Philly Fans Don't Deserve Donovan McNabb

Since the 1999 season the Redskins have started eight different quarterbacks and made the playoffs twice. In that same time-frame, Donovan McNabb, whose first season was in 1999, led the Eagles to six playoff appearances, five division championships, four conference championship games and the Super Bowl.

In addition, McNabb is a classy guy and a good role model. What franchise would not want him as their leader?

Philly.

Philly fans boo him the minute he is not perfect. My jaw dropped in amazement last season when McNabb threw a bad pass and the stands at the Linc erupted in boos. At that point, the Skins were still starting Brunell and I thought how wonderful it would be to have McNabb at QB and why on Earth are they booing him.

McNabb was booed by fans when he was picked 2nd overall by the Eagles, which had to be incredibly difficult personally as he was only 21. Yet he retained his dignity and produced big time for the franchise.

Today he is being pilloried for his comments on an HBO show in which he said that African-American quarterbacks are more scrutinized than White ones. There is even talk on ESPN.com that this will be his last season in Philly post those comments.

What McNabb said was not at all confrontational. He honestly answered a question that was posed to him. The reactions of Jason Campbell and Vince Young (and Young took a big Wilbon hit for being honest) countered McNabb's view. But those QB's don't play in Philly. I am not alleging that Philly is racist. To the contrary, I think they are very quick to turn on their quarterbacks and team in general. If McNabb were White they would probably be doing to same stuff. But he is not, and there is a history, however long ago, about football fans not loving African-American QB's and Donovan probably can't get those draft day boos out of his head. If I were Donovan McNabb and shouldered a winning franchise for eight years and heard boos and sensed no fan loyalty that matched my effort and performance I would much more pissed than he is. I am not so classy.

Here in DC we have an awesome new QB we are all behind and he is African-American. He is like the coming of the Messiah. What is sad is that Donovan should have been welcomed equally, or more so, in Philly as his talent and character are excellent. Philly fans did not give Donovan what he deserved. I don't know that it is racial or just bad Philly temperment. If the Skins had a QB who delivered as much as McNabb did I think, and hope, that we would give him respect and the benefit of the doubt.