I know there is a thread about playing with heart in GARM and I didn't want to put in a post about a non-Rockets or non-NBA player. I think if you need a definition of playing with heart Donovan McNabb's performance today and really almost the whole second half of this season, is an example of playing with heart. Look at how many hits he got early on in the game and rather than falling apart, sulking or giving up he stayed focussed and hung in tough and started to pick the Vikings apart. I think "playing with heart" is the willingness to handle adversity and continue to play hard even when things aren't going well.
I know there is another thread but I was looking at this more as an answer to "what does it mean to play with heart?" than just to discuss the game. That said if the mods feel this thread is redundant then please combine with the other thread or lock.
the term "playing with heart" is lame and is immeasurable. if the eagles had lost provided mcnabb played the exact same way, he could easily be labeled a choker. where was his heart when the coach benched him in the second half earlier in the season? philly fans were running him out of town.
I've liked McNabb ever since he started working hard early in his career to become a passer. Most people have forgotten how he started and what he's morphed into. He crashed earlier in the season but showed some guts and maturity to swallow his pride and rise to the occasion after he got benched. A lot of players would have sulked and sucked their thumb instead. That's what you call overcoming adversity.
Actually the fact that he was benched and came back to see some of his best football shows he has heart. Rather than sulk, badmouth his teammates or coach like we've seen some benched players do he worked hard and came back.
McNabb is probably the most under rated QB in the past few seasons. His city didn't want him for the longest time, you never hear his name when naming the top QBs during his career, but if you sit down and look at the numbers between him and Tom Brady, you'll notice they're not that far off passing-wise. McNabb, 59% completion, 219 Yds/G, 6.8 Y/A, 194 TD, 90 INT Brady, 63% completion, 234 Yds/G, 7.2 Y/A, 197 TD, 86 INT. Add to the fact that Donovan does make plays with his feet 23 Yds/G and 26 TD. Yet one is considered potentially the top QB of our generations and the other has being booed by his hometown fans since day 1. Brady has had more success in winning, but lets not pretend the talent is that wide. I'm not saying that Donovann doesn't get any recognition, but to put it in Basketball refrences, Brady is celebrated like Lebron James and Donovan is viewed as Caron Butler; except Butler doesn't get booed and threatened to be kicked to the curb in Washington every season. I actually find his loyalty to the Philadelphia Eagles franchise damn honorable.
LOL. I still think he's top 5 QB still (call me crazy). My top 5 QBs (when healthy) list: 1. Brady 2. Manning 3. Palmer 4. McNabb 5. Big Ben (yea i didn't put drew brees and tony romo on my list. I read an article stating that Brees hasn't had a comeback win when his team is tie or trailing in the 4th qtr and Tony Romo, well we all know his story) Who did McNabb had around in his whole career for weapons except Westbrook and T.O for one year? I think McNabb and Brady makes players around him better.
So you're saying trade? Morey, get it done. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/58DRJgKoAck&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/58DRJgKoAck&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I won't call you crazy becasue I think he should be number 3 on that list. The only think McNabb needs is to get a ring than people will be saying how great he really is.
You make a very good point. I also like the basketball analogy, but McNabb is treated even more unfairly. He absolutely IS a winner, unlike a Caron Butler. He is almost always in the playoffs, has never lost an opening playoff game, and has been in the NFC championship FOUR times.
I respect McNabb as a player, its hard to believe he's been in the league over ten years now, he takes hits, he makes plays, but he will never live down his brain fart in the Superbowl either. I was dumbfounded by his lack of clock management. honestly the philly fans seem to quickly appreciate him after the draft booing but its been downhill after the superbowl
