PA Season Ticket Holder
05-04-2003, 11:47 AM
Donovan McNabb has 115 million reasons why he should probably stick to the company line.
The Eagles quarterback has the most lucrative contract in NFL history, and it extends through the 2013 season, proof that head coach Andy Reid wants McNabb running this team's offense long after he celebrates his 30th birthday.
That, however, did not stop McNabb from wondering aloud about the long list of veterans who have become his former teammates over the last two seasons.
Perhaps he was only saying what so many of his remaining veteran teammates feel. Whatever the reason, McNabb did not sugarcoat his feelings yesterday when asked about what effect the long list of veteran losses has had on the Eagles.
"Any time you lose 12 players or however many we lost, it takes a toll from the very beginning," McNabb said after the Eagles' minicamp opened with a morning practice at the NovaCare Complex.
Hugh Douglas, Brian Mitchell, Shawn Barber and Sean Landeta are among the more prominent players who have left since last season's NFC title-game loss to Tampa Bay.
"Any time you lose a guy that had 13, 14, 15 sacks a year, that's hard to fill, and that's putting a lot on the guy you bring in," McNabb said in reference to Douglas. "Any time you lose a weakside linebacker [Barber] who was very athletic and played well against running backs and tight ends, that's tough.
"Any time you lose a Hall of Fame kick returner as well as punt returner [Mitchell], those shoes are hard to fill. When you lose a Hall of Fame punter [Landeta], again, those shoes are hard to fill. The list goes on."
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/5774482.htm
The Eagles quarterback has the most lucrative contract in NFL history, and it extends through the 2013 season, proof that head coach Andy Reid wants McNabb running this team's offense long after he celebrates his 30th birthday.
That, however, did not stop McNabb from wondering aloud about the long list of veterans who have become his former teammates over the last two seasons.
Perhaps he was only saying what so many of his remaining veteran teammates feel. Whatever the reason, McNabb did not sugarcoat his feelings yesterday when asked about what effect the long list of veteran losses has had on the Eagles.
"Any time you lose 12 players or however many we lost, it takes a toll from the very beginning," McNabb said after the Eagles' minicamp opened with a morning practice at the NovaCare Complex.
Hugh Douglas, Brian Mitchell, Shawn Barber and Sean Landeta are among the more prominent players who have left since last season's NFC title-game loss to Tampa Bay.
"Any time you lose a guy that had 13, 14, 15 sacks a year, that's hard to fill, and that's putting a lot on the guy you bring in," McNabb said in reference to Douglas. "Any time you lose a weakside linebacker [Barber] who was very athletic and played well against running backs and tight ends, that's tough.
"Any time you lose a Hall of Fame kick returner as well as punt returner [Mitchell], those shoes are hard to fill. When you lose a Hall of Fame punter [Landeta], again, those shoes are hard to fill. The list goes on."
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/5774482.htm