Bernard Hopkins Questions McNabb's Stomach

[CaLLaHaN]

Philadelphia born-and-bred boxing great Bernard Hopkins apparently uses Donovan McNabb as a punching bag on a regular basis. Hopkins’ most recent criticism of the Eagles’ quarterback Comcast SportsNet’s Monday Night Live program.

Hopkins questioned McNabb’s toughness after the quarterback looked queasy with the game on the line in the Eagles’ Sunday night loss to the Giants. It’s an especially sensitive topic in Philly, of course, since Terrell Owens made sure the world knew about McNabb losing his lunch during the deciding moments of the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss.

“Some people are athletes, still good, but don’t have that extra ‘I’m willing to sacrifice my life. I’m willing to sacrifice what I have to sacrifice to win.,’” Hopkins said, per Philly.com’s Sheil Kapadia. “People never forgot when things happen, they see a guy crumble under pressure. Whether they throw up on the highway, whether they throw up on the court, whether they throw up on the football field, when people see that, that sticks in the back of their mind.”

Hopkins added that McNabb would be better off playing in his hometown of Chicago, but the Eagles were stuck with him because of his contract.

“Every athlete should have that killer instinct in him, especially if you the quarterback,” Hopkins said. “If he’s not right here and here [pointing to heart and head], and don’t want it, the team feel the vibes.”

Id take almost any qb in the league over mcnabb in a 2min drill....

[doncherry]

clearly BH is not a McNabb guy....

[OWUeagleMD]

Hopkins has always criticized McNabb and was a vocal supporter of T.O. during the 2005 season.

There was a pretty good on-air debate between Hopkins and Eskin during that season.

[doncherry]

Hopkins has always criticized McNabb and was a vocal supporter of T.O. during the 2005 season.

There was a pretty good on-air debate between Hopkins and Eskin during that season.

how do you feel about Hopkins' comments?

[OWUeagleMD]

how do you feel about Hopkins' comments?

I feel like any attention paid to McNabb getting tired this past Sunday is wasted time.

It was a third down with the game on the line. The right decision is to wait until the two-minute warning and call the right play for that situation. It would have been completely illogical to hurry to the line of scrimmage simply for the sake of calling a play before the two-minute warning. Two minutes is plenty of time to drive 50 yards, especially if you have one timeout. So, my immediate reaction to his, or anyone else's comments regarding that play, is general annoyance.

In regard to his general opinion of McNabb, I disagree. McNabb had all the tools (including the immeasurables) to bring a title to the city. The fact that he never won it all puts him in the not-so-select company of 98% of NFL QBs.

[ptr77]

I feel like any attention paid to McNabb getting tired this past Sunday is wasted time.

It was a third down with the game on the line. The right decision is to wait until the two-minute warning and call the right play for that situation. It would have been completely illogical to hurry to the line of scrimmage simply for the sake of calling a play before the two-minute warning. Two minutes is plenty of time to drive 50 yards, especially if you have one timeout. So, my immediate reaction to his, or anyone else's comments regarding that play, is general annoyance.

In regard to his general opinion of McNabb, I disagree. McNabb had all the tools (including the immeasurables) to bring a title to the city. The fact that he never won it all puts him in the not-so-select company of 98% of NFL QBs.

I can agree with everything in your post, my problem is that Mcnabb looked winded and tired, like he couldn't do anything if he had wanted to, obviously rushing the play is a bad idea unless he likes the current personnel on the field and knows the perfect play (highly unlikely). I would be mad to see Eli or any QB winded at that part of the game, especially with the TOP battle being in favour of the giants by a wide margin. But you are correct it would be stupid for him to rush a play with the game on the line. Two minutes is plenty of time to drive the rest of the field. The only problem is Mcnabb looked winded just getting the ball to that point.

[OWUeagleMD]

The only problem is Mcnabb looked winded just getting the ball to that point.

Being tired, in and of itself, isn't a problem. Failing to perform because of that exhaustion is a problem.

We'll never know if McNabb was capable of overcoming his fatigue in that situation, because Reid handed the ball to Westbrook twice rather than putting the ball in McNabb's hands.

This, of course, assumes McNabb actually was tired. Michaels said "look, McNabb's tired, this is just like the Super Bowl" and everyone has kind of taken that as fact. Bottom line, huffing and puffing isn't a big deal. If you look at most RBs after a run, they're catching their breath all the way back to the huddle. This sort of conjecture-through-the-camera-lens just kinda bugs me.

[dockeryfan]

I'd have less of a problem with McNabb getting winded, and more of a problem with him casually throwing passes to Carmichael when the game is on the line.

How about get in the ear of Morningwood and Reid and tell them you want the ball for a QB sneak. Show them some friggin fire. Something. He should have been huddling with the coaches at that point.

That is what makes McNabb average. His play is still upper echelon. His leadership sucks balls.

[bubba9497]

McNabb stomach isn't that flabby, but he's added a few pounds on his frame