What did he say?

Now before everyone jumps down TO's throat for opening his mouth yet again, there might actually be some merit to what he said. But then again, he probably shouldn't have opened his mouth either. ESPN analyst Michael Irvin recently stated that he thought the Eagles could be undefeated right now if Brett Favre was their starting quarterback. When asked in a recent exclusive interview, TO replied "That's a good assessment, I would agree with that just with what [Favre] brings to the table."

So McNabb has been plagued by the injury bug this year. He's suffering from a bruised chest and shin, and has also been playing with a sports hernia since week 1. There have been times in the past where players have had to swallow their warrior-like mentality and sit rather than hurting their team's chances of winning by playing (McNair), but the truth is that there isn't a better realistic option for the Eagles at this point of the season than a hurt McNabb.

A wise man once said, "there are two guys you don't go after on the football team, the quarterback, and the 'ol ball coach." Though TO has yet to go after coach Andy Reid, he's sure made a habit of saying some uncomfortable things about McNabb. I mean, lets think about this for a second, when healthy, McNabb is a lock as one of the top 5 quarterbacks in the league. But even hurt, he's played well enough recently too.

The team has bigger issues than Donovan's health. Two weeks ago, McNabb made a career high 54 pass attempts. I'm sorry, but you know your QB is hurt, the other team knows your QB is hurt, hell, everyone knows Donovan is playing hurt, yet you put the game in his arm 54 plays in one game? Ever heard of a running game? For a guy who is supposed to be one of the prolific receivers in the game, you'd think he'd be doing a little bit more when the passing game comes up on offense 70% of the time as opposed to the 30% of the plays that go for runs. Donovan threw the ball 54 times, and all you could come up with was 7 catches for 53 yards? Clearly, McNabb is not the only issue.

Its not like TO catches everything thrown his way. There has been more than one game this season when he's caught fewer balls than he has missed or dropped. Randy Moss doesn't drop balls. Steve Smith doesn't drop balls. Its hard to ignore the fact that TO is quick to point the finger at someone else, while never taking any part of the blame. It wasn't the great team effort, or even marvelous individual effort that he made last year in the Superbowl that he was talking about when they almost pulled off the victory. It was Donovan botching it in the closing drive, faltering in the waning seconds of the game that TO decided to talk about instead.

Brett Favre is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, one of the toughest, and an all-around nice guy. But he's not going to be suiting up for the Eagles anytime soon, so don't worry about it. Rodney Harrison is not going to return to shore up the Patriots secondary. And as fun as it might be to see, LaDanian Tomlinson is not going to be suiting up in a Colts uniform anytime soon. Speculations and what-ifs are best left up to the media and analysts, not to the players like TO. Though Peyton once referred to him as their "idiot kicker," I'm sure he's just fine with Vanderjagt being their kicker. Can you imagine the outrage that would have been had Peyton instead said, "Well, if we had Adam Vinatieri instead, I'm sure we would have won the Superbowl by now."

It seems that TO is the only person in the league that doesn't believe in team chemistry. In New England, everyone is accustomed to the phrase "its just Manny being Manny," but Manny doesn't throw teammates under the bus. People defend their teammates on a weekly basis against comments from other coaches or other team players. And in the brotherhood of the NFL, sometimes players even compliment players from another team. Just last week when asked about Tedy Bruschi's return, former teammate, and current division rival (Buffalo Bills) Lawyer Malloy said "If anyone can do it, it's Tedy Bruschi."

But wait, there's more. TO also criticized the Eagles organization on Thursday. In last Sunday's game, TO caught the 100th TD pass of his career. But *ghast* the Eagles didn't celebrate it. Owens said "if it were anyone else they would have shot off fireworks." He further criticized the organization because "they consider themselves one of the classiest organizations," but what? They didn't set off fireworks for your 100th career touchdown? Please, have some class yourself.

Maybe TO should take a page from one of the NFL's positive poster children. When Peyton Manning broke Dan Marino's single season passing touchdown mark last year, it was all business. Stokley gave him the ball on the sideline, there was possibly a bit more cheering than usual, but it was afterall the middle of a football game. Or consider the game he played the week before that. Colts ball in the red zone against the Ravens in the waning moments of the game. The home crowd of Indianapolis booed when Manning took a knee with the game in hand rather than going for the record setting touchdown pass. When asked about it after the game, he simply replied "thats how you play the game." And right he was. You don't run up the score on an opponent when the game is already won simply so you can set a record. Nor should you stop the game for your 100th career touchdown reception. Its not a record, and you're not even the active leader. Take the ball, give it to your mother, and get ready for the next offensive series. Talk to me when the Eagles organization remains dormant when you break a Jerry Rice record and maybe I'll listen then.

I'm sick of TO getting a free pass for everything that he says. Shut up and play football. Yes, you are a great receiver. Yes, you are one of the best in the game. Yes, you are a physical speicman that few are capable of covering. And yes, you are a clubhouse cancer. Though, with all the negative, I must admit, there is one TO quote that I actually enjoy. Following his sharpie debacle, TO said in the December '02 issue of ESPN The Magazine, "Guys are beating their wives, getting DUIs and doing drugs, and I get national attention for a SHARPIE?" At first I was dumbfounded, thinking, hey, this guy is right. There are much more important things out there than being a blow hard on the football field. If the guy wants to play ball with a sharpie stuck down his sock, fine by me. But the more I think about it, I realize the truth. TO brings it upon himself. He's such a whore for the media. He loves it, he can't get enough of it. And if he can't be front page simply for his antics after he scores a touchdown, he'll find a reason to be on the front page. So on second thought, jump down his throat.