The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

This time, McNabb proclaimed himself the most unfairly maligned quarterback in NFL history, saying that no other passer has ever had to deal with the same stuff that he has.

It started with McNabb criticizing Tim Tebow and First Take provocateur Skip Bayless stepping in to say Tebow receives more criticism than he deserves.

“Tim Tebow,” Bayless said, “is the most unfairly, over-criticized quarterback in the history of this league.”

With that, McNabb interjected, “Negative — I am.”

“I am,” McNabb continued. “Nobody has been criticized as much as I have.”

McNabb has faced plenty of criticism, although whether that criticism is unfair is a matter of opinion. It was surely unfair when McNabb was booed on draft day in 1998, and Rush Limbaugh once offered a dumb assessment of McNabb, but for the most part the amount of criticism he has received has mirrored the quality of his play. When McNabb played well, he was rewarded with cheers, Pro Bowls and endorsements.

And when McNabb played poorly, he was booed, traded and finally released. There’s nothing unfair about that.

So when McNabb makes a ridiculous statement that Griffin can't function in Shanahan's offense, McNabb should know that the skill set of the player shapes the offense. The West Coast offense that he ran in Philadelphia was different than the Joe Montana version in San Francisco. McNabb and Montana clearly had different skills sets, different talents, therefore their coaches made the right adjustments to fit the offense around their individual games -- just like Shanahan will do in Washington with Griffin.


What Redskins fans can expect from the Griffin-based Shanahan offense is more downfield throws, more hard play action and more spread passing. It will look a lot like the Jay Cutler-based Denver Broncos offense the last year Shanahan was there. Griffin's style of play is similar to Cutler's. Both have great arms, and both have the foot quickness to move around the pocket and make the defense respect any quarterback runs. (Though Griffin's legs clearly strike more fear into defenses.) Both are willing to drive the ball into tight spots, and both can make the players around them better. Shanahan already has a blueprint for Griffin in place, therefore RG3 will be able to start from Day 1.

However, Shanahan is smart enough to know that the blueprint he has in mind for Griffin will change daily because he will learn more about what his new signal caller can and can't do well. Shanahan will eliminate all the things that are not suited for Griffin's game, and inherently highlight the things that work well. Much like Reid did for McNabb -- which, again, makes me ask why McNabb thinks it won't work with Griffin and Shanahan?

For the first time since coaching Cutler, Shanahan will have a quarterback with enormous talent that will allow his own creative juices to flow. And because of the last few seasons, some fans might not remember how creative Shanahan can be when he has the right player under center. For the first time since coaching Cutler, Shanahan will not have to manage the quarterback during the game. He can spend more time attacking the opponent, and correctly attacking the opponent has always been Shanahan's strength.

Irn-Bru wrote:I used to think McNabb had a lot of class, but between his lack of effort in DC, the way he reacted to Shanny's decision making, and these media appearances . . . well, he's not doing himself any favors for how history will judge him.

And now I'm starting to think he's delusional. He's been the most criticized quarterback in the history of the league? Please.

Countertrey wrote:I was so upset when Shanahan unceremoneously benched him... felt it was an unwarranted slap at the consumate professional. Felt, at the time, that McNabb was badly treated.

Clearly, I was wrong. McNabb does not get it.