Article: McNabb, The new Elway (WTF??)
Bonnie Berrin
sideline and picking up a phone for the other team. Was he calling
his fat momma for some chicken noodle soup?
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/post/McNabb-the-new-John-Elway?urn=top,133583&post_comment=1&success=1
Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:37 pm EST
McNabb: the new John Elway
By Roy S. Johnson / Y! Sports Blogs
Call it the John Elway Syndrome.
Donovan McNabb's got it bad. Like Elway, he achieved success (reaching
a Super Bowl) and recognition (Pro Bowls) early in his career. Like
Elway, he's a respected leader of a successful (if not erratic) team.
He's a good quarterback, like Elway was always perceived to be. Better
than good, most would say. Exciting. Unique. And yet … not yet great.
McNabb, after Sunday's 23-11 beat-down of the New York Giants, has now
led the Philadelphia Eagles to five NFC championship games. Five.
That's near Hall of Fame stuff. And yet …
"Donovan McNabb" and "Hall of Fame" are rarely used in the same
sentence.
Because Hall of Fame requires greatness. And despite his obvious
talent and success, McNabb will never be considered great until he
wins a Super Bowl.
It's not fair, but it's real.
But now he has a chance – another one.
He and the Eagles are still two very tough wins away from greatness.
Few are giving the Arizona Cardinals much chance next week against the
Eagles, even at home. But few gave them much chance on Saturday at
Carolina, either. And should the Eagles get past Arizona, can anyone
score on either the Steelers or Ravens in a game that matters more
than any other?
If the Eagles endure this gauntlet, it'll be hard to deny McNabb his
place. Especially this season. Especially in a season when he was
benched and called all but a "dummy" for not knowing NFL games can end
in a tie.
It would be easy to attribute McNabb's conundrum to his being a black
quarterback rather than to the Elway Syndrome. In fact, that was my
first instinct before writing this blog. That despite reaching the
Super Bowl ('04 season), despite overcoming a major knee injury
(2006), despite the fact that he ain't Michael Vick, McNabb would
never be little more than just another black QB until he won a Super
Bowl.
Prior to the '07 season, McNabb put his dilemma into context during an
interview with James Brown for HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel":
"There's not that many African-American quarterbacks, so we have to do
a little bit extra," he said. "Because the percentage of us playing
this position, which people didn't want us to play … is low, so we do
a little extra."
The little extra McNabb possesses is mental. Given what he's been
through, perhaps his best attribute, his most valuable skill is mental
toughness.
And it will be that attribute – not his legs (as in running QB), nor
his skin color – that will carry him past Arizona and into Super Bowl
XLIII.
It will be those skills that make him the John Elway of today. Great.
DC
> I don't remember Elway running out of bounds on the other teams
> sideline and picking up a phone for the other team. Was he calling
> his fat momma for some chicken noodle soup?
Nope, he was answering a call from TO
Rich
swyck
At least McNabb didn't refuse to play on a bad team like Elway did.
Spica
says...
Which team did Elway refuse to play on? I thought that was the exclusive domain of
Baby Eli?
ng_reader
news:gkgmah$8rm$5...@news.motzarella.org...
Nope Elway was there. Big horse-tooth jackass. Maybe it was the cardinals
when they were in STL or something. Anyway he prolly wasn't the first, and
he won't be the last. Something about him turning pro baseball unless he got
his wish. Maybe he had Eric Lindros' parents in his corner or something.
Rich
Colts, 1983. Was going to play for the Yankees unless the Colts moved him.
Spica
Thanks Rich, I didn't know that. I thought that Peyton's little sister was the first.
Rick Y
news:496ae96f....@news.us.easynews.com:
Dumbass, dummy...what's the difference?
Rick