tazmocan
Bench Warmer
Two brothers from Milwaukee have set up a Web site and held the first of what they claim will be weekly rallies outside of Lambeau Field to try to persuade the Green Bay Packers to bring back quarterback Brett Favre. About 200 people showed up, a laughable demonstration, true enough. But laugh at your peril. This could be all of us, sooner rather than later according to Philadelphia Daily News columnist Rich Hofmann.
Now, if Donovan McNabb were to get hurt again this season, really hurt, or if he were to play terribly this season, really terribly, it all will be easy enough for the Eagles. They will move on, give the quarterback job to Kevin Kolb, and do it with the complete support of the community. They will do their best to talk up McNabb's future prospects and past accomplishments as they trade him someplace — and, preferably, someplace far away. But they will do it and there will be no complaints.
The problem is that life is not usually like that. What if it is an injury that nags but does not debilitate? What if it is a lousy year caused by injuries that decimate the offensive line? What if he has a good year but the defense collapses? What if he has a weak year but the defense carries the Eagles a goodly distance? What if McNabb is just OK on a team that is just OK?
What if it is like that, less black-and-white and more gray? What then?
Because there is nothing more wrenching for an NFL franchise than replacing a long-term incumbent quarterback. Even when it is easy, it isn't. And when it isn't easy, it is the kind of thing that completely dominates every second of a team's existence until it is over — and you often cannot even predict when it will be over.
So laugh at the Packers' predicament if you will. Just remember who warned you
Now, if Donovan McNabb were to get hurt again this season, really hurt, or if he were to play terribly this season, really terribly, it all will be easy enough for the Eagles. They will move on, give the quarterback job to Kevin Kolb, and do it with the complete support of the community. They will do their best to talk up McNabb's future prospects and past accomplishments as they trade him someplace — and, preferably, someplace far away. But they will do it and there will be no complaints.
The problem is that life is not usually like that. What if it is an injury that nags but does not debilitate? What if it is a lousy year caused by injuries that decimate the offensive line? What if he has a good year but the defense collapses? What if he has a weak year but the defense carries the Eagles a goodly distance? What if McNabb is just OK on a team that is just OK?
What if it is like that, less black-and-white and more gray? What then?
Because there is nothing more wrenching for an NFL franchise than replacing a long-term incumbent quarterback. Even when it is easy, it isn't. And when it isn't easy, it is the kind of thing that completely dominates every second of a team's existence until it is over — and you often cannot even predict when it will be over.
So laugh at the Packers' predicament if you will. Just remember who warned you
