NFL Football - 2012 Season Thread

[Al B. Sure!]

Donovan McNabb thinks he belongs in the Hall of Fame:

Free-agent quarterback Donovan McNabb had a one-word reply when asked recently if he believes he should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- "Absolutely."

I will say this. The article from ESPN compared McNabb favorably with Jim Kelly. They're in the same ballpark statistically but McNabb has the advantage that always gets ignored... 3459 career rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns.

Of course, Kelly went to 4 Super Bowls...

[Donegeal]

When determining HoF credentials for QBs, going to 4 SB > 3459 yards and 29 TDs in Rushing.

[Al B. Sure!]

When determining HoF credentials for QBs, going to 4 SB > 3459 yards and 29 TDs in Rushing.

What about going to 5 NFC Championship games and losing 4 of them?

Realistically, McNabb is in the Hall of 'Very Good' category. He's not a Hall of Famer.

It's interesting that his stats are so similar to Jim Kelly's (but McNabb had a whole lot less INTs), though. Even more interesting because McNabb was better than his stats indicate at first blush, given him leading the Eagles to so many playoff appearances with such lackluster WR talent.

Also, McNabb's 2.2% INT ratio is tied for 3rd lowest all-time with Tom Brady. Only Neil O'Donnell (really?) and Aaron Rodgers have lower INT%'s than Brady and McNabb.

[-Jrabbit]

Sounds like McNabb's stats are better than several HOF members, including other non-champions. His career was long enough. The lack of a SB ring means he should be held to held to a tough statistical standard, sure. But the noticeably low INT rate is intriguing. His last couple years were weak, but that's no sin.

So why not HOF?

[SlowwHand]

I'll bet a quarter that it doesn't happen.

[Al B. Sure!]

Sounds like McNabb's stats are better than several HOF members, including other non-champions. His career was long enough. The lack of a SB ring means he should be held to held to a tough statistical standard, sure. But the noticeably low INT rate is intriguing. His last couple years were weak, but that's no sin.

So why not HOF?

Well we all know why McNabb has a low INT%... he always throws to a receiver's feet. I think he took the term 'football' too literally.

It is surprisingly impressive, though. McNabb threw 0.70 INTs per game over his career. Tom Brady: 0.71

It would be even more impressive if it wasn't for the 15 INTs he threw as a Redskin. 15 picks was a career worst, believe it or not. Eli Manning averages over 16 picks a year.

And it wasn't like McNabb played in some conservative, run-oriented offense. He averaged 32 attempts a game (coincidentally, the same attempts per game as Eli Manning).

[demonbinder]

I agree with JR on this one. The low INT rate does stand out and put me more on the side of his going to HOF. Alby, I'd rather have a QB that throws it to their feet (where it can't be intercepted) rather than where many QB's (esp. the Bears') throw it so it is intercepted.
'

[-Jrabbit]

He was also a prototype for the modern mobile QB. Just looked at his actual stats... 6X Pro Bowler, offensive player of the year in 04. His numbers are not overwhelming (only one 30+ TD year, never hit 4K yds, 59% career completions), but I think you can make a case for him. Also on the plus side, he really pissed off Rush Limbaugh.

If he hadn't puked on his shoes in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl, he'd be in for sure.

[OzzyKP]

I'd like to see it just to shut up all the Donovan McNabb haters he acquired over his career.

[SlowwHand]

How about this for "hater"? If Donovan McNabb gets into the HOF, the HOF loses all meaning.

[Al B. Sure!]

So I take it the consensus is from everyone but Sloww that McNabb should get in... so I guess that mean Eli is already a lock for the Hall, as well.

[SlowwHand]

What they said is that, in their mind, the possibility exists. In mine, it doesn't. That's a lot different than your interpretation.

[demonbinder]

I'd like to see it just to shut up all the Donovan McNabb haters he acquired over his career.

Like the one's in MSG, IIRC, who broke into boo's when he was selected???

[OzzyKP]

Wow, it started that early? Poor guy.

[Al B. Sure!]

Wow, it started that early? Poor guy.

You didn't know this?



They wanted Ricky Williams.

[OzzyKP]

Philly fans are the dregs of humanity.

[Al B. Sure!]

Philly fans are the dregs of humanity.

This is what local sports radio personality Angelo Cataldi has to say about McNabb:

"I don't like Donovan McNabb, because I always felt he was a phony," Cataldi told Joseph Santoliquito of CBSPhilly.com. "He's always been passive-aggressive, which doesn't resonate well with the fans of this city. That's my problem with him. He never connected to the fans in this town."

"They only wanted one thing from McNabb, a championship. Look at those great Flyers teams of the 1970s. They won championships and never had to buy another dinner in this town again. With all that talent, McNabb never delivered."

Chunky soup is the only thing in the Eagle's trophy case.

[Al B. Sure!]

Out of curiosity, has any other 1st round pick been booed when selected or does McNabb alone have that distinction?

[demonbinder]

IIRC, the Philly fans did this to others as well. He was not the first or the last to receive that treatment. I also believe other fans have done this but McNabb's seemed the most unwarranted, even at the time.

[-Jrabbit]

Eagles fans and Jets fans both tend to boo their team's first-rounder.

As for McNabb being a "phony"... WTF does it have to do with anything? Michael Jordan was a phony. Walter Payton was a phony. Didn't stop them from "connecting" with the fan base. I daresay most major sports figures are pretty different in private compared with the media persona.

[Al B. Sure!]

Brian Dawkins retires. He's probably a Hall of Famer.

[demonbinder]

Now ESPN is reporting that Mickey Loomis, GM of New Orleans, had ability to eavesdrop on other teams coaches in Superdome. If this is true, this team is really trying to self-destruct.

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/...hes-home-games

[-Jrabbit]

It allegedly happened 2002-2004 (pre-Katrina) and not afterwards. Which puts Loomis beyond legal jeopardy.

"This is 1,000 percent false," Loomis told ESPN on Monday. "This is 1,000 percent inaccurate."

But if they were doing this, it's pretty much on par with Spygate in terms of pure cheating.

[SlowwHand]

ESPN poll.

Which would be a bigger scandal for the Saints if both turn out to be true?

34%
Bounty on opposing players

66%
Alleged electronic listening devices used on visiting coaching staffs

[demonbinder]

"This is 1,000 percent false," Loomis told ESPN on Monday. "This is 1,000 percent inaccurate."

When someone uses percentages incorrectly I'm always suspicious of their statement.

[SlowwHand]

www.nfl.com poll. Naturally, I don't particularly agree.

Who's the best QB taken at No. 1 in the draft of all time?

19%
John Elway

49%
Peyton Manning

5%
Eli Manning

10%
Troy Aikman

16%
Terry Bradshaw

[ColdWizard]

If the Cowboys can win the next 52 regular season games, they'll match the win total they had under Tom Landry (but will still have 8 more losses).

[SlowwHand]

Tom Landry

[Al B. Sure!]

Packers cut S Nick Collins, WR Jerome Simpson signs with the Vikings (and receives a 3 game suspension), and Eagles CB Asante Samuel will be traded to the Falcons for a late-round pick.

That trade could have some serious implications in the NFC if Samuel returns to his pro bowl form.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, I'm happy to see the Falcons pick up Samuel for basically nothing.