Is It All A Dream... Is D-Mac Really On My Team?

This must be dream.  I mean I have been watching football since 1983 faithfully.  My favorite team has been the Washington Redskins since I can remember.  I didn’t know teams other than the Redskins, Cowboys, Dolphins and Raiders existed until the next year when the 49ers faced off against the Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX (19).  From 1984 until now teams have done everything that they could to make sure that their Quarterback stayed with them for the duration of, or at least the majority of, their careers.  Guy’s like Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, and John Elway would not have looked good in other teams’ uniform.  Although we did see Joe Montana go to the Chiefs, and that was just wrong.  It was unheard of for a Franchise Quarterback to change teams, especially in their prime. But this past April I saw something that I never thought I would have seen.  A Franchise QB being traded to another team, not only in the same Conference, but within the same division.  That is why I keep asking myself, “Is this a dream?”  “Or is this a joke?”  Either way, it is the ultimate slap in the face.  And one that is not deserved, but if anyone can handle it in a classy way, Donovan McNabb is that guy.

I watched two starting Quarterback change teams this offseason.  Jason Campbell was traded away from the Redskins for damn near nothing.  Campbell went for a 4^th Round Draft pick in 2012.  That is 2 years from now.  Are you kidding me?  And a 4^th Round Draft Pick?  WOW!!!  With that said, Donovan McNabb’s situation was a bit better, but it was still a low blow.  Donovan was traded to the Washington Redskins for a 2^nd Round Draft Pick.  LOL…  I guess Brotha’s are still expendable.  I understand that a player’s value is what two teams agree upon, but give me a break here.  We are talking about a future Hall of Fame Quarterback.  We are talking about one of the best QB’s in NFL history.  We are talking about one of the best Winners of all time in the NFL.  And for the past five offseasons we were all waiting for the other shoe to drop.  We were waiting on the Eagles to cut ties with the best player in their Franchise’s history.  And that day came to pass on April 5, 2010. 

Maybe as Black people we are a bit too sensitive.  I mean for decades Black people have been slighted and underminded.  We see changes in society, but then we have constant reminders of what America’s ugly past was all about.  People do not want to admit it, but sports are a microcosm of society.  And although we have a Black President now, it does not mean, people’s discriminatory and sometimes, outright racist attitudes have changed.  And no where is this more apparent than in football at the Quarterback position.  Although the number of Black Quarterbacks have increased, the guidelines are still the same.  As a Black Quarterback, you have to be athletic, you must have a big arm and you have to be built a certain way (READ: muscular).  Notice, there is no reference to intelligence, just as long as you are not too smart.  God forbid you are intelligent as a Black QB, you will get Black-balled.  Just ask Duante Culpepper.  He is smart enough to understand NFL contract’s, and is still better then half of the Quarterback’s in the league and the only starting job that he was offered was with the lowly Detroit Lions.  But hey, it’s an NFL paycheck right?  As a Black Quarterback, you just need to be able to pick up the teams playbook and be able to run.  But even if you are intelligent, you will not get credit for it.

Jason Campbell has learned six to seven different Offensive Playbooks in the last nine years.  Do you think that he is intelligent/smart/heady or whatever bull---- term they are using today?  I think that Jason Campbell is very intelligent.  My proof, as a Black Quarterback, if he was not, that would be the FIRST thing in the way of criticism, that you would hear.  But it is not just Jason Campbell and it is not just about intelligence.  Can you imagine what would really happen if a Black Quarterback were really and truthfully groomed?  There is already a fear of the Black Quarterback in the NFL because every other position is dominated by Black players.  There is a note of athleticism, but couple that with intelligence and, “Houston we have a problem!!”  Maybe there is a fear that if Black Quarterbacks are given a fair shot, that the NFL will be completely Black in the next decade.  I mean, look at the NBA.  There is a conscious effort to slight Black Quarterbacks.  There is this subtle message to change positions, to avoid the "criticism."  Some are even told that they are “too athletic” to play Quarterback.  What kind of garbage is that?

How long do people expect Black Quarterbacks to endure criticism without lashing back?  Truth be told, Jake Delhomme would never get another starting job in the NFL if he were Black.  Carson Palmer would be getting death threats and would have been gone a few years ago.  People would be calling for Tony Romo’s backup.  Aaron Rodgers would be a bust.  Marc Bulger would have been gone two seasons ago. Jay Cutler would have been traded for a 4^th-7^th Round draft pick.  Alex Smith would have been released two seasons ago.  Matt Hasselback would have lasted 3 years.  Chad Pennington would have been long gone.  J.P. Losman would be bagging groceries.  Ben Roethlisberger would be staring down a year long suspension.  Phillip Rivers would have been on the hot seat coming into the 2009 season.  And, Matt Schaub would still be a backup in Atlanta.  A Quarterback’s value is in their production on the field and people’s perception of them.  The “it” factor, again, is the backing of an organization.  So when you hear the term, the “it” factor (i.e. … this kid has the “it” factor), know that “it” is a bunch of garbage.  It is a term that is made up just to separate two people when nothing to distinguish the difference is apparent.

