Let's be clear:

Terrell Owens was the best player on the field during Super Bowl XXXIX.

His 9 catches for 122 yards were spectacular, especially the last catch falling out of bounds on a crucial 3rd down.

But to say, as many articles written this past week about Owens, and as many delusional Eagles fans have echoed since 2004, that "T.O. got the Eagles to the Super Bowl," is false.

Let's not forget that Owens did not play in the Divisional Playoff game against the Vikings nor the NFC Championship Game against the Falcons.

Did Owens spark the 13-1 start? Of course. He was a beast on the field with 14 TDs. He gave #5 a luxury he never had. He was, again, spectacular.

But let's not have a revisionist history, as one columnist for Fox Sports suggested the other day. That not only did Owens get the Eagles to the Super Bowl, without him, the Eagles lost their last 2 regular season games.

The Eagle starters played in one series in the first quarter against the Rams.  And then sat out the game.

In the season finale, NO starters played and the Eagles lost again.

Don't pin that on Owens 'being hurt.' That's just ridiculous.

So you disagree? You say Owens play fueled them to 13-1 and gave them the 'confidence' to get 'over the hump' in the NFC Championship Game?

I think that's a crock of you know what.

The Eagles won 11 games in 2001, 12 games in 2002 and 12 games in 2003. And they still lost in the NFC Championship Game. So what did the regular season win total mean? Nothing.

Bottom line: Eagles won 2 games in the playoffs without Owens, including the all-crucial NFC Championship Game.

McNabb's INTs, lack of 'D' and Fat Man's Clock Game cost us the Ring. The Patriots were the better team.

But don't say Owens got us to the Super Bowl and think that tells the whole story.

McNabb would like the Eagles to add to their already solid core pieces that would make them an even stronger championship contender before engaging in serious negotiations on an extension. McNabb, 32, is under contract for two more seasons.

Although McNabb wants to remain in Philadelphia, if the Eagles aren't successful in significantly upgrading an offense that needs help at wide receiver, running back and offensive tackle (veterans Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas are free agents beginning Friday), not only may McNabb drop his request for a new contract he may consider going as far as to ask the Eagles to trade him.

Complicating the matter is that any marquee free agent at the skill positions (such as Cincinnati wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh) or any player whom the Eagles may target in a trade (like Cardinals wideout Anquan Boldin or Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez) almost certainly would want assurance that McNabb is going to be in Philadelphia long ter

-Michael Smith, NFL Reporter for ESPN/ESPN.com

Please read the 2 sentences below and ask yourself: Am I comfortable? Am I OK?

1) Donvoan Jamal McNabb wants nothing more than a Super Bowl victory for his teammates and the city of Philadelphia.

2) Donovan Jamal McNabb wants to retire as a Philadelphia Eagle.

Got it? Is the fan base OK? Is the media OK?

I've been saying for weeks this whole "will he stay/does he want to leave/is he happy/has he lost the locker room/does he like philly"

is  complete media-driven, fan incensed NONSENSE.

The local media 'do their homework' by listening to 610 WIP to 'capture' the pulse of the city. And what geniuses like Angelo Cataldi push on the airwaves is that there is a large part of the Philly fan base that have "I love him, I hate him" relationship with McNabb. And the fans call in when McNabb plays poorly and talk about Garcia, Kolb, etc. The Bengals and Ravens game passes and people want Kolb in there, McNabb is done. The off-season came this season and McNabb is coming off injury and Kolb might be there by mid-season. Blah Blah Blah. Last season after Garcia won all those games, it was the same NONSENSE. Garcia should be the starter!

Blah Blah Blah.

The media say: "Ok, Philly wants him gone. Philly fans threw snowballs at Santa Clause. Blah Blah Blah. They're driving Donovan McNabb out." (DREAM STORY!)

It's not fair, it's not entirely true. But it is true that McNabb has to deal with ridiculous questions about his future in Philly. CONTINUALLY.

You can say that all the QBs deal with idiot fans that 'call for their heads.' But I don't remember the last news conference that Peyton Manning had to discuss his "future in Indianapolis." I don't remember the last news conference that Eli Manning had to discuss his "future in New York." I don't remember the last news conference that Jake Delhomme had to discuss his "future in Carolina."

Look back to the post game press conferences. Philly media continually ask McNabb about his future with Philly. And now the national media is catching on. Each week, a new paper writes a story about "McNabb's revival due to the benching.

