When a quarterback comes into the league most of the time odds are against him. For Donovan McNabb, as soon as he stepped on stage when he was drafted, he knew it was going to be a tough start to his career. The presents he delivered for Philadelphia though came quicker than anyone could imagine. He instantly stepped in and gave the Eagles a boost. For years the Eagles were in the playoffs and in the NFC Championship title game. They finally eclipsed that and reached the Super Bowl a few years ago, but now things are completely different. For all of those great years McNabb has put up, people seem to be still doubting him. When will it stop?

The media just can not let go of the one story that has been covered more times than the mentally disabled kid that rained three’s in a high school basketball game. It’s great to keep stirring up controversy when they were on the same team, but TO signed with Dallas numerous months ago. They do not care about each other and sure as heck are not interested in talking about each other anymore. We can’t wait for the moment either of them snaps during next season when asked a question on that at the wrong moment.

For Donovan McNabb though he has played without Terrell Owens the majority of his career. Do not forget, Owens, missed part of his first season with his ankle injury and then was suspended for the rest of the last season. Sure the times Owens was on the field he produced tremendously but he was not there every week. McNabb was the one there to take the snap every down and endured the treacherous times. So the fact that TO is no longer there is not as big an issue as people are making it out to be. It will likely get McNabb back to spreading the football out or even taking off with the ball, instead of having to worry about pleasing Terrell Owens head with touches.

The Eagles still have a solid defense and offensively they will be looking to find their niche. Brian Westbrook figures to be the main helper in developing that. He really has not been involved in the offense as much as he should be. Especially last season as the Eagles rarely ran the football and did not use screens as they have in the past. Westbrook is an explosive back with plenty of ability left and will help the Eagles revive their offense in someway.

Once that happens it will be back in McNabb’s hands to just play with no weight on his shoulders. McNabb has struggled before in his career, as everyone remembers the Rush Limbaugh comments. Then his problem was all mechanical more than mental, but now it is likely all mental. He needs to go out there and play with a free mind. The Eagles use to win plenty of low scoring games because McNabb controlled the tempo, and picked his spots for poison. That’s why they were consistently deep into the playoffs, and is what they’ll need to do to get back there.

The operation can only be a success if the team is ready to move on. If not, then likely the team is going to need a change over. That may end up having to let Andy Reid go, or just as simple as bringing in a new offensive coordinator. Whatever the issue is, this whole team and McNabb is in a crossroads period. There is no telling where the team is going, but this year will be a test mark for the good or bad. McNabb’s long term contract has no bearing of his stay in Philadelphia until 2014. If the team or himself wants out, it will happen.

Fantasy football participants may be worried about McNabb suddenly faltering completely. This is an eight year veteran not a five year. There is no doubt he is just as motivated to prove himself as TO is without him. He trains as hard as anybody in the off season every year in Arizona, to keep trying to get better. After Manning and Palmer you are not going to find any quarterback with the upside of McNabb. His receivers are not the best but they are a solid young group of receives. Reggie Brown showed some ability last year and the return of Todd Pinkston lifts the group as well. Greg Lewis and Jabar Gaffney are right behind them with just as much talent, and tight end LJ Smith will keep a prime role in the Eagles lineup.

McNabb will shake off any suspicions the first week of the season and this will just be another chapter avoided by McNabb of doubters.