McNabb's future still in doubt

Dec 10, 2007 - 5:17 PM By Andy Jasner PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) Philadelphia Eagles president Joe Banner appeared on a local radio station last week and all but proclaimed that both quarterback Donovan McNabb and coach Andy Reid will return next season.

But this is the NFL, which not only stands for National Football League, but also for Not For Long.

McNabb trotted out for the Eagles and started Sunday's excruciating 16-13 loss to the Giants. After not playing since injuring his thumb and ankle against the Dolphins on November 18, McNabb was serviceable with a 20-for-30 performance for 179 yards and an 18-yard touchdown pass to Brian Westbrook early on.

That first drive was really all the offense McNabb could muster on a dismal afternoon where the Eagles fell to 5-8,including 2-5 at home, with three games remaining at Dallas, at New Orleans and the regular season home finale against Buffalo on December 30.

When McNabb glumly walked off the surface at Lincoln Financial Field, was it for the last time?

Banner can say no. Reid can say no. Truthfully, the possibly certainly exists.

If the Eagles continue their nosedive and enter the game against the Bills on a five-game losing streak, why would McNabb want to risk further injury?

Wouldn't it make sense to start A.J. Feeley or rookie Kevin Kolb, who is being groomed as McNabb's successor anyway?

Amazingly, almost defiantly, the Eagles are still talking about the playoffs since they're not mathematically eliminated yet.

But the chances of winning all three games are not good. This is not last year's version which rallied behind spunky veteran Jeff Garcia to reel off five victories in a row.

This year's Eagles squad is simply not a good team. They have lost every close game in every way imaginable. By Week 14, things just don't improve. At this point, you're either a good team or a bad team.

McNabb was asked if this team has ever learned how to win.

"It takes time before you can answer that," said McNabb, whose appearance Sunday was his first in a December game since 2004. "I've been a part of seasons where we lost a lot of games by three or four, and then things started to pick up just when we needed it to. Then the next year turns out to be a great season for us.

"We have a young team. We have a team that has experienced players, and in key positions a lot of young guys that need to step up and make plays for us."

McNabb also admitted he's still focused on this season.

"It's kind of unfortunate where we're sitting right now, but we still need to continue to focus on these next three games," McNabb said.

When David Akers' 57-yard field goal bounced directly off the right upright with one second remaining, these upcoming last three games pretty much became somewhat meaningless. They'll play hard and compete like they always do, but beating the Cowboys, Saints and Bills isn't likely to occur.

Will McNabb still peek at the Wild Card standings?

"No, I won't check the standings," he said. "It doesn't really matter for us. All we can do is just win our games."

McNabb has won a whole lot of games since arriving in Philadelphia. So has Reid.

While no one was talking about their future after Sunday's loss, it just may play out over the next three weeks.

If McNabb has indeed played his final game in Philadelphia, it would be a frustrating end to an ultra-successful and topsy-turvy career which included four NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl loss to the Patriots in 2004.

"I thought that Don played well (on Sunday)," right guard Shawn Andrews said. "He was mobile and made some big throws. It was good to have him back there again."

Check back on December 30. Then we'll know if he'll be back there at least one more time.