Faceoff

Question #140: What do you think of Donovan now?

January

It’s been quite a week for birds, huh? There was that flock that took down a plane on Thursday, and we will have Ravens, Cardinals and Eagles in the NFL’s conference championships this weekend.

The thing on my mind lately is that late in the season, after Donovan McNabb was benched by Andy Reid, the immediate knee-jerk was that he’d be available in the off-season. And that so many Jets fans said they had no interest in McNabb replacing Brett Favre. Imagine. Would you take that trade right now?

McNabb, who had the second-best winning percentage in his first 75 NFL starts (.707, second only to Tom Brady) will play in his fifth NFC championship, looking to get to his second Super Bowl. All he does is win. But, nah, you wouldn’t want him in a Jets uniform.

Meanwhile, the Jets still haven’t named a coach and still don’t know if Favre is coming back, and I have this question for Mike Tannenbaum:

What was your plan for a quarterback before you got Favre during the preseason? And what is your play for a quarterback after Favre is gone? I mean, were the Jets really going to spend all that money on offensive linemen last year and then hand the job to Kellen Clemens? And can Clemens possibly be expected to be the next one?

Anyway, back to the birds. Time for NFC and AFC championship picks, Sam, and any readers who want to join us. Scores please.

I was 1-3 last week, just stellar picking (granted, NOBODY picked the Cards). Sam was 2-2. That leaves me 3-5 for the playoffs, and Sam 5-3. And that means he only has to call one game correctly the rest of the way, or even pick one game the same way I pick it, and he wins the postseason title to go with his regular-season nail-biting win. So, in advance, I congratulate you, Sam.

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Eagles 23, Cardinals 20.

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Steelers 28, Ravens 24.

12:37 p.m., Sam says:

Sam Borden

I’ve always been intrigued by McNabb, if only because he seems to be so many things all in one: Talented, athletic, outspoken, humorous and, at times, controversial. He’s also, as you said Carp, a winner. Which makes it interesting that he’s such a contentious figure in Philly.

I said on the live chat I did with Mike Dougherty a few weeks back that I thought McNabb was playing with legitimate purpose this winter. And that purpose is his legacy. His numbers are excellent, and put him among some of the best quarterbacks to play. Certainly he helped re-define the notion of the mobile quarterback, which is was an important innovation, too.

But he hasn’t won. And I think that McNabb knows this is as good an opportunity as he’ll have to finally get there. He got benched, shown up, embarrassed. Then he got over it and now he’s two wins from cementing his standing.

Is he the right fit for the Jets? I’m not so sure another aging QB is the way they should go anyway. But obviously McNabb isn’t going anywhere anymore. Not after what’s he done and still might do.

I don’t know if he’ll win it. But I’ll certainly be rooting that he does.

NFC Championship:
Eagles 24, Cardinals 17

AFC Championship:
Ravens 23, Steelers 20

This entry was posted on Friday, January 16th, 2009 at 11:41 am by Carp. |

5 Responses to “Question #140: What do you think of Donovan now?”

sunny615 January 16th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
NFC: Eagles 24, Cardinals 17
AFC: Steelers 14, Ravens 10

As a Jets fan, McNabbit is good, but I’ll pass. Sam nailed it, no thanks on another aging QB clearly past his prime. Sure he’s been successful after his benching, but really? I’d rather see if Cassell wants a starting job in NY over McNabby. And even if McNabb had come to NY – it wasn’t on Favre’s shoulder’s that the Jets wilted faster than a flower made of butter in the Sahara. If I recall, their defense just completely fell apart. The play calling was horrid. Not even Payton Manning could have saved that pathetic offense from the idiocy that is schottenheimer. McNabb’s current play couldn’t save the Jets. And come next season, I’d really rather not have him either. There are better options out there somewhere. Let’s just hope Tannenbaum doesn’t fall asleep at the wheel. Again.
Rick Carpiniello January 17th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I think the Pats are going to franchise Cassel and keep him. You may be stuck with Clemens, and I don’t mean the Rocket.
sunny615 January 18th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Hey Rick

as per our last conversation, Peter Botte of the Daily News is reporting that the Mets are not “looking back” at Manny.

Now I know you probably have sources of your own, and I honestly can’t say one way or the other if his source is any better than a compass with no arrow. But the scuttlebutt out there is Mets are not in on Manny… but then again, scuttlebutt up to Dec 11th was that the Yanks were not in on Teix either… so who knows.
sunny615 January 18th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Not to take anything away from the cards, but geez… what a craptastic display that was by the eagles. Did they catch giant fever or something??? Man as good as the cards were the eagles just stunk. Good for the cardinals tho. Too bad only 5 people from Pheonix will end up watching it tho. Kinda like when the phils won the series.
sunny615 January 19th, 2009 at 12:05 am
Cardinals V Steelers.

Steelers over Cardinals 31 – 24

It is a condition of your use of the comment features associated with the blogs that you do not: Use the site to post or transmit any unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane or indecent information of any kind, including without limitation any transmissions constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, national or international law. You alone are responsible for the material you post or send. Refer to the Terms of Service.