"Men lie, Women lie, Numbers don't" Jay-Z

McNabb was drafted in 1999 by the Philadelphia Eagles after the Eagles finished 3-13 in 1998. In 1998 the Eagles were led by Coach Ray Rhodes and his trio of quarterbacks Bobby Hoying, Rodney Peete, and Koy Detmer. In the weeks leading up to the 1999 NFL Draft, despite the desperate need for a franchise QB to get the team going in the right direction, the ignorant sports talk radio hosts were clamoring for the Eagles to select Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams.

When drafted McNabb was greeted with resounding boos. McNabb would prove his naysayers wrong by going to the Pro Bowl 5 times, and taking Eagles to the playoffs 7 out of his first 10 years. McNabb is 82-45-1 in his career, adding in a 9-6 playoff record, that is over .645 in the regular season and .600 in the playoffs. Since McNabb became starting quarterback in 1999, the Eagles are 8-7 without him.

In 2000 his first full season as a starter McNabb led the Eagles to a Wild Card victory over Tampa Bay. The Eagles would eventually lose to Super Bowl runner up New York Giants. In the 2000 season McNabb would rush for 629 rushing yards with 6 rushing TDs. McNabb completed 330 passes for 3300 yards passing and 21 TDs through the air. In 2000 Peyton Manning had yet to win a playoff game. In 2001 McNabb led the Eagles to the conference championship game only to lose to the eventual Super Bowl champs Rams. Still no playoff victories for Peyton Manning. In 2002, McNabb led the Eagles to the conference championship game against eventual Super Bowl champs Tampa Bay. Still no playoff victories for Peyton Manning. In 2003 McNabb followed with another NFC championship and lost to Super Bowl runner up Carolina Panthers. At this time, Peyton Manning finally won his first playoff game and first MVP.

In 2004 McNabb followed with yet another NFC championship and lost in the Super Bowl. In 2004 McNabb would throw for 31 TDs - 8 INT. Joe Montana never had a single season TD to INT ratio that good!!! McNabb's 2005 season ended with him on the injured reserve. In 2006 season McNabb tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his right knee, ending his season. Of course we all know that McNabb would return in 2008 with a loss to eventual super Bowl champs Arizona Cardinals.

Let’s put McNabb’s playoff experience in perspective. In each year the Eagles did not make it to the Super Bowl McNabb and the Eagles lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions or runner up. McNabb has just as many Conference Championship Game appearances as Elway up to this point in their careers (5). However, McNabb in 9 of his 15 playoff games, McNabb has had an 85.0 or better rating, which is right at his career average, his playoff TD/INT ratio is 1.4, still one of the best in history, and his completion percentage actually goes up a little in the playoffs at 59.6 vs 58.9 in the regular season. Still McNabb doesn’t get his just dues.

Here is a list of 10 Hall of Fame quarterbacks and their career completion percentages in order from highest to lowest with McNAbb's also added:

1. McNabb: 58.9%
2. Fouts: 58.8%
3. Moon: 58.4%
4. Starr: 57.4 %
5. Dawson: 57.1%
6. Staubach: 57%
7. Elway: 56.9%
8. Bob Griese: 56.2%
9. Unitas: 54.6%
10. Namath: 50.1%

Speaking of Hall of Famers lets compare lets compare Elway and McNabb over their first 10 years in the league. Elway (1st 10 yrs):

• 89-52-1; pct=.563
• Yards: 30,217
• Yards per game: 212
• TD’s: 191
• Completion %: 54.4
• Interception %: 3.7
• QB Rating: 72.9

Bronco’s during Elway’s first 10 years: 5 divisional titles. Lost 3 Super Bowls, lost 1 AFC Championship game, lost 2 division/wildcard playoff games, missed the playoffs 4 times.

McNabb (1st 10 yrs):

• 82-45-1; pct=.640
• Yards: 29,320
• Yard per game: 219
• TD’s: 194
• Completion %: 59
• Interception %: 2.1
• QB Rating: 85.9

Eagles during McNabb’s first 10 years: 5 divisional titles. Lost 1 Super Bowl, lost 4 NFC Championship games, lost 2 divisional playoff games, missed the playoffs 3 times. In what year did the Bronco’s finally win a Super Bowl? Elway’s 15th year! Every Hall of fame QB of the modern era has played at least three years with at least one receiver who was at best a Hall of Famer himself and at worst a consistent 1,000 yard receiver. McNabb had Terrell Ownes for one season and Kevin Curtis in another season. Thats' it!.

As of 2009, McNabb is in the top 35 all time in the 4 major statistical categories for Quarterbacks (attempts, completions, touchdowns, yards). If he hadn't been hurt , he'd already be in the top 25. Give him six more complete years (playing up to the same age Elway was when he retired), and he'll be in the top 10 in all major categories (top-5 in yards). He's the least intercepted QB per pass attempt in the history of the NFL.

The bottom line is the public cannot ignore the fact that McNabb is the Eagles all-time leader in career wins, completions, passing yards, and passing TDs. This year,, he will become one of only five QB's ever, to have over 30,000 passing yards and over 3,000 rushing yards. All of the other members of that select group are in the Hall of Fame (Steve Young, Fran Tarkenton, John Elway, Steve McNair) with the exception of Steve McNair who isn't yet eligible.

Injuries have been his only real detractor, and can you really blame a guy for getting injured? Without missing major portions of what could've been some of his best seasons in the NFL, during the prime of his career, McNabb would be considered hands down the best Quarterback of all time. I would say that without a doubt Donovan McNabb has accomplished more in Philadelphia than any quarterback would have ever dreamed of.

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