Does it matter to anyone that McNabb has said that the benching did not effect his play? Does it matter to anyone that veterans like Dawkins, Thomas, Lito Sheppard, Samuel have said week in and week out that McNabb is the unquestioned leader of the team. And has the "locker room" playing together? Who gives a sh*t if Philly sports writers and WIP talking heads think McNabb is not a leader. The only indicator that matters are the other players who play football for the Philadelphia Eagles.

And they are behind 5, 100%. The fan base is only behind McNabb now because he is winning. Their complaints and idiotic criticisms of the QB don't sound too good now because the Birds are winning. If #5 loses, the same questions will intensify. Will he leave? Does he want out? BS BS BS BS BS. McNabb has NEVER said he WANTS OUT. NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER. But listening to TV and Radio, you'd think the guy called for a new contract, demanded to be traded, is holding out of the playoffs, etc.

After the Dallas game, was #5 answering questions about his scrambling ability against the Cowboys? Was he asked about gaining a playoff spot? Was he asked about hitting his receivers in stride? Was he asked about his touchdown pass to Celek?

Nope, he was asked about his future in Philly.

Donovan has ALWAYS said that he wants to WIN A SUPER BOWL and RETIRE as a PHILADELPHIA EAGLE.

What don't people understand about that?

Stop asking him the same damn questions. And the fan base isn't entirely to blame. But they're not out of the woods completely.

Oh, and regarding McNabb's RIDICULOUS and IDIOTIC taunting penalty that he pulled yesterday? Who cares? They won. It didn't affect the game. He apologized to his team.

Jeff Garcia committed a 15-yard penalty against the Giants in a must-win game during the regular season back in 2006. Then he threw an interception which but the G-Men up. But no one said sh*t. You know why? Because the Birds came back to win. So don't blow #5's penalty out of proportion. Who cares?

Donovan's always had fun playing this game. He's always joking around. He's always smiling. He hasn't changed, despite a fan base that loves him when he wins and casts him aside when things don't go well. And don't forget a local media contingent that is hell-bent on BREAKING the NEWS of his DEPARTURE.

It makes me sick. Don't listen to the media or 610 WIP anymore. Just watch the game and then we can talk about McNabb's legacy on Sports Century or when he's inducted into the Hall. Because he will be. He's done more things with "minimal talent" than any QB I know.

GO EAGLES. beat the stinkin' Cards.

SUPER BOWL VICTORY IS OURS!

And concentrate on the playoffs already.

The Philly Media are being idiotic to criticize McNabb for talking about his contract, for saying that he's played great, for saying that he's been 'spit on', blah blah blah...

Why? Because they ask him the same questions after every game! Did you listen to the postgame conference after Dallas? Any game questions besides the one at the end about the scramble pass to Buck? Nope? You know why? Because the reporters don't care!

They need their storylines for the paper!

Sure, McNabb could just say "Next question." or "Let's talk about the game." But then the same idiots would say he's "avoding questions about his contract, tenure in Philly, relationship with Reid, etc."

It's all BS.

McNabb hasn't won a Super Bowl. More importantly, the EAGLES have not won a Super Bowl. And that's the bottom line here. Criticize McNabb for that. Criticize him for the dirt balls he throws.

All of this other nonsense is completely pre-meditated and ridiculous. What do you want McNabb to say? That he wants to leave?

Every time the reporters ask McNabb about his time in Philly, he has ALWAYS said he wants to retire an Eagle. Always. Nothing has changed.

He wants to play here. He wants to start here. He wants to win a Super Bowl.

This postgame nonsense is RIDICULOUS.

And then geniuses on 610 WIP say have the audacity to say McNabb is wrong. That he hasn't been 'spit on' by the fans or 'left for dead' by the city.

Are you kidding me? Ray Diddy was on Comcast defending this point. His only argument? That McNabb was voted to the Eagles All-Time team at QB and he received a CRAZY amount of votes.

Who cares? He's the best QB in history. You don't have to like McNabb to vote him to the team. Look a the STATS. To say that Philly loves McNabb and your proof is McNabb being voted to the all-time or 75th anniversary team, you're an idiot.

To the Philly media, get off McNabb's nuts and ask him real questions.

How will he handle Antoine Winfield and the Vikings secondary.

Or how his leadership ability is needed in a playoff situation, McNabb's first since 2004.

GO EAGLES. BEAT THE PISS OUT OF THE VIKINGS.

Eagles get the final NFC Wildcard spot if:

*Win against Cowboys AND

*Bucs lose to Raiders AND

*Vikings lose to Giants OR Bears lose to Texans.

