Dec. 13, 2003
SportsLine.com wire reports
PHILADELPHIA -- Four years ago, Ricky Williams was the people's choice in Philadelphia. Donovan McNabb turned out to be the right choice for the Eagles.
McNabb leads the Eagles (10-3) against Williams and the Miami Dolphins (8-5) on Monday night in an important matchup with playoff ramifications for both teams.
If the Eagles had listened to their fans in 1999, Williams would've become the franchise running back Philadelphia hadn't seen since Wilbert Montgomery played here.
McNabb was an unpopular choice when the Eagles selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. Fans desperately wanted Williams, who had won the Heisman Trophy at Texas. A bus filled with rowdy Eagles fans went to New York for the draft, and chanted, "We want Ricky" until the Eagles picked.
When McNabb's name was announced, the fans booed loudly, an incident still etched in the quarterback's memory. Williams was passed over by two more teams before going to New Orleans with the fifth pick.
While Williams failed to live up to his expectations with the Saints and eventually was traded to Miami, McNabb established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league.
He quickly won over the fans with his strong arm and exceptional scrambling ability, finished runner-up to St. Louis running back Marshall Faulk for league MVP in his second season and has led the Eagles to consecutive NFC East titles and two straight appearances in the conference championship game.
"What we tried to do with Donovan before the draft was spend as much time with him as we possibly could," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "We all tried to get him in all the different elements of his life, whether it was going up to Syracuse, bringing him down here, whatever it might be to see how he would react to different situations.
"He handled everything with such grace. He was very smooth. All the reports you got from the people at Syracuse were the same. Even his high school coach was all the same. There weren't any hidden agendas or anything else with him. He was straightforward and presented himself very well. Just like what he's doing now."
Williams has been a successful performer, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in the last four seasons. But he hasn't made the same impact as McNabb. Williams has played in just one playoff game, with the Saints in 2001. McNabb is 4-3 in the playoffs, the winningest postseason quarterback in team history.
"He's a heck of a player. He really is," Reid said of Williams. "He's done a great job down in Miami. He likes being used the way he's being used and they enjoy doing it, too. He's a good player."
Williams spent three years with the Saints, before going to Miami in a trade after the 2001 season. He had his best season last year, running for 1,853 yards and 16 TDs. But Williams hasn't been as dominant this year, running for 1,081 yards and seven TDs. His average of 3.3 yards per carry is the lowest in his five seasons.
McNabb's season didn't start well, either. He was the NFL's worst-rated passer through six games, and some fans were calling for his benching. But McNabb has returned to his Pro Bowl form. He has thrown for 1,513 yards, nine TDs and only one interception in the last six games, and was the NFC's offensive player of the month in November.
"I'm just having fun out there," he said. "I don't think that I'm doing too much differently than I've been doing the last couple of years. We're just making more plays together. When you do that, things look a little bit better."
wil.
SportsLine.com wire reports
PHILADELPHIA -- Four years ago, Ricky Williams was the people's choice in Philadelphia. Donovan McNabb turned out to be the right choice for the Eagles.
McNabb leads the Eagles (10-3) against Williams and the Miami Dolphins (8-5) on Monday night in an important matchup with playoff ramifications for both teams.
If the Eagles had listened to their fans in 1999, Williams would've become the franchise running back Philadelphia hadn't seen since Wilbert Montgomery played here.
McNabb was an unpopular choice when the Eagles selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. Fans desperately wanted Williams, who had won the Heisman Trophy at Texas. A bus filled with rowdy Eagles fans went to New York for the draft, and chanted, "We want Ricky" until the Eagles picked.
When McNabb's name was announced, the fans booed loudly, an incident still etched in the quarterback's memory. Williams was passed over by two more teams before going to New Orleans with the fifth pick.
While Williams failed to live up to his expectations with the Saints and eventually was traded to Miami, McNabb established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league.
He quickly won over the fans with his strong arm and exceptional scrambling ability, finished runner-up to St. Louis running back Marshall Faulk for league MVP in his second season and has led the Eagles to consecutive NFC East titles and two straight appearances in the conference championship game.
"What we tried to do with Donovan before the draft was spend as much time with him as we possibly could," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "We all tried to get him in all the different elements of his life, whether it was going up to Syracuse, bringing him down here, whatever it might be to see how he would react to different situations.
"He handled everything with such grace. He was very smooth. All the reports you got from the people at Syracuse were the same. Even his high school coach was all the same. There weren't any hidden agendas or anything else with him. He was straightforward and presented himself very well. Just like what he's doing now."
Williams has been a successful performer, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in the last four seasons. But he hasn't made the same impact as McNabb. Williams has played in just one playoff game, with the Saints in 2001. McNabb is 4-3 in the playoffs, the winningest postseason quarterback in team history.
"He's a heck of a player. He really is," Reid said of Williams. "He's done a great job down in Miami. He likes being used the way he's being used and they enjoy doing it, too. He's a good player."
Williams spent three years with the Saints, before going to Miami in a trade after the 2001 season. He had his best season last year, running for 1,853 yards and 16 TDs. But Williams hasn't been as dominant this year, running for 1,081 yards and seven TDs. His average of 3.3 yards per carry is the lowest in his five seasons.
McNabb's season didn't start well, either. He was the NFL's worst-rated passer through six games, and some fans were calling for his benching. But McNabb has returned to his Pro Bowl form. He has thrown for 1,513 yards, nine TDs and only one interception in the last six games, and was the NFC's offensive player of the month in November.
"I'm just having fun out there," he said. "I don't think that I'm doing too much differently than I've been doing the last couple of years. We're just making more plays together. When you do that, things look a little bit better."
wil.
Dante...he was pressing in the beginning of the season and he really wasn't 100 percent healthy until mid-season. That pretty much explains the Rooster eggs he was sucking.
As for the Birds having little talent...I don't think that's true. On offense they're not the best but they produce. They are on the road against a formidable defense and they've put up 31 points. The Cowboys are another pretty good defense (I don't think anyone will deny that) and they put 36 up on them. They went to Carolina and put up 26 on them (another pretty good defense). They're not scoring 50 a game but they do what it takes to win football games. I can't ask for more than that. This defense is also one of the best when healthy (which it hasn't been all year long).
Rail thanks for the convincing analysis as to why the Birds will lose their first playoff game.
FLY EAGLES FLY...ON THE ROAD TO VICTORY!!!!
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!
From an unbiased NFL fan.
sb
As for the Birds having little talent...I don't think that's true. On offense they're not the best but they produce. They are on the road against a formidable defense and they've put up 31 points. The Cowboys are another pretty good defense (I don't think anyone will deny that) and they put 36 up on them. They went to Carolina and put up 26 on them (another pretty good defense). They're not scoring 50 a game but they do what it takes to win football games. I can't ask for more than that. This defense is also one of the best when healthy (which it hasn't been all year long).
Rail thanks for the convincing analysis as to why the Birds will lose their first playoff game.
FLY EAGLES FLY...ON THE ROAD TO VICTORY!!!!
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!
From an unbiased NFL fan.
sb
As for Donovan McNabb aka the guy a whole bunch of people were writing off in this forum in the beginning of the season aka the NFC Offensive Player of the MONTH last month I've said since Week 3 that people need to relax and that he would come around. I think he has!
Al Micheals: "The Philly fans know. They get it."
John Madden: "They know offense. They know defense. You gotta have passion and the Philly fans have passion"
Well said!
John Madden: "They know offense. They know defense. You gotta have passion and the Philly fans have passion"
Well said!
Wil,
OK the Pats fans too.
OK the Pats fans too.