This brings me back to Donovan McNabb.  Donovan is the perfect Quarterback.  He fits the description of most Black Quarterbacks, and even the stereotypical White Quarterback.  Here is my scouting report on Donovan:

-Big, strong, athletic kid

-Live arm; can make all of the throws

-Good at spreading the ball around

-Very mobile, especially within the pocket

-Can make plays with his feet

-Great deep ball thrower

-Very smart

-Great leader

Now a lot of people are going to have a problem with this blog.  I really could give a rat’s ass.  Anyone that knows me will tell you that I may be very opinionated and tough, but I am fair.  And the way Donovan McNabb has been unfairly scrutinized and overlooked for the duration of his career is very unfair.  The funny thing is, he is still going to be in Canton, OH in the future, so it makes no difference what anyone says. 

Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are great Quarterbacks and are going to be in the Hall of Fame.  Brett Favre is another great, and he too will be in Canton, OH in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  But you would be hard pressed to find anyone else from this era that is well on their way to the Hall of Fame other than Donovan McNabb.  You might be able to make a case for Ben Roethlisberger, but that is about it.  Maybe in a few years, I will entertain conversation about Drew Brees, but one Super Bowl win a Hall Famer it does not make.  Hell, Trent Dilfer and Mark Rypien both have Super Bowl rings, and I do not see Canton calling them anytime soon, if at all.  A Super Bowl ring, although nice to have, only says that you had one good season.  When you get two rings, you are doing something, when you have three like Tom Brady, you are the man.  Now if you can couple those rings with some good seasons then you are writing your own ticket to Canton.  I want you to be the judge of Donovan’s career to this point.  If you are going to get emotional and start spouting off dumbness, do not even bother writing me.  Please respond with some intelligence.  Take a look at this mans career and tell me if you think he has had a Hall Of Fame worthy career:

Year	Games	Games Started	Attempts	Completions	Completion %	Yards	Yards/Attempt	Touchdowns		Interceptions	Rating
1999	12	6	216	106	49.1	948	4.9		8	7	60.1
2000	16	16	569	330	58.0	3,365	5.91		21	13	77.8
2001	16	16	493	285	57.8	3,233	6.56		25	12	84.3
2002	10	10	361	211	58.4	2,289	6.34		17	6	86.0
2003	16	16	478	275	57.5	3,216	6.73		16	11	79.6
2004	15	15	469	300	64.0	3,875	8.26		31	8	104.7
2005	9	9	357	211	59.1	2,507	7.00		16	9	85.0
2006	10	10	316	180	57.0	2,647	8.36		18	6	95.5
2007	14	14	473	291	61.5	3,324	7.00		19	7	89.9
2008	16	16	571	345	60.4	3,916	6.90		23	11	86.4
2009	14	14	443	267	60.3	3,553	8.00		22	10	92.9
Totals	138	132	4,303	2,534	58.9	29,320	6.80		194	90	86.5
Playoffs	12	12	419	249	59.4	2,630	6.26		18	12	80.1

First of all, Donovan has NEVER, thrown more Interceptions than Touchdowns.  Take a look at the things that stick out, that are not on this chart.  McNabb has five NFC Championship appearances and one Super Bowl appearance.  And please take a look at the 2004 Season’s stats.  That is the one year that McNabb had a viable, respectable target at Wide Receiver in one Terrell Owens.  Next take a look at the 2008 season.  Please be advised that it was during this time that Donovan McNabb was benched for he first time in his career.  That season ended in one of Donovan’s five NFC Championship appearances. It was during that season that Philadelphia drafted a young speedster by the name of DeSean Jackson.  Finally, take a look at what Donovan has on his resume as of May 2010:

NFL Records

• Most consecutive pass completions, 24; vs New York Giants, Nov. 28, 2004; vs Green Bay Packers, Dec. 5, 2004
• Least-intercepted Quarterback per pass attempt of all time, (4588 attempts-96 interceptions, 2.09%)
• Second-best Touchdown-to-Interception ratio of all time, (209-96, 2.18) behind Tom Brady (217-92, 2.36)
• First NFL Quarterback ever to throw for more than 30 touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions (2004) [8]
• One of six Quarterbacks of all time to have over 25,000 Passing yards and 3,000 Rushing yards (alongside Randall Cunningham, Steve Young, Fran Tarkenton, Steve McNair, and John Elway)
• Currently the third-highest winning percentage among active quarterbacks (83-45-1, .647) behind Peyton Manning (119-59-0, .669) and Tom Brady (88-25-0, .779)

Eagles records

• Most Career Attempts (4,303)
• Most Pass Completions (2534)
• Most Passing Yards (29,320)
• Most Passing Touchdowns (203)
• Most Single-Season Completions (345, 2008 season)
• Most Single-Season Yards (3,916, 2008 season)
• Most NFC Championship Appearances (5)

I ask you one more time, why does this man not get respect?  Don’t give me garbage about him “not winning the big one.”  Dan Marino, Fran Tarkenton and Jim Kelly didn’t either.  Stop making excuses and start getting real.