Winning is All McNabb Can Do

While Donavan McNabb and the Eagles are off to a great start, thanks to Rush Limbaugh, nothing will be settled in Philadelphia until a championship is brought to town. McNabb must win a Super Bowl in order to wipe the doubt slate clean.

Hell, if the country can squabble over what the presidential candidates were doing 30 years ago, I can certainly bring up an event from the past 12 months. It has been about that long since Rush Limbaugh brought forth the idea that all the hype behind Philadelphia quarterback Donavan McNabb was less believable than Donald Rumsfeld's statement that the U.S. could pull out of Iraq with less than peaceful conditions.

"I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well," Limbaugh said. "There is a little hope invested in McNabb." Donavan and the Eagles had a nine-game winning streak after those comments and reached the NFC championship last season. Let's hope Rummy doesn't fire up the insurgence like Limbaugh did McNabb. To suggest that Donavan McNabb was overrated was almost as strange as hearing Madonna say that being in Israel was as safe as being in New York City.

But we should lay off Rush Limbaugh, after all, he was probably so jacked up on Barney Dope or whatever it was he was illegally buying, he probably can't even remember getting to the studio that day.

To the non-pill popping public, it is clear that in McNabb's first five seasons, his skill level far exceeded that of any receiver he had who could catch the ball. Still, even without a top talent WR, the Eagles managed a success level that would leave Cardinal fans drooling.

This past offseason, Philadelphia ownership finally realized Donavan couldn't do it all by himself. To show just how much faith they had in McNabb, the Eagles obtained WR Terrell Owens. The move solidified the fact that Donavan McNabb is indeed "The Man" in Philly. Not only does Owens give McNabb the consistent target that he so sorely lacked, it also gives head coach Andy Reid a wide receiver who can stretch the field, allowing more aggressive offensive play-calling.

It is only three weeks into the season, but things have been going well for the 3-0 Eagles. McNabb has 8 TD passes, already matching half his total from a year ago, with no interceptions and passes to nine different receivers. Owens, who insisted he would be content even if he catches only a few balls a game as long as the Eagles are winning, is also off to a hot start with 18 catches for 254 yards and 5 TDs.

Thanks though to Rush's statements, McNabb has a lot more at stake than Owens. With the addition of a big-name talented receiver, the pressure vice squeezing McNabb has just turned from tightly fastened to Abu Ghraib prison interrogation. Baring injuries, McNabb has got to win a Super Bowl this year. Win and he has done what is expected of him. But if Donavan fails to win a championship in 2004, he will have another offseason haunted by Limbaugh-like statements.

Although Rush Limbaugh resigned from ESPN, his history with them will forever linger. The only thing that cures the hangover of doubt is winning.