I know this is old news to many, but Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was recently criticized and verbally insulted by some individual named J. Whyatt Mondeshire.  This person just happens to be president of the Philadelphia branch of the NAACP.  Apparently McNabb's response to a question during an interview was found racially offensive by Mondeshire.  When asked why he was running with the ball less during football games, McNabb responded by saying something to the effect that there is a misconception that black quarterbacks are supposed to be scramblers. Mondeshire used this comment to lash into a verbal tirade against McNabb.  In summary, he called McNabb a "mediocre quarterback at best", said he "choked" during the Super Bowl" against New England, stated that he lacks leadership qualities both on and off the field, and places significant blame for the Terrell Owens fiasco on his shoulders.  Mondeshire also feels that McNabb's comment about black quarterbacks, regarding their reputations as scramblers, was a proverbial slap in the face to all their efforts and hard work.  Mondeshire believes that a scrambling style of play "confuses" defenses and "electrifies" fans.  Apparently McNabb's innocent comment was considered inflammatory enough to launch a public attack into not only his playing style, but his character.

     Before I go any further, let me set the record straight.  I am not a Donovan McNabb fan. This goes back to his days at Syracuse University.  I am a Big East fan who prefers St. John's and UConn. My allegiances force me to root against Syracuse, even in football.  I also like the the New York Football Giants, whom Donovan has found ways to defeat more often than not.  Therefore, I have witnessed a good deal of his career both collegiately and professionally.  Although I do not necessarily root for or against him on the field, I respect his ability as a football player a great deal.  Furthermore, Donovan comes across as a likeable sort, making this slanderous situation that much more perplexing.

     Let's compare McNabb to other quarterbacks who may fit the role of both passer and scrambler.  The athletes that come to my mind are Steve Young, Randall Cunningham, John Elway, Steve McNair, Daunte Culpepper, Michael Vick, and to a certain extent a younger Brett Favre. I include Favre because he didn't necessarily scramble for high yardage totals, but he was definitely mobile in the pocket.  I'm sure I left off some others but I want to talk about guys I've seen play.   Fran Tarkenton, for example, was way before my time. I also feel that McNabb should be compared to a more recent peer group, of which I feel legends like John Elway and Steve Young still apply.

     Of the other quarterbacks just mentioned, the cream of the crop surely must be considered Elway, Young, and Favre.  They all possess what every player desires. Just ask Mr. Three Time Super Bowl Champ Tom Brady.  He can't scramble though, so he needs to get on out of this article. Besides being Super Bowl winners, these three others each have statistically impressive hall of fame resumes.  At this middle stage of his career, it is not yet fair to truly compare McNabb to them.  Think about how long Elway had to play before he finally won the big game.  However, McNabb has put up very impressive statistics. He has also gone to 4 straight NFC title games with a Super Bowl appearance last year.  Mondeshire may claim McNabb choked during that game, but a certain modern era dynasty named the Patriots may have contributed to that just a little bit.  In my opinion, of the other passer/scrambler quarterbacks mentioned, only McNair and Cunningham compare to McNabb at this point in his career.  I envision him surpassing their accomplishments.  Culpepper and Vick are still works in progress and not nearly as established as McNabb.

      Of all the comments made by Mondeshire, the most ridiculous had to be blaming him for the T.O. fiasco.  Owens takes the simplest of statements by others and twists them into personal attacks on himself.  He also thinks nothing of of engaging in unprovoked verbal assaults on his teammates and coaches.  Shortly after the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots last year, Owens insinuated that the loss was McNabb's fault.  This was later followed by Owen's preseason incident where he was kicked out of training camp for insubordinate comments.  When I saw Owens working out at home, doing crunches in his driveway, wearing head-phones and camouflage, as well as ripping McNabb, I told myself, "Uh-oh this is bad".  I immediately put him on my "Do not draft" list in fantasy football, playmaker or not.  Turned out to be the best move I made in fantasy all year.  I had Nate Burleson of the Vikings ranked one teensy spot higher than Steve Smith of the Panthers on my draft board.  RATS!!! Sure coulda used him....but I digress.  What was McNabb to do? He had reached out to T.O previously and it had gotten him nothing but drama.  Now he's to blame? I don't think so.