Then the standings would be:

Eagles 9-6-1

***************

Cowboys 9-7

Vikings OR Bears 9-7 (or one could be 10-6, NFC North division winner)

Bucs 9-7

It can happen.  What do we think? Go Raiders! Go Giants! Go Texans!

But most of all, GO EAGLES

Where are all the Kolb fans now??????? LMFAO

McNabb showed you why he can still get it done.

I haven't seen him taunt a crowd since he did it against Dallas at the end of last season.

Does anyone remember that game?

After #5 slipped a few Dallas lineman who thought they had a sack...he scrambled for the first down and then was jawing off to the Dallas crowd.

The Eagles were out of the playoffs at 5-8. They went to Texas stadium and beat the 12-2, division leading Cowboys 10-6. And it wasn't like the 'Boys weren't playing, they were fighting for home filed with Green Bay.

McNabb rushed for 50+ yards that day and threw for more than 200.

I think he has his swagger back.

Eagles to the PLAYOFFFFFFS BABY!!!!!!!!

Please remind me fellow birds fanatics...when was the last time the Eagles were in a must-win situation as a pretty big underdog....and actually won?

Playoffs and Super Bowls are obviously must-win situations...so those and regular season games like this Sunday's qualify...

Any come to mind?

I'm just reminded of countless times where we lost big games as an underdog....or lost big games as a favorite....

What does everyone think?

Andy announces McNabb is starting Thursday....

Do the Eagles have what it takes to win out and make a playoff run? Or is it over?

Is McNabb playing in his last 5 games as an Eagle?

I hope it isn't so.

How do you think his teammates will respond?

If Birds don't finish the season strong, not only will McNabb be gone, Andy will be gone, too.

And the fans will be left with...nothing.

Let's face facts.

If McNabb leaves, he'll win a Super Bowl with another team. And then he'll probably stick his middle finger up to the city of Philadelphia and his former coach Andy Reid.

Think Randall Cunningham but multiply it.

Are you kidding me? Give McNabb Fitzgerald and Boldin, it's over. Give McNabb Owens, Crayton, Williams, and Witten...it's over. Give McNabb Steve Smith over in Carolina....it's over. Give McNabb Plaxico, Toomer and a power running game in Brandon Jacobs plus 2 other solid running backs...it's over. Give McNabb Wayne, Harrison, Dallas Clark...it's over. He's winning...hands down.

You remember what Cunningham did with Robert Smith running his ass off and Randy Moss and Cris Carter. He was an NFL-MVP. One field goal away from a Super Bowl appearance.

Starting to see a pattern Philly fans?

Westbrook didn't even look alive today. Buck can't even play. Andy refuses to max protect for McNabb like the Mannings, Warners, and Favre's get.

And don't get me started on the receivers. They didn't magically get open for Kolb either...you know why? Because they're sub-par. It's the story of Donovan's career. What a waste of pure talent.

Take a good look, Philly. Andy has put a stamp on what Philly fans have been calling for for soooooo long. So don't cry now.

Just watch an unbelievable athlete with plenty of football left win for another team next season and the season after that.

Here's to you, Donovan. You don't deserve this.

We don't deserve this.

And to quote Phil Sheridan's headline in the Inquirer, "Shame on Andy Reid"

The loss hurts. I would call it a tie, but it might as well be a loss.
McNabb was HORRIFIC today. His balls flew all over the place.  3 interceptions and a fumble? No excuse.

But let's be real. Benching McNabb in favor of Kolb is a bonehead move.

McNabb RARELY has games like today. Rarely.

Did he get any help from his running game? No
Did he get any help with all the drops? No

I'm so tired of Eagles nation calling for McNabb's head. It's so old and played out.

He is the greatest quarterback the Eagles have ever had.

Fact.

And for us to just abandon him constantly is pathetic. We were calling for Feeley, Detmer, Garcia, Kolb...the list goes on and on.

Ridiculous.

McNabb has 4 or 5 years left in the tank. At least.

Warner's completing 70% of his passes and has 300 yard games all the time.

You know why? Larry Fitzgerald. Anquan Boldin. Steve Breaston.

You know why he was so successful in St. Louis? Issac Bruce. Torry Holt. Ricky Proehl. Marshall Faulk

Let's see what Warner, Manning and all the greats would do in 10 years with Charles Johnson, Torrance Small, James Thrash, Todd Pinkston, Na Brown, Billy McMullen.

Except for 2004, he's had little support on the field.

And you know what? He's had little support, if any, off the field as well.

Way to go Philadelphia.