McNabb's Raise: What It Means To Me.

I believe that they are doing the right thing in giving him a raise that basically only puts him on par with the highest paid QB's in the league. Some of which are unproven, or who really haven't done anything. McNabb has proven what he can do when you use his strengths. He competes hard and he likes to win. Who doesn't like to win?

McNabb has been one of the most successful quarterbacks in recent history. He's certainly the most successful quarterback in the Eagles history. It amazes me how people call talk radio shows and blast him as if he was Ryan Leaf, part II. I've watched him put up some very good numbers with some very forgettable receivers throughout his career. Some people believe the raise is a so-called "financial apology" for the Baltimore game benching. He was playing very badly that game, and pretty much up to that point in the season. Would I have benched him? Probably not, mainly because he's the franchise player, the face of the team and the reason why the Eagles are on everyone in Philadelphia sports fan's mind. Maybe it is a financial apology. So what? Let's not forget that McNabb's current contract was worth $115 million before his recent raise. I don't think he was suffering for money. The team gave him this money because they believe he's their best chance at winning a title right now. For years the fans have rightfully questioned the front office's desire to win it all. They seemed satisfied to be competitive every year. So what if they brought a great product on the field every year, we deserved more. We deserved a parade. Well, the Phillies brought that parade, not the Eagles.

I think that the front office is so worried about losing fans that they went out and brought in some great players. They brought in Jason Peters, they brought Stacy Andrews, multiple safeties and to top it off they drafted the best players available to them. They have finally put together skill players that suit McNabb's type of game. He does better in a vertical passing game, throwing the long pass and mid-range passes. He has speed all around him and two tough tight ends that are legitimate red zone threats. What the front office has effectively done is put all the cards in McNabb's hands by giving him what he has wanted and needed. The offense should be dynamic this year when clicking on all cylinders. The injury to Westbrook will impact them greatly, but I think they'll be back to their pass-happy ways anyway this year keeping him fresh through the season. The Eagles fortunes this year ride mainly on McNabb's arm. He doesn't make a lot of mistakes with the ball, but when he does they are glaring and obvious. If he can minimize them this year, he'll be able to usher his team to the Superbowl. If he wins it, it'll cement him as a legend in Philadelphia. If he loses or doesn't make it within this very short 2 years he has remaining on his contract then it was a great ride and his true fans and those who know anything about the game will know that he is certainly one of the best of his time in the NFL.

That said, McNabb is one of the most polarizing athletes I've ever seen. Granted, from my perspective, most of the detractors and all the general haters really have no basis for their venom. Listening to them is painful to my brain. You either love him or you hate him. Even those who say they are apathetic to him still only acknowledge faults. Personally, he's my favorite player in the game. As much for his off the field personality as on the field play. I remember when people said he wasn't Black enough. What has that got to do with anything? And speaking of which, what is considered being Black enough? Does being Black only entail meeting every negative stereotype out there?

Let's face it, McNabb blinks too slowly and it would be news all over the sports pages of Philly. This off-season must have been murder for the local sports media because McNabb didn't say or do anything. Good for him, all the amateur psychologists in the city had nothing to twist and manipulate into stories that are so much more than they should be. I'm not hating on Philly fans, I AM one. So I know how we can be. I know the Philly sports media, and the very few who are basically yellow journalists overshadow and discredit all the legitimate reporters and columnists out there. They scream loudly on megaphones on the radio, call themselves kings, and even noticeably annoy their own co-workers. The few idiotic fans who mistake passion for the game as a free license to be rude, destructive, and violent don't represent the true passion of the Philadelphia sports fan. McNabb, you got your money. Now lead us to a Superbowl. The front office is leaving you to bear any blame for failure this year by giving you this money and by giving you McCoy and Maclin and Ingram and on and on.

Written By: Ezekiel Akwei