Everybody Makes Mistakes

So said Donovan McNabb in the Redskins' post-game celebration after beating the Eagles in Week 4, after his spectacular 8 for 19 performance for 125 yards and a TD. Yes, that was completely sarcastic. He did nothing whatsoever after the first quarter, and despite the Eagles playing their worst game of the season, they were still a Jason Avant ridiculous catch away from snagging a win. But, of course, Donovan just couldn't resist getting a shot in.

Of course, that "mistake" the team made in trading him away has led to the "Michael Vick Experience 2: This Time He Can Pass" (in theaters everywhere). While McNabb and the Skins have fizzled out since that game, the Eagles have been nearly unstoppable with Vick at the helm. Despite this, some other Redskins felt the need to stoke the fire before the game Monday night, I guess thinking they could actually replicate their performance in the first matchup against a very different Eagles squad. According to several Eagles players, Redskins DBs Laron Landry and DeAngelo Hall were making sleeping motions, putting their hands next to their heads, taunting Desean Jackson and the horrific concussion he suffered a few weeks ago. Landry apparently had some verbal shots along the same lines, and while he of course denies it, this story has been confirmed by many players as well as an independent source, FOX's Jay Glazer. According to Desean, Landry specifically told him "I'm going to put you to sleep again."

Now, that's just wrong in any context, making light of a serious and possibly life-threatening injury, but what makes it worse is that Landry is an overrated glorified linebacker who is known only for his physique and occasional big hits, and is a total liability in coverage. He also seems to be lacking upstairs, because why you would try to fire up an Eagles team playing incredible football and coming in for a revenge game is beyond me. The entire team took note of the comments made to Jackson in the locker room after a skirmish on the field before the game, and the result was a first play that put Landry in his place, to say the least.

An 88-yard TD bomb from Vick to Jackson that left Landry sprawled on the Fed-Ex field grass. Though no one will outright say it, there are reports that some of these pre-game festivities led to the coaching staff's decision to pour it on rather than maybe let up on the gas pedal a little. Then again, why shouldn't they pour it on? These are professionals playing against professionals, so if the Redskins didn't like it they should have stopped it.

But back to McNabb. Eagles center Mike McGlynn (who was very talkative after the game, also claiming that Landry spit in his face twice during the game) alluded to the fact that McNabb's comments after the first matchup may have provided some added fuel for the Eagles, saying “We got fired up. Donovan had said some things after they beat us that fired us up, saying how they made a terrible decision and everybody makes mistakes. I think we’re happy with where we are right now.” In case you didn't see it, here's the clip of McNabb's speech (skip to about the 0:50 mark):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD5JEkHw-0c

Ahh. Donovan, Mr. Class, just couldn't resist throwing that little barb in there, knowing full well that he was on camera and that the clip would be shown all over by the media. I don't have a huge problem with the comment, except for the fact that he had a horrible game, and if anything his performance served to justify the decision the Eagles made to trade him. You're right, Donovan, everybody makes mistakes. Especially people like Laron Landry and Daniel Snyder. But it doesn't appear the Eagles did. Things are working out quite nicely with #7 running the show, and if McNabb, Landry, and the Skins are smart, they might keep their mouths shut in the future.