Redskins Interested in TO

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

All of T.O's current troubles began when he criticized Donovan McNabb. Donovan may be a hell of a guy but I don't understand why he is beyond reproach. Anyone who dares to suggest that he might be wearing the Emperor's New Clothes is immediately cast down. IMO, the real villains here are the Eagles, Jeffrey Lurie, and Andy Reid. They could have paid T.O what he was worth and none of this would have happened. Instead they sided with McNabb and alienated their best player. This only two years after scapegoating James Thrash for McNabb's hideous play against the Panthers in the NFC Championship Game. How many careers are going to be sacrificed so that they can continue to pretend that their QB is more than average.

They get no sympathy from me. Let's see how far their beloved Donovan takes them next year. Better yet, let's see what poor sucker gets the blame when McNabb starts throwing airballs again (No doubt the lingering effects/affects of his groin injury). In the end, characters like T.O. come and go, but hatred for the Iggles lasts forever.

Hugh Douglass, the one that allegedly fought with TO in the locker room, is now "attacking" McNabb as well

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/13769200.htm

Former Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas is employed as the team's ambassador, but his comments yesterday on WIP-AM (610) were far from diplomatic.

Speaking on the station's morning show, Douglas spread the blame for the team's disappointing 6-10 season, but he specifically questioned the leadership of quarterback Donovan McNabb.

"The thing that Donovan needs - it's been proven, especially this year - he needs other people to lead," Douglas said. "He's not a leader. He doesn't want to lead. He is the leader on the field as a quarterback; he isn't a team leader. He needs a good supporting cast."

Contacted last night, the 34-year-old Douglas modified the statement about McNabb, but only slightly.

"In order to be a leader, you have to be in people's face; if that is what you think, he isn't that guy," Douglas said. "Donovan will lead on the football field, and if you need him to give a Vince Lombardi speech, he won't."

Douglas said that he and McNabb talked yesterday after the radio show and that the Eagles quarterback was fine with what Douglas said when he explained the context.

McNabb was not available for comment.

Douglas was waived by the team in September and hired for his ambassador role. He also talked on the broadcast about the problems the Eagles' perceived lack of leadership caused for coach Andy Reid.

"Big Red [Reid] thought he had a bunch of leaders," Douglas said. "When he realized [he didn't], it was too late."

Douglas suggested on the show that some radical changes would be needed to address the leadership issue.

"At some point, [Reid] is going to have to go in that locker room and make it like Beirut again, to be totally honest," Douglas said. "It's obvious right now that the guys who he thinks are leaders aren't his leaders, and the young guys aren't ready to lead."

Douglas did not back away from that statement last night, saying that he was going to tell the truth, regardless of whether he was a team employee.

"What kind of person would I be to tell fans that everything is fine?" Douglas said. "I don't think what I said was that bad."

Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown disagreed with Douglas' assessment.

"To me, that is disrespecting guys he played with," Brown said last night. "How can you say guys like Brian Dawkins or Jon Runyan aren't leaders? It's a comment that doesn't speak fairly to guys we have in the locker room, and I think that is just radio talk.

"I don't care what Hugh says," Brown said. "Quite frankly, the guys I am playing with I trust, and I trust the leaders we have. I am around them every day, and Hugh isn't around them every day."

Douglas also said he told McNabb he should not have resumed his feud with Terrell Owens in the media over the last two days.

Eagles president Joe Banner was unavailable for comment yesterday. Derek Boyko, the Eagles' director of media services, defended Douglas, but he would not comment directly on Douglas' statements.

"Hugh Douglas goes on the radio a lot and defends our players and team and cleans up a lot of the misnomers that are out there," Boyko said.

Brown and Douglas have at least some common ground. Both feel that the only way to move forward is to let go of this season.

"Donovan is still making too big a deal out of this," Brown said. "We come back, win games and get the job done, then the whole T.O. saga is done."