He’s the consummate professional, so you can count on Donovan McNabb saying all the ‘right’ things in the lead up to this weekend’s game between the Washington Redskins and McNabb’s old squad, the Philadelphia Eagles. McNabb began answering all the questions you’d expect him to face this Tuesday when he joined The Sports Fix on ESPN 980 in D.C.
On if he views Sunday’s game differently than any other game:
"I’ve always said that I look at it just like a normal game. In this situation, it’s a game that the Washington Redskins need to win. It wouldn’t matter if we were playing the Redskins, Cowboys-Skins, Giants. It doesn’t matter. After the last two weeks of a game we should have won and another game we should have won, this is a must win situation for us. That’s the way we are going to approach this every week. We look forward to the challenge… It’s a story. I think it gives everyone an opportunity to really focus in on the 11 years I spent in Philadelphia, what the reaction may be going to be going into the stadium, two teams in a better position in the NFC East and the hoopla behind it."
On what he expects his reception to be by the Philadelphia fans:
"I truly haven’t (thought about it). I think everyone else that I’ve talked to has and rightfully so. I’ve been on the other side of the tide with the other guys that have come in. The Brian Dawkins, Troy Vincent. The list goes on, Jeremiah Trotter. It’s different because it’s not just you and I’m the quarterback. In this situation, I’ve got to be open-minded to see what is kind of going to happen. Everyone wants to know how I would feel this week, how are my emotions? I can’t answer that right now. Right now it’s just focusing on the Philadelphia Eagles defense…"
On how involved he was in signing Michael Vick:
"I wasn’t able to write up his contract. I wasn’t able to fly him in myself personally. I’m studying trying to learn how to fly planes. For me personally, it was a suggestion that I brought up. I think he got out of jail June 21st or something to that effect. I brought it up to Andy I believe in that week because I had talked to Mike personally once he got out and got settled. I brought it up to Andy about having an opportunity to mentor him, get him back on his feet. I thought the guys could support him, give him direction, get him back on his feet… "