Jeff Garcia Mania?

Jeff Garcia has taken this Eagles team from wondering what kind of draft pick they could get to the brink of a division title with a very good chance of making a Super Bowl run to boot.  There is no arguing he has performed better than all of our expectations.  His acuracy has been something the Eagles have been missing.  What I don't undertand is all of this hoopla around there being some sort of quarterback controversy next year when Donovan McNabb comes back?

Even Wilma McNabb felt the need to chime in on things after the Eagles memorable victory on Christmas.  From Wilma's blog post titled "Bittersweet":

The win this week was great and I could actually say that's what I wanted for Christmas. Yes, now we have solidly beat the Cowboys with my son and without him. But I can hear you asking, mama McNabb what are you really thinking? Well here it is, the real deal. Its kind of bitter sweet for me as my son, the quarterback sits out on injured reserved watching the game during his rehab. I polled my family too and they feel the same. We want our team to win and even go to the Superbowl and win it in Miami especially if they continue to play as they have. But oh oh, if they win the Superbowl without my son, what would be the real outcome with the fans? Will they crucify him?

Now, I'm all for a player having a wonderful relationship with his parents, but yo Wilma, this isn't how you go about things.  Trying to preemptively strike against a few Philly fans who may crucify your son if Jeff Garcia does what Donovan couldn't do is not the way to go.  This isn't the first time you or papa McNabb have been a little too outspoken.  Bringing up the handful of morons who booed your son on draft day over and over is getting a little old.  The Eagles stomping of the Cowboys in Dallas on Christmas was one of the biggest wins the Eagles have had in years, don't go saying it was bittersweet because your son was sitting at home.  Sure, feel bad for your son, but don't tell the world about it -- especially Philly fans.  You're making him look weak.

What I want to know is who actually thinks Jeff Garcia has any shot of being the QB of the Eagles next season if Donovan McNabb is healthy?  And who is going to pony up 75 bucks for a Jeff Garcia jersey?  Let me settle this for all of you who may be confused.  If Donovan McNabb is healthy next year, he's the one taking all the snaps.

I'm going to say something that may have seemed crazy a few weeks ago.  Jeff Garcia could lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl.  But next year, this is still McNabb's team.  Can we forget all this garbage and enjoy this surprising ride we're on?

>>Jeff Garcia Jersey: $74.99 [Eagles]
>>Fans Sharply Divided on Garcia-McNabb [NBC 10]
>>Bittersweet [DonovanMcNabb.com]
>>Garcia won't let Eagles have QB controversy [Mercury News]

Comments

[Ben]

Almost everyone I talk to thinks Garcia should at least be considered to start next year over McNabb. I think they're clueless, but that's what is out there.

All I have to say is if the receivers had been catching the ball like they're doing now the Eagles would have finished 13-3.

Top Eight Reasons for the Eagles turnaround:
8. Reno Mahe finally getting decent returns
7. Self destruction of Redskins and Giants.
6. Lito intercepting the ball behind Keyshawn against the Panthers
5. Starting Sean Considine
4. Jeff Garcia playing better than anyone thought he would.
3. Marty Mornhinweg calling the plays
2. Dawkins playing out of his mind
1. Westbrook playing out of his mind

[Ben]

Damn I forgot to add the reason I stated right before I made the list. "Receivers not dropping the ball" should be at least #3 or #4.

[bryan b]

i wonder if the recent positive production of the receivers has anything to do with the person throwing to them not hanging them out to dry in the middle of the field or throwing the short pass, the west coast offense lives and breathes with, at their ankles...i love watching donovan play but maybe its becoming a reality that hes just not a west coast offense type of qb...

[Tom G]

It might be that Donovan is asked to do too much in the version of the offense that is used when he is playing. Certainly, these are not the types of plays that are called when No. 5 is in the game. Who knows what would happen if McNabb was given this running game?

[Matt]

great post, E.

his parents definitely need to shut it up. the guy's image with fans has been sullied for being something of a soft player, so the last thing he or this team needs is to hear from his mom while we're winning without him.

it goes without saying that it would be bittersweet to see the team succeed with someone other than your son at the helm, but to help this guy's soft image, i think his mommy should have left it unsaid.

there is no qb controversy for '07. garcia is having a great run, but i think they'll stick with the franchise player who was on his way to the pro bowl (and dominating fantasy leagues) before getting hurt. best case scenario is that d.mac will learn from jeff's fiery brand of leadership and apply it to his own great play.

[hone]

I totally agree with the no QB controversy. Fans need to stop sweating white QB's balls in this city, and give props to Reid for bringing in one of the best backup QB's out there. Garcia is basically doing what the definition of a good backup should do - limiting mistakes and allowing other players on the team to make plays. Would everyone rather Garcia be playing terrible and have us of out of the playoffs? Fans in this town are definitely retarted sometimes, and racist (I'm white too.)

[hone]

I totally agree with the no QB controversy. Fans need to stop sweating white QB's balls in this city, and give props to Reid for bringing in one of the best backup QB's out there. Garcia is basically doing what the definition of a good backup should do - limiting mistakes and allowing other players on the team to make plays. Would everyone rather Garcia be playing terrible and have us of out of the playoffs? Fans in this town are definitely retarted sometimes, and racist (I'm white too.)

[Jim]

a lot of ppl want garcia to stay on as starter next year because of how good we're playing this year; what they forget is that even though garcia is leading us to a division win, mcnabb has done that many times. so, its not that garcia is playing better than mcnabb could and should be starter; rather garcia is playing as well as mcnabb would.

everyone seems to like to forget that our offense has picked up production a lot since mcnabb got hurt, also. the recievers haven't been dropping nearly as many passes, and there have been many more (or better timed) run plays called since mcnabb went out.

if mcnabb had recieved the kind of support from the run game that garcia is, instead of andy reid leaving mcnabb hanging on by only the pass game, then mcnabb probably wouldn't even be injured now. he got hurt scrambling because he couldn't find an open reciever. But, if there's that many defenders dropped in pass coverage, then there was a hole somewhere that westbrook should have been running through.

we cannot forget the rediculousness of andy reid's playcalling before mcnabb got hurt.

[Annie]

Great post. Inside NFL had a great point this week - yes, it's surprising that Garcia has had so much success as relief QB when he was essentially picked from the scrap heap. However, this says more for the offensive line of the Eagles than for the QB.

I think Garcia is just happy to be back in the game and he seems to be genuinely enjoying himself. So does the rest of the team. Let's face it - with Donovan playing and T.O. gone, the team had enormous pressure to prove themselves. The pressure is off now. These wins are gravy!

If the Eagles were to go to the Superbowl (pls God, yes), they will have gotten to the dance thanks to two QB's. Not one or the other. And the rest of the team. Not one player.

And if they win, those rings are everybody's. Regardless of whether you played in the Big Dance.

It's going to take the heart and guts of every player and coaching staff on that team to bring Lombardi here. But I'm a believer. I believe in the team. Like my brother said, "I believe in that team all the way up Braod Street."