Dear Donovan McNabb,
I'm praying for you tonight, Donovan. I'm praying for you because tomorrow night is the biggest regular-season game of your entire NFL career.
No matter what the so-called experts or fans, including me, have said, this season is not over. It is absolutely not over. Five straight wins and this team is in the playoffs. Guaranteed. One loss and we're out.
This loss cannot be tomorrow. You cannot allow this team to lose to the Arizona Cardinals tomorrow.
Almost all of your fans were mad at you. We were very, very mad at you. Extremely mad at you. Very hurt. Frustrated. Bewildered.
You didn't know that NFL games can end in ties. That's unacceptable. We knew that and we don't make $9.2 million per year. You make almost $10,000 per offensive snap. But you didn't know a simple rule. We lost a lot of faith in you.
But the way Reid stabbed you in the back on Sunday was wrong. Flat-out wrong. He proposed to you in 1999 and the two of you were married for 10 years, before he cheated on you on Sunday.
He wouldn't even tell you himself. He couldn't look you in the eye. Quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur had to break the heartbreaking news to you.
The entire team was embarrassed for you. No one would approach you on the sidelines. What could they have done? What could anyone have said to make you feel better?
This ugly divorce between you and Coach Reid has resulted in the majority of fans selecting sides. Both of you have disappointed us. Broken our hearts. But you know what?
We pick you, Donovan. Andy is the villain. The bad guy. He's the one who betrayed us.
We're very angry with Coach Reid this year. Bill Belichick would have us at 8-3. So would Jon Gruden. They wouldn't have thrown Kevin Kolb to the wolves in a three-point game.
The pressure tomorrow will be enormous. Unbelievable. You think our fans were rough on you when you were drafted? When you didn't know a rule?
Imagine what it will be like for you if you do not succeed tomorrow night. We're angry at Coach Reid right now. But that anger could be redirected to you. Unfortunately.
Please win tomorrow.
Start the game 5-6, 78 yards, and a touchdown pass. 68,532 screaming fans will be openly supporting you.
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about 1 month ago
nice job bryn. the passion's there. it's obvioiusly a big game. 5 wins, you're right, and you're probably in. i, personally, think it's improbable. but stranger things have happened, that'd go a long way towards keeping everyone's jobs, huh?
i'm on the same page with you. not nearly as close to the situation as you, but it seems to be like reid is the problem. the stubborn refusal to run the ball is unforgivable.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Dan...
I hate Tampa Bay because of 2002. Carolina because of 2003. And New Orleans because of 2006. But I love Atlanta because of 2004......so go Falcons! (Plus I like Matt Ryan.)
about 1 month ago
Bryn,
Daniel is right. It is an outright shame when the Eagles could not make the size of my foot for a touchdown by running the ball. And I by no means have a Shack O'Neill shoe!
Two things to consider: Westbrook is not healthy and earlier in the season, there would be about 75 percent that he could have made that play, which if they lose Thursday, I will pin that single plan on their whole season. And that is Reid's fault. To put that young kid in that situation to fail, singly and wholely is a shame. Not wrong; just a shame. Also back to the play, Buckholder was hurt by the second half, too.
I have always been a Donavan supporter. Can he turn it around? Absolutely. But also by putting Kolb in the second half of the Baltimore game, yep, if McNabb goes 0-6 to start the game, the crowd will boo him worse than J.D. Drew! Reid threw him under da bus, big time.
It is a royal shame and Reid has got to go. His downright arragance seemed charming when he was winning, but is unexcusable when they are losing. We need to start over.
However, if McNabb pulls it together, which he can, it will go a long way to right the ship.
Good job, Bryn. I am a bit older and went the other way in my most recent story (10 Worst ...), but that is just me.
Happy Thanksgiving.
from about 1 month ago
You're right. You know what I realized? We are like the Titanic right now. Well-publicized, expensive, popular, and now we're sinking. Because our captain failed to see the iceberg ahead.
about 1 month ago
Yep, and Reid thinks that his offense is the best, but it is really like an inch-wide steel constructed ship and it's going down.
The Giants' battleship, however, is mowing down the East.
Ahh, medifores. They play so well in football.
Let's hope the Eagles game is not a turkey!
from about 1 month ago
I have confidence tomorrow night. Desperation sometimes brings out the best. This is as big of a regular-season game as I have seen in my lifetime.
about 1 month ago
It's hard to think that we can still be in it, after what happened in Cincy and Baltimore. But we CAN still do it, and only Donovan can get us there.
