Final Cowboy Thoughts

It was Troy boy Aikman who made an observation about Donovan McNabb’s passing accuracy during an Eagles broadcast several years ago, a criticism that has amazingly lingered through today. Before Aikman’s remark, no one seemed to notice or rather excuse one of McNabb’s occasionally errant throws. Ever since, fans, particularly the McNabb detractors have been fixated on his inability to hit a receiver in stride. In truth, it’s a fair knock against McNabb though not the huge problem some make it out to be. Just look at the tapes and you will see McNabb hitting his receivers in  a good spot plenty of times – and just as often they drop it. And isn’t it funny how McNabb always got the ball to Terrell Owens in a place where he could make a play after the catch?

 

All of this brings me to last week’s game and two comments made by the broadcast crew. The first was the “controversy” served up by Pam Oliver. I’m not going to delve into the exact quotes of what she and/or McNabb may have said. But suffice to say that what really caught my attention was Oliver’s suggestion that McNabb thinks he won’t be back because of management’s concern about “negative fan reaction” to McNabb. A couple of things. 1) I seriously hope that that isn’t a consideration for Lurie and Banner, but it is the reality of today’s NFL and the Eagles corporate mindset that the business interests of putting fannies in those luxury boxes and PSL seats can affect on the field decisions. For all the talk otherwise, the NFL is a business, and a big business at that.  2) McNabb is finely tuned to the displeasure, I would argue downright hatred, many fans have for him right now. It’s unfortunate, it’s disgusting, but it’s real and it’s palpable. It’s the reason why the offense – with McNabb in the lineup – has not been introduced during the pregame for most of the season.

 

And then there was Aikman. He absolutely skewered the Eagles’ wide receivers on Sunday. Considering how reluctant former players turned broadcasters are to offer anything but the mildest criticisms, Aikman’s critique that Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis, “the number 1 and number 2 receivers” on the Eagles would be “number three and number 4 receivers” on other teams is both amazing and devastating. He went on to say that Eagles receivers created very little separation. Perhaps because Aikman’s comments merely affirm what many have already concluded is the reason this hasn’t been given more coverage – certainly not like McNabb’s “accuracy.” But if anything Aikman may have been too polite and understated the problem. Anyway, once again it is a reminder that even with Kevin Kolb in the lineup, a new QB won’t solve the WR problem.