Speaking on 610 WIP this morning, Wednesday 9/19, former Eagle and current media type Gary Cobb, reported that sources within the Eagles organization have told him that the Eagles are planning for this to be Donovan McNabb’s last season with the team.  I agree with him.  This is likely the farewell performance for McNabb.

G is close to the team, and publishes about the Philly sports scene on his website, gcobb.com. His observations, and his conversations with people close to the team, confirm for him that the Eagles are planning for the change. He points to the drafting of Kevin Kolb as proof of the design process at an organizational level. 

Gary also described a distance between Donovan and his teammates that stems from Andy Reid, and the coaching staff’s, reluctance to criticize the star QB in team meetings and practices.  When Jeff Garcia took over for the injured McNabb last season, the team noticeably rallied behind the veteran and made a strong push into the playoffs. Cobb cites that as more evidence of the cool relationship between McNabb and his mates.

With McNabb in the news for displaying his cultural sensitivities in his interview on HBO, the idea that he has drifted away from the embrace of his fellow players because he has been give preferential treatment by his bosses is so ironic. I know that Donovan must get feedback from fans of the team that is racially colored, either through email or on his blog.  That kind of crap will seep from the underside of any large collection of people, but the idea that he has endured extra criticism in the media because of his skin color is wrong.  I do not see it at all.  He has had a terrific career for this team and is one of my favorite Eagles of all time. This “poor me” commentary is baseless. He is reading things into the reporting that is not there.

With the poor start he has had, the timing of the broadcast of this interview could not be worse. As the team prepares for a must win game this week, this distraction is not welcome.  In another time, his teammates might rush to his side and support him as the media scrutinize the text of what he said.  I do not expect that to happen now. It is time to move on.  I think that Donovan may be a hall of famer some day.  He has had such a volume of success that if he were to build on it for a few more injury free years, and get to another Super Bowl, he would be a lock for

Canton.  Unfortunately, it is becoming clear, that he will have to make that next Super Bowl run in another team’s uniform.