| Andrew Perna. 13th January, 2008 - 8:44 pm
 It’s easy to get a cheese steak in Philadelphia these days, just go to Geno’s, Jim’s or Pat’s, but it’s not nearly as simple to find your football team an elite wide receiver.
Donovan McNabb understands this better than anyone, and recent comments in his on-line blog revealed frustration stemming from Philadelphia’s trouble obtaining a big-name pass catcher. McNabb wrote in his blog on Jan. 7 that he hopes the Eagles will “secure some playmakers in all three phases of the game” this offseason.
On the surface his comments might appear as discontent and maybe even a substantial knock on his current teammates, but there is more to what he said than just a desire to see some new faces in the City of Brotherly Love.
The fact that McNabb has asked Philadelphia’s brass to add a playmaker or two seems to ensure that we’ll see him in an Eagles’ uniform next season.
Rumors circulated throughout the 2007 season that McNabb’s days in Philadelphia could be numbered. There was considerable buzz Donovan could replace Rex Grossman as the quarterback of the Bears, with the story only gaining steam because of McNabb’s Chicago roots.
Eagles’ President Joe Banner commented on the future of both McNabb and Head Coach Andy Reid a few weeks ago, giving the pair votes of confidence heading into the 2008 season.
"I can't envision a situation in which (Donovan McNabb) is not our quarterback next year…I believe there is a very, very sizable silent majority who realize how lucky we have been to have Donovan McNabb,” Banner told Philadelphia’s 610 AM-WIP.
McNabb, who has been with the Eagles since they drafted him with their top pick in the 1999 Draft, is entering his tenth NFL season.
During his nine-year tenure in Philadelphia, he’s only shared the field with two 1,000-yard receivers: Terrell Owens in ’04 and Kevin Curtis in ’07. You might even slide that down to one, with A.J. Feeley having thrown quite a few passes to Curtis this past season.
Tom Brady, for example, has played with four 1,000-yard receivers in his career, including two (Randy Moss and Wes Welker) this season. McNabb commented on New England’s undefeated season and the personal success Brady enjoyed this season in his blog, as well, “It certainly helped to have Randy Moss, Donté Stallworth, Wes Welker, and Adalius Thomas making plays for them all year.”
Just to further cement the lack of help McNabb has had in his career, here’s a list of elite quarterbacks and how many 1,000-yard pass catchers they’ve enjoyed since the year 2000.
Peyton Manning, IND: 12 receivers in eight seasons.
Marc Bulger, STL: 9 receivers in six seasons.
Brett Favre, GB: 7 receivers in eight seasons.
Carson Palmer, CIN: 6 receivers in four seasons.
Matt Hasselbeck, SEA: 5 receivers in seven seasons.
Tony Romo, DAL: 4 receivers in two seasons.
The first time McNabb had an elite wide out lining up alongside him, Terrell Owens in 2004, Philadelphia advanced to the Super Bowl. With a stingy defense and Brian Westbrook running the football for the Eagles, it’s not overly-optimistic to say that a play-making receiver could push Philadelphia back to the Super Bowl and lift McNabb back to the level of guys like Brady and Manning.
While names like Randy Moss and Dallas Clark have been mentioned as possible acquisitions, the likelihood that either leaves the comforts of New England and Indianapolis, respectively, isn’t very promising.
However, there is an exceptional receiver that might be looking for a change of scenery.
Just days after McNabb used his blog to ask the Eagles for playmakers, Cincinnati’s Chad Johnson made headlines for comments made on ESPN’s “Mike & Mike in the Morning” radio show. "If I'm a cancer," Johnson said, "then as a team, we need chemo, and the problem needs to get dealt with."
The metaphor may have been a bit dramatic, but the message was crystal clear. Johnson has opened the door for the Bengals to ship him, and his distractions, out of town.
You might try to compare Ocho-Cinco to Owens whose honeymoon in Philadelphia only lasted a little more than a season, but the difference between the two Pro Bowl receivers is significant. While some of his actions have created distractions in Cincinnati, he’s an upstanding citizen and doesn’t possess to negative aura surrounding Owens.
"All I do is go out and have fun. I don't get in trouble off the field. I do everything the right way. I might play the game out of the norm a little bit, but to do me the way I was done, with not too many people really having my back within (the Bengals' organization), it was hurtful,” he told ESPN.
He’s also a more durable option than Owens or any of the other receivers McNabb has thrown to during his time with the Eagles. He has missed just two games since the start of the 2002 season, including a current streak of 82 straight appearances.
Johnson has compiled six-straight seasons of more than 1,100 yards receiving and reached the end zone 48 times during the same period of time. That’s an average of 1,340 yards and eight touchdowns since 2002, and the kind of production a guy like McNabb could get used to.
So Philadelphia, go get Chad.
As long as you’re not giving up anyone with the first name Brian, do whatever it takes to pry Johnson away from Marvin Lewis and the Bengals. Draft picks included.
Give McNabb one of the game’s best wide receivers and maybe even someone he could share a nice Philly cheesesteak with…
Can Philadelphia acquire Ocho-Cinco? Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
