Is Donovan McNabb Hall of Fame Worthy?

When I heard the news of Donovan McNabb’s retirement I knew discussion over whether or not he is a hall of fame player, and I have been thinking of if he is or is not a hall of fame player, and now that I have put thought into it I have to say no he is not.  While I understand that he led the Eagles to 5 NFC Title games and a Super Bowl appearance and that his career numbers are great as well I cannot see him being in the hall of fame.  McNabb holds a 1-4 record in the NFC title game and he fell short against the Patriots in the Eagles loss in the Super Bowl, which included 3 interceptions and reports that he threw up towards the end of the game. 

McNabb had the talent to win super bowls including an elite defense, Brian Westbrook and for a little while Terrell Owens.  People like to think Owens ran himself out of town, and yes in a few ways he did, but McNabb liked him but claimed he does not get involved in other players situations but yet had sideline arguments with him.  Not once did I hear McNabb say he wanted to help Owens out but yet the one full season Owens was there was the only Super Bowl appearance for McNabb during his tenure with the Eagles.  Sure Owens is a loud mouth and a headache but McNabb should have done more to help keep him around, in my eyes McNabb was sensitive and also a weak leader at times because he would rather be what I call a “company man”.

After Owens departure the Eagles only made the NFC title game one more time and that was in the 2008 season, that is four seasons following the Super Bowl run, but again McNabb fell short as he always has in big spots in big games in the post season.  Then you look at his last playoff appearance with the Eagles, which was a loss to division rival Dallas led by quarterback Tony Romo (Romo’s only playoff win).  That was also McNabb’s last game in a Eagles jersey before he was sent off to the Redskins where he played horribly and was benched for Rex Grossman after he had a rough start and his final stats were 14 touchdowns to 15 interceptions.  To make matters worse for Donovan the Redskins tried out Jamarcus Russell that season after he was cut by the Oakland Raiders, I can’t think of how that could be any lower for McNabb that season.

His final season in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings was less than stellar as well, he played in 6 games only having 4 passing touchdowns and his velocity and accuracy seemed to be way down from his previous years.  He was then benched for rookie Christian Ponder, yet another blow on then dwindling career.  When you consider how his days in Philadelphia ended, how his career ended and how he could have done more to keep T.O. around to get more pieces to help win a title but did not it is hard to fathom him being a hall of famer.  If he does make it in it probably won’t be until 5 years of eligibility, but as Skip Bayless would say McNabb belongs in the “Hall of Very Good” and I think that is the best way to put it.