     If you ask me, when thinking back in time, Rush Limbaugh's comments were less offensive than those made by this Mondeshire clown.  Not that I agreed with Rush because I don't think that McNabb is over-rated at all.  Rush did pose a good question though.  Did people sub-consciously root for McNabb because he is an African-American quarterback?  Let's face one fact openly.  Although absurd, there was/is a false perception by an ignorant sector of society that African-Americans overall are not able to be successful quarterbacks in the NFL.  To me it has always been lack of opportunity, not lack of ability.  But I did wonder about what Rush said, because it hit home for me.  I did want Donovan and other African-American quarterbacks to succeed, in part so that these pseudo-subtle racists would have to drop this tired argument once and for all.  Was I wrong for feeling this way? Not that I would root against a quarterback because he was white, but I have always generally pulled for the "underdog". In a way African-American quarterbacks have long been an underdog in the NFL.  Now here comes Donovan McNabb.  Talented, athletic, a coveted scrambler/passer, and hard working.  On top of it all he has personality to burn, is friendly, humorous, engaging and a seemingly all around good guy.  What's not to like? Fan of the Orangemen and Eagles or not, how could you root for a guy like him to fail?  With all the ignorance regarding the "black quarterback" subject, you're darn right I rooted for him more because he was African-American.  I am not ashamed to admit it either.  He represented the chance to stomp on a piece of an old evil in society, if only a small piece.  His reward, Rush Limbaugh trying to stir up the racial pot at his expense.  He wasn't over-rated because he was African-American, but he might have been rooted for more because of it.  So what.  He deserved to be rooted for.

     I have searched long and hard for J. Whyatt Mondeshire's motive regarding why he chose to publically take such a negative verbal stance against Donovan McNabb.  I have developed my character profile and this is what I came up with. Did I mention I also moonlight as a sports detective?  Here goes: Mondeshire is a rabid long-time Philadelphia Eagles fan with a severe man-crush on Terrell Owens.  After years of prolonged success for the Eagles and such a near miss in obtaining a Super Bowl title, this year's horror show of a season has pushed him over the edge. To backtrack a bit, I am not insinuating anything about sexual preference, for to judge another's lifestyle is offensive to me and should be to all others.  As long as you ain't hurting anybody, live your life my friends.  I do however theorize that Mondeshire greatly admires Owens and has become a huge fan of his. My intuition also tells me that he perceives himself to share many of the same character traits as Owens.  Brash and outspoken to name two. Really the similarities between the men are striking if you take the time to consider both of them. 

     T.O. has got one huge mouth that he cannot control.  Mondeshire clearly has the same problem.  Both men must think that the world gives a hoot about what either of them has to say.  They both blame McNabb for the Eagles losing the Super Bowl.  They both think that McNabb should have and could have done more to help T.O. solve his problems with management, tossing all past unprovoked attacks directed at him aside.  Owens has an over-blown sense of grandeur as the self-proclaimed greatest wide receiver ever.  Mondeshire must feel similarly since his title of President of the Philadelphia branch of the NAACP qualifies him to be an authority on Donovan McNabb's failings as both a football player and a person.  How many branch presidents of the NAACP are there anyway? Owens must feel McNabb is over-rated as Mondeshire claimed, since it was his opinion that the Eagles would be undefeated with Brett Favre. And one last connection:  they both have lost their previous positions because of overall lack of judgement, or at least I hope Mondeshire has lost his job.  If he has indeed lost his gig, I'm sure Owens will let him become president of the T.O fan club, membership now stands at two people.

     Poor Donovan.  I hope the old saying is true.  You know, the one about bad things coming in groups of 3.  First Rush Limbaugh, then Terrell Owens, and finally this Mondeshire loon.  McNabb has already dealt with a lifetime of garbage from these now notorious men. I wish him nothing but a return to health and good things in the future. That is until he plays the G-Men. Then I hope he loses gracefully.