DONOVAN MCNABB SLIGHTS EAGLES’ DEFENSE

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb took a not so thinly-veiled shot at his defensive teammates, pinning blame on them for the NFC title game loss to the Arizona Cardinals, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. During a WIP radio interview, McNabb’s response to a question about why the Eagles couldn’t respond offensively after the Cardinals’ touchdown in the final minutes suggested that the defense was at fault for squandering a slight lead. “We were up, 25-24,” McNabb said, per the Inquirer. “We were up, 25-24. [The Cardinals] drove down 72 yards by running the ball -- probably, what, eight times? And it reminded me so much of [the NFC championship game in] St. Louis where, coming back in that second half, they ran the ball nine times with Marshall Faulk to keep our offense off the field. Because they were terrified of us going back out and scoring more points.” McNabb, whose leadership has been questioned over the years, will have some fences to mend after this one, in the opinion of former Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas. “Some people will say it’s not a big deal, but it is,” Douglas said. “When you break that team code, it hits home. When you call someone your teammate, you’re calling them your brother. Be loyal to your teammates. It’s easy to point fingers. Brian Dawkins is a team player. He would never do that. “I know Donovan. I respect Donovan. In his mind, he didn’t say anything wrong. But a leader thinks before he speaks. That would never come out of a leader’s mouth. Every year, Donovan says something that’s inflammatory, then he doesn’t explain himself. Explain yourself. When you alienate people who have your back, I need to understand why. I need to understand how he thinks. Right now, I don’t.” Bottom line: McNabb could have handled the question a lot better. Time will tell whether this one has the legs to become a full-blown Philadelphia controversy, but my hunch is this will blow over without causing a major disruption in the locker room.