach Andy Reid not to attend the minicamp. Mitchell will be either released or traded before the 2005 season.
Owens, on the other hand, is likely to be back as the Eagles' No. 1 receiver at some point. For now, he continues to protest the $48.97 million contract he signed before last season.
McNabb insisted that whoever lines up at wide receiver for the Eagles this season would be treated fairly, but it sounded as if he would like to hear from Owens.
"When I'm on that football field, it doesn't matter who I'm throwing it to," he said. "If I'm throwing it to you, you can catch it. If you catch the ball, you get first downs, and that's what I'm happy about. What bothers me is when you... lash out and say whatever. That's when I would come to have a problem. T.O. never called me. Freddie never called me. Hank called me and I talked to Runyan."
McNabb did not break new ground on the issue of what happened during the drive, when he and Reid were criticized for taking too long to run the offense.
"Let's put it this way: If you're in a game at the highest level, where everyone is watching... and you're not tired in that game from giving all that you have, then you haven't done anything," McNabb said. "If you say I was winded, the O line was winded, the defense was winded, that's fine. But to be tired and pretty much dropping to a knee, I didn't do that."
Asked specifically about a play in which he could be seen gasping for air in the huddle, McNabb said: "I don't know if I got hit at that particular time, or if I was trying to catch my breath on the two-minute drill or I was trying to spit out a play. But we got the play called, and on the next play, we scored a touchdown."
McNabb completed 30 of 51 passes for 357 yards in the Super Bowl. He threw three TD passes, suffered a season high of three interceptions, and took big hits.
"I think 50 or 51 guys are on a high," McNabb said. "And I don't know what the other guys are on. I'm floating on a cloud right now. You've got to understand that teams that have made the Super Bowl, something has always happened the following year.
"Guys want more money. They feel they need to be credited for what they did. But you're looking at a locker room full of guys who are still hungry. Guys are motivated to get out on this football field even though it's only a couple of months after the Super Bowl."
There were a few guys who weren't on the field, because they were upset with the business of football. It's a good thing for the Eagles that there are still 133 days left until opening night in Atlanta.
Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.
Updated on Saturday, Apr 30, 2005 3:47 am EDT
By Bob Brookover, Inquirer Staff Writer
The intended receivers were Terrell Owens and Freddie Mitchell, but this time, their quarterback wasn't throwing passes in their direction.
Instead, Donovan McNabb responded yesterday to derisive comments made by his teammates during what has been a turbulent off-season for the Eagles and their franchise quarterback.
McNabb's primary target, as usual, was Owens, who obviously struck a nerve earlier this month when, in the midst of a campaign to get the Eagles to rework his contract, he took a shot at the quarterback. Owens' seven-year deal has six years remaining.
"I wasn't tired, so whatever comments have been made, I don't know if it was directed toward me... [but] I just wanted to set the record straight - I wasn't tired," McNabb said of his Super Bowl performance last season. He spoke after the Eagles began their post-draft minicamp with a workout at their practice facility yesterday.
Though neither player ever mentioned the other by name, it was safe to assume that the remark was directed at Owens, who proclaimed during an interview with ESPN.com that "I wasn't the one who got tired in the Super Bowl."
The remark was a thinly veiled reference to an issue that surfaced the day after the Eagles' 24-21 loss to New England. Center Hank Fraley and offensive tackle Jon Runyan suggested on a local television show that McNabb couldn't call a play in the huddle because he was sick during the team's final touchdown drive.
Questions were asked about the drive because the Eagles did not appear to be in a hurry, although they trailed by 10 points with less than four minutes to play.
"Whatever has been going on, I don't play games in the media," McNabb said. "If someone has a problem with me, they can call me."
"My job is to work hard and to help this team win. We've been doing a great job with that. If there are excuses to be made as to why something didn't happen or whatever it may be, pretty much keep my name out of your mouth."
McNabb, talking to local reporters for the first time since the Super Bowl, said he had not spoken to Owens or Mitchell recently and had no plans to do so.
"If a comment was made about me, it would take that person to call me," he said. "I don't have to reach out to anyone. Again, I'm going to be a man about it. What you're going to see is somebody who is inspired to go out and play every day."
Mitchell said that McNabb lacked the confidence to throw to him, and that they had not developed a rapport.
The quarterback may never have another conversation with Mitchell, who was told by coach Andy Reid not to attend the minicamp. Mitchell will be either released or traded before the 2005 season.
Owens, on the other hand, is likely to be back as the Eagles' No. 1 receiver at some point. For now, he continues to protest the $48.97 million contract he signed before last season.
McNabb insisted that whoever lines up at wide receiver for the Eagles this season would be treated fairly, but it sounded as if he would like to hear from Owens.
"When I'm on that football field, it doesn't matter who I'm throwing it to," he said. "If I'm throwing it to you, you can catch it. If you catch the ball, you get first downs, and that's what I'm happy about. What bothers me is when you... lash out and say whatever. That's when I would come to have a problem. T.O. never called me. Freddie never called me. Hank called me and I talked to Runyan."
McNabb did not break new ground on the issue of what happened during the drive, when he and Reid were criticized for taking too long to run the offense.
"Let's put it this way: If you're in a game at the highest level, where everyone is watching... and you're not tired in that game from giving all that you have, then you haven't done anything," McNabb said. "If you say I was winded, the O line was winded, the defense was winded, that's fine. But to be tired and pretty much dropping to a knee, I didn't do that."
Asked specifically about a play in which he could be seen gasping for air in the huddle, McNabb said: "I don't know if I got hit at that particular time, or if I was trying to catch my breath on the two-minute drill or I was trying to spit out a play. But we got the play called, and on the next play, we scored a touchdown."
McNabb completed 30 of 51 passes for 357 yards in the Super Bowl. He threw three TD passes, suffered a season high of three interceptions, and took big hits.
"I think 50 or 51 guys are on a high," McNabb said. "And I don't know what the other guys are on. I'm floating on a cloud right now. You've got to understand that teams that have made the Super Bowl, something has always happened the following year.
"Guys want more money. They feel they need to be credited for what they did. But you're looking at a locker room full of guys who are still hungry. Guys are motivated to get out on this football field even though it's only a couple of months after the Super Bowl."
There were a few guys who weren't on the field, because they were upset with the business of football. It's a good thing for the Eagles that there are still 133 days left until opening night in Atlanta.
Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.
Updated on Saturday, Apr 30, 2005 3:47 am EDT
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