PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. (AP) -Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid don’t need any counseling.
“My relationship (with Reid) probably is better than it was before,” McNabb said Friday, rejecting speculation that there’s a rift between the quarterback and coach.
Speaking at an event to promote his upcoming charity golf tournament, McNabb addressed various topics ranging from his injury rehab to his future with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback reiterated he was shocked when the team selected quarterback Kevin Kolb with its first pick in last month’s NFL draft, but the decision hasn’t strained his relationship with Reid.
McNabb sat down with Reid soon after the draft and the two had a productive discussion.
“We were able to talk about a lot of different issues,” McNabb said. “Obviously with the issue we’ve been faced with, drafting a quarterback, that’s probably what everybody wants to know. But I think with the situation that he’s been a part of, obviously with his family, I was there for him. I think people look too far into it to say, ‘Well, Donovan didn’t do this,’ or maybe ‘They don’t communicate.’ We talk all of the time. I don’t think anything has changed.”
McNabb’s silence for 10 days after the draft suggested he wasn’t happy with the move. Then last week, he did his first interview at the Flyers’ practice facility. He didn’t speak to reporters during minicamp last week and finally talked at length with the media while hosting a barbecue at the RiverCrest Golf Club.
Is it merely a coincidence that McNabb has done interviews away from team headquarters or is he sending a message to the front office that he’s on his own, especially since Reid canceled McNabb’s postseason news conference in January?
“This isn’t a situation where I’m trying to stand out away from the team,” McNabb said. “When I spoke at that time, I thought it was the best time to speak. My main purpose for that was to get the word out so that Kevin wouldn’t have to come in and answer questions. He can just focus in on just playing football. The team didn’t have to worry about what I said. It was out. Everybody heard it. Everybody knew what was going on. They could just focus in on that camp.”
McNabb has rehabbed vigorously since he tore a knee ligament in Week 11 last year. He’s running and throwing and is on course for a complete return when players report to camp on July 27.
After McNabb went down last year, Jeff Garcia led the Eagles to five straight wins, the NFC East title and a playoff victory. Many players praised Garcia’s leadership ability during the late-season run, and fans quickly soured on McNabb. Garcia, however, signed a free-agent deal with Tampa Bay.
Though he’s led the Eagles to the NFC championship game four times and one Super Bowl in his eight seasons, McNabb has been a consistent target for criticism. He doesn’t feel he needs to change his image.
“Hopefully I’m perceived in a positive light,” he said. “You want to be looked upon as a role model, a human being, a guy that works hard to be the best at what he can do and win championships. Not everybody can win the Super Bowl. Hopefully we’ll be able to do that this year and be able to hold up that trophy and look forward to doing it again next year.”
McNabb was having one of the best statistical seasons of his eight-year career before he got hurt, throwing for 2,647 yards passing, 18 touchdowns, six interceptions and a passer rating of 95.5. He’s finished three of the last five seasons on the sidelines.
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