Great article!
about 1 month ago
It's all come to a head. The entire season, the Andy Reid regieme and the career of Donovan Mcnabb pretty much rides on this game, these few futile games. Bryn, that was amazing, you captured the passion and the fire of us fans in a simple article. We as fans have a job to do, and that's supporting this team, yes we boo at times when we don't like what we see. But like you said, it's only because we care. I have the utmost confidence in #5 as my QB right now......I have a feeling that we will see this team once again, pick itself up and dust themselves on and march forward. It's not over. This is deffinetly a POTD article in my book man, great job.
And a note for those who will be in attendance tomorrow night at the Linc. We need to do our job in supporting this team. We need to make the Cards feel as if they're in hell. E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!!!
about 1 month ago
Bryn-
As a Eagle supporter when they aren't playing us, I'd hate to see Donovan leave Philly. He's a true Eagle.
from about 1 month ago
Thank you. Yes, he is. Just like Packers fans had never seen anything not Brett Favre, I can't remember anything not Donovan McNabb...
from about 1 month ago
Yeah it'd suck seeing Kevin Kolb under center, even if the season isn't really going anywhere.
about 1 month ago
Ah, Donovan, Donovan, Donovan...what to say about Donovan...
Anyway, nice little letter here. I also feel like he needs to win tomorrow. If he doesn't...
about 1 month ago
Bryn, I of course want you guys to lose tomorrow, but I like Donovan McNabb. He is a guy with more class than Jimmy Stewart. Good Article.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks James. By the way, I've always wondered....why do Dallas and Detroit always play on Thanksgiving Day? I know it's tradition....but why?? This is the first Thanksgiving game of my lifetime for the Eagles....do you like having it every Thanksgiving?
from about 1 month ago
I don't know about Detroit, but Dallas volunteered to play on Thanksgiving. Tex Schramm saw it as a golden oppourtunity to get the Cowboys noticed. We had only been in the league six years and Dallas...... No other word but sucked comes to mind. So when Rozelle asked for volunteers, we went after it.
Schramm thought the old-fashioned way, "there is no such thing as bad publicity." So, with that national attention, Dallas could get some fans, better ratings, and have some fun with it.
I love it personally. After or while your eating you get to watch a great football game. Romo's 5 touchdown performance and last year Terence Newman got his first INT TD. It also is great with the little awards and stuff, especially the interviews during the game that make fans appear closer to the players when you see their families on TV and stuff.
Also, it is a game I'm guaranteed not to miss, so that is great in itself.
about 1 month ago
Good luck Donovan, and Eagles! I am rooting for you guys also! The hell of being a "dual-citizenship" fan.
Great article Bryn! I was able to fully feel the emotion in your article! I know those feelings with the Eagles also, as well as with the Panthers. Two teams I love dearly...I know, I'm an unusual fan of sorts.
Five stars, POTD!
from about 1 month ago
The Panthers and the Eagles? Who did you root for in the 2003 NFC Championship Game?
Carolina's remaining schedule is brutal. They need to finish 2-3...and that may be challenging.
from about 1 month ago
Of course I rooted for my Panthers. I grew up on them. I took Philly as a local team when I moved to Jersey--never could stand the Giants, Jets, or Cowboys.
The Panthers remaining schedule is very unsettling considering their hot and cold performances. The last five games are truly an uphill battle. The pieces of the puzzle are there, it's just getting them to fit together when they're needed. We'll see.
As close as this NFC race is, I'm figuring more like they might need to finish out 3-2 at the very least! I doubt seriously we can beat the Giants, and Green Bay won't be a walk in the park either--then we also have the Bucs (with Garcia) and Saints to play so to say when it rains, it pours; that's a statement very becoming of the schedule they're up against.
Again, good luck Eagles, and I'm praying for Donovan too.
about 1 month ago
of course, ya brought up the QB coach thing.
and of course, we disagree. ha, this is just getting fun now.
i dont have a problem with reid having the QB coach tell him. i mean.. isn't that why you have him? if andy was gonna deal directly with donovan, why have the guy? just saying.
regardless though, yes. McNabb must win this game. if they lose, it doesnt matter if he throws 6 TD's and runs for 2 more, if the Eagles lose, it will be put squarely on his shoulders, unfortunately.
i dont want my corn on the Kolb. not now, not ever.
PLEASE WIN FOR US MCNUGGET!
from about 1 month ago
Andy Reid hitched his entire coaching career to Donovan McNabb. He brought Donovan to Philly with his first pick. Since they're so close, Reid should have told him himself.
from about 1 month ago
yeah i get all that. but like i said, you've got a QB coach for a reason. but anyway,
thank god he came out and did what he did.
isn't it crazy what DMac can do when Reid will run???
about 1 month ago
Way to play last night, McNabb...
from about 1 month ago
Well, Bryn, McNabb must have heard you. He did it! Pawp
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