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

Mark Eckel of the Trenton Times reports that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb isn't happy.

Among other things, McNabb is miffed that he wasn't invited to attend the team's January 13 playoff game at New Orleans. "There is a team rule that players on injured reserve do not travel," Eckel write, "but, c'mon, teams always treat their stars differently than they do the rest of the team. What would it have hurt to let McNabb go to the game, even if he had to sit in the owner's box with Jeffrey Lurie, if Reid did not want him on the sideline?"

Eckel also says that McNabb "may be getting a vibe that some in the organization prefer Garcia over him," and that McNabb is not pleased about the way that Mama McNabb has been portrayed after she proclaimed on the family web site that the success of the team without Donovan is "bittersweet."

As to the brouhaha regarding McNabb's rehab (about which we recently reported), Eckel says there's nothing to it, without killing us in the process. (We stand by our report, but we nevertheless appreciate Eckel's decision not to cram our report up our bunghole.)

As to whether some in the organization prefer Garcia, we've also reported that members of coach Andy Reid's veterans' committee have expressed strong support for Garcia. We've yet to hear, however, that anyone specifically prefers the 36-year-old Garcia over McNabb.

The practical reality, in our view, is that it will be very hard for McNabb and Garcia to be on the same team moving forward. And it's unlikely that the Eagles will pay Garcia what it takes to keep him as a backup, especially when Garcia will be an unrestricted free agent -- and when teams like the Vikings and Bucs are expected to pursue him. So our guess is that the Eagles will allow Garcia to leave, and that they'll explain that they simply couldn't match what others will pay him to be a starter.

Meanwhile, we're hearing that some of Philly's finest journalists were ripping us last night on a local television show, and that our friends Angelo Cataldi and Rhea Hughes at WIP have gone to bat for us this morning. (If anyone has a clip of the TV segment, we'd love to see it.) We realize that there always will be professional "real" journalists who don't like us, and we're fine with that. And that reality makes us appreciate even more the support and friendship of the growing throng of "real" journalists who read the site, who admit to friends, co-workers, and relatives that they read the site, and who provide us with information, feedback, and advice from time to time.

Mursilis wrote:I read somewhere (can't remember where) that McNabb had a press conference scheduled for this week, and Reid canceled it, no reason given. Make of that what you will.

joebagadonuts wrote:Is this from Pro Football Talk? It matters only because you have to take what they write with a grain of salt. They don't have a spotless record when it comes to the rumor department.

Nonetheless, it's always nice to hear of discontent in Philadelphia.

Head coach Andy Reid said Tuesday that he was "disappointed" in published reports that claim franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb is unhappy with the Eagles organization and uncertain about his future in Philadelphia.
"I hate to see people have to make things up that aren't really true," Reid said in a conference call from the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL. "He (Donovan) knows what's the truth and what isn't the truth. I'm not worried about that."

Despite the speculation, Reid stands by his decision to cancel McNabb's press conference that was scheduled for last Friday.

"It was my choice, not Donovan's choice," Reid said. "I don't feel any different."

A couple of different reports have said that McNabb has been at odds with the team regarding issues ranging from his post-surgery rehabilitation to his standing in the locker room to the fact that he was not taken on the team charter for the playoff game in New Orleans.

The widely-read Web site, ProFootballTalk.com had this report over the weekend: "As we hear it, McNabb was at some point determined to be behind schedule in his recovery from season-ending surgery to repair the injury that he suffered against the Titans. And McNabb has, on at least one occasion, blamed the delay on well-respected trainer Rick Burkholder.

"There's a school of thought that Eagles coach Andy Reid put the kibosh on McNabb's recent press conference due in part to concerns that McNabb would blab about the brouhaha.

"Complicating matters is the fact that the players have a strong affinity for backup Jeff Garcia, who led the team to a berth in the divisional playoffs. An industry source tells us that guys like tackle Jon Runyan and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, both members of Reid's 'veterans' committee,' have expressed strong support for Garcia."

Then, a column in The Trenton Times cited "people close to" McNabb as saying he "is not pleased with a lot that has happened since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a loss to Tennessee on Nov. 19."

At the time of the injury, McNabb had been near the top of the league's charts in passing yards (2,647), touchdown passes (18), and QB rating (95.5). Along the way, he became the seventh player in NFL history to throw for 20,000 yards and rush for 2,500 more.

The story continued ...

"The franchise quarterback's unhappiness includes the fact head coach Andy Reid did not allow him to travel to the team's playoff game in New Orleans. There is a team rule that players on injured reserve do not travel ...

"McNabb also may be getting a vibe that some in the organization prefer (Jeff) Garcia over him. Lastly he was not pleased with the way his mother, Wilma, has been portrayed by Eagles fans and the local media for her blog on his Web site in which she stated that watching the Eagles win without her son 'is bittersweet.'"

Garcia was a more-than-sufficient replacement for the injured McNabb down the stretch. In seven games (6 starts), he threw 10 touchdown passes and only two interceptions on 188 attempts. Most importantly, he led the Eagles to a 5-1 record and an NFC East division championship.

The story went on to indicate that rumors are surfacing that McNabb or Garcia could land in Minnesota or Tampa Bay before next season.

Reid was not asked about that particular rumor. But he did reiterate his displeasure with the reported speculation over McNabb and his status with the team.

"I'm disappointed that people are making things up. That's the part I'm disappointed in," Reid said. "I think that people are making a lot of things up here that aren't true."