Donovan McNabb (2010) "Batman"
13 starts (5-8)
Completion % = 58.3% (275/472)
3377 yrds – 14 TD - 15 INT – 77.1 – 37 sacks
2 Game Winning Drives
Out with the old and in with the older yet slightly more accomplished. When the Redskins traded for Donovan McNabb in the Spring of 2010 it spelled the end of Jason Campbell in DC, and the beginning of what most Redskins fans thought would be a harmonious relationship between McNabb and newly hired super coach Mike Shanahan. But McNabb's time in Washington was summed up by the line from the Dark Knight that said, "He is the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now". McNabb's track record was something that Redskins fans felt they deserved to have in Washington after a decade of despair and ineptitude, but their long time nemesis was not the hero Washington needed at that time. Redskins fans were so enamored with the signing that they failed to realize what they were getting when McNabb decided to take the 136 mile journey down I-95.
McNabb's career before Washington followed the career arc of Batman: An Anti-Hero whose accomplishments were accepted by the masses but never fully appreciated because of his propensity to get the job done in a sporadic, off-the-cuff, unorthodox, and dangerous manner. Just like Batman he came into a hostile city that did not want him, and openly booed him when he was drafted. They wanted Ricky Williams, as the obviously sober grown man with his face painted wearing a mock Ricky Williams Eagles Jersey mouths at the end of that clip. But McNabb would lead the Eagles to the playoffs in five of his fist six season, four straight NFC Championship games between 2001-2004, and coming within three points of defeating the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. Along the way, though, there were concerns about McNabb's decision making and propensity for throwing bad interceptions. These problems were exacerbated by the injuries McNabb would sustain over the next three seasons, causing the Eagles to draft Kevin Kolb in 2007 and putting McNabb's future in Philly in question. McNabb would stay another two years, however, and lead the Eagles to the playoffs both seasons, and lead them to another NFC Championship Game in 2008. Everything looked like it was turning around for McNabb, but then he was unexpectedly traded in the Spring of 2010 with the Eagles electing to go with Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick. Redskins fans were elated that they would have a guy who compiled a 12-7 record against them on their side, but skepticism was abound about why they Eagles would trade McNabb within their own division. The Redskins shortly found out why.
The 2010 season became the search for why Donovan McNabb did not work in Washington, and the ultimate conclusion pointed to McNabb and the Shanahans not being able to get along, but for the beginning of the season it seemed to work. McNabb led the Redskins to a 4-3 record that included wins over the Cowboys and Eagles, but his passing was erratic from game to game and Skins fans never knew which McNabb would show up. Was it the one who could throw for 300 yards and beat the Packers at home, or the one who would throw for 222 yards and a late interception that cost them the game against the Colts? Was it the one who could beat the Eagles and Cowboys while throwing for 124 and 161 yards in those games, or the one who could throw for 400 yards and lose to the Texans? Redskin fans were beginning to see how frustrating it was to have McNabb at the helm, and the fissures widened during the next two games.
McNabb would be benched in the last two minutes at the end of the Week 8 game against the Lions, which led to Rex Grossman fumbling his first snap that was returned for a touchdown and a myriad of explanations from the Shanahan's as to why they benched him. McNabb did not have the cardiovascular endurance to run the two minute drill. Grossman knows the two minute drill better. McNabb was told in advance he might be pulled. The Redskins endured this controversy for two weeks but ultimately McNabb was named the starter for the next game against the Eagles, and he was signed to a long term contract. Unfortunately, Michael Vick had his coming out party against the Redskins on Monday Night Football scoring 28 points in the first quarter and burying the Redskins on national television by a score of 59-28. It was one of the hardest games for any Redskins fan to watch, and it spelled the beginning of the end for Donovan McNabb. McNabb would go 1-3 in his next four games, and be benched for the last three games of the season with the Shanahans electing to go with Rex Grossman. McNabb would be traded to Minnesota after the 2010 season.
McNabb's time in Washington was tumultuous, and most of if had to do with his relationship with Mike and Kyle Shanahan. Jason Reid told the story about the reluctance of Kyle Shanahan in trading for McNabb and of Mike Shanahan's determination to reinvent McNabb, but ultimately it came down to the fact that McNabb was not what the Shanahans wanted. McNabb would spend one year in Minnesota where he would start the first six games, but be benched in favor of Christian Ponder due to rumors about his poor work ethic. He would retire after the 2011 season, but he will always be remembered for all the accomplishments he had in Philadelphia. The Redskins deserved a winner, but McNabb was not the one that they needed. The Shanahans needed someone they could mold an offense around and McNabb was clearly not going to change the way he played the position. Mike and Kyle would continue their search for their ideal quarterback, but they would not get him right away.
Fun Facts: Only five quarterbacks went to more conference championship games than Donovan McNabb in NFL history. They are Tom Brady, Joe Montana, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw, and Roger Staubach. McNabb is tied with Brett Favre, Ken Stabler, and Jim Kelly with five appearances.
McNabb was traded to the Vikings for a 6th round pick that became Alfred Morris.
2 Game Winning Drives
Out with the old and in with the older yet slightly more accomplished. When the Redskins traded for Donovan McNabb in the Spring of 2010 it spelled the end of Jason Campbell in DC, and the beginning of what most Redskins fans thought would be a harmonious relationship between McNabb and newly hired super coach Mike Shanahan. But McNabb's time in Washington was summed up by the line from the Dark Knight that said, "He is the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now". McNabb's track record was something that Redskins fans felt they deserved to have in Washington after a decade of despair and ineptitude, but their long time nemesis was not the hero Washington needed at that time. Redskins fans were so enamored with the signing that they failed to realize what they were getting when McNabb decided to take the 136 mile journey down I-95.
McNabb's career before Washington followed the career arc of Batman: An Anti-Hero whose accomplishments were accepted by the masses but never fully appreciated because of his propensity to get the job done in a sporadic, off-the-cuff, unorthodox, and dangerous manner. Just like Batman he came into a hostile city that did not want him, and openly booed him when he was drafted. They wanted Ricky Williams, as the obviously sober grown man with his face painted wearing a mock Ricky Williams Eagles Jersey mouths at the end of that clip. But McNabb would lead the Eagles to the playoffs in five of his fist six season, four straight NFC Championship games between 2001-2004, and coming within three points of defeating the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. Along the way, though, there were concerns about McNabb's decision making and propensity for throwing bad interceptions. These problems were exacerbated by the injuries McNabb would sustain over the next three seasons, causing the Eagles to draft Kevin Kolb in 2007 and putting McNabb's future in Philly in question. McNabb would stay another two years, however, and lead the Eagles to the playoffs both seasons, and lead them to another NFC Championship Game in 2008. Everything looked like it was turning around for McNabb, but then he was unexpectedly traded in the Spring of 2010 with the Eagles electing to go with Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick. Redskins fans were elated that they would have a guy who compiled a 12-7 record against them on their side, but skepticism was abound about why they Eagles would trade McNabb within their own division. The Redskins shortly found out why.
The 2010 season became the search for why Donovan McNabb did not work in Washington, and the ultimate conclusion pointed to McNabb and the Shanahans not being able to get along, but for the beginning of the season it seemed to work. McNabb led the Redskins to a 4-3 record that included wins over the Cowboys and Eagles, but his passing was erratic from game to game and Skins fans never knew which McNabb would show up. Was it the one who could throw for 300 yards and beat the Packers at home, or the one who would throw for 222 yards and a late interception that cost them the game against the Colts? Was it the one who could beat the Eagles and Cowboys while throwing for 124 and 161 yards in those games, or the one who could throw for 400 yards and lose to the Texans? Redskin fans were beginning to see how frustrating it was to have McNabb at the helm, and the fissures widened during the next two games.
McNabb would be benched in the last two minutes at the end of the Week 8 game against the Lions, which led to Rex Grossman fumbling his first snap that was returned for a touchdown and a myriad of explanations from the Shanahan's as to why they benched him. McNabb did not have the cardiovascular endurance to run the two minute drill. Grossman knows the two minute drill better. McNabb was told in advance he might be pulled. The Redskins endured this controversy for two weeks but ultimately McNabb was named the starter for the next game against the Eagles, and he was signed to a long term contract. Unfortunately, Michael Vick had his coming out party against the Redskins on Monday Night Football scoring 28 points in the first quarter and burying the Redskins on national television by a score of 59-28. It was one of the hardest games for any Redskins fan to watch, and it spelled the beginning of the end for Donovan McNabb. McNabb would go 1-3 in his next four games, and be benched for the last three games of the season with the Shanahans electing to go with Rex Grossman. McNabb would be traded to Minnesota after the 2010 season.
McNabb's time in Washington was tumultuous, and most of if had to do with his relationship with Mike and Kyle Shanahan. Jason Reid told the story about the reluctance of Kyle Shanahan in trading for McNabb and of Mike Shanahan's determination to reinvent McNabb, but ultimately it came down to the fact that McNabb was not what the Shanahans wanted. McNabb would spend one year in Minnesota where he would start the first six games, but be benched in favor of Christian Ponder due to rumors about his poor work ethic. He would retire after the 2011 season, but he will always be remembered for all the accomplishments he had in Philadelphia. The Redskins deserved a winner, but McNabb was not the one that they needed. The Shanahans needed someone they could mold an offense around and McNabb was clearly not going to change the way he played the position. Mike and Kyle would continue their search for their ideal quarterback, but they would not get him right away.
Fun Facts: Only five quarterbacks went to more conference championship games than Donovan McNabb in NFL history. They are Tom Brady, Joe Montana, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw, and Roger Staubach. McNabb is tied with Brett Favre, Ken Stabler, and Jim Kelly with five appearances.
McNabb was traded to the Vikings for a 6th round pick that became Alfred Morris.
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