Benched QB to start NFCCG

[engine9]

Contrary to the popular train of thought in the NFL, Andy Reid benched Donovan McNabb earlier this year. He benched him and put a QB in that was MUCH less talented in the game, and he lost that game. The next weekend he put McNabb back in, and McNabb has been on fire since.

Granted, Delhomme is nowhere near as good a QB as McNabb is, but in one of Delhommes shitty regular season performances his attention might have been grabbed if he had rode the pine for a second half. McNabb can joke and laugh about it now, but one thing is for sure it got his attention.

Would it have gotten Delhomme's attention? If it did would it have made any difference Saturday night? No one knows.

To be clear, by Saturday night it was too late. I don't think we could have put Moore in the game and won, not unless we did it after the 2nd interception or something, and that wouldn't have even made sense to ME. Delhomme dug a hole so deep that really only Delhomme could have ever gotten us out of it.

[X-Clown]

McNabb's been angry about the benching ever since and has repeatedly said that it had no effect on his play. In fact, he's went as far as saying that he wants to sit down with management at the end of the season and ask why it happened in the first place. And I can't say that I blame him. Andy Reid is looking like a genius now in hindsight, but just remember that the Eagles put up all of 3 points against a deflated Redskins team in Week 16, and needed an Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans win in Week 17 (two teams that were not going to make the playoffs to knock off other potential playoff teams) to even have a shot at the playoffs by beating a Dallas team that clearly was inferior and had given up. I'm not saying this to take anything away from Philly, as I do think they are the 2007 NY Giants (getting hot at the right time) but let's be honest....if all of the chips don't fall the way they did in Week 17, Andy Reid is probably fired and McNabb may or may not have been a Chicago Bear/Minnesota Viking.

[Mr.Ponche]

What would have made sense was to bench Jake in Oakland or in Tampa to wake his ass up! Of course it was too late Saturday night to expect any of the back-ups to come in the game and have a realistic chance at success,should of been done earlier when Jake suited up for those two games by shoving his head,helmet and all,straight -up his own ass!

[ashehudson]

Ok ok, I get it, Andy Reid is a better coach then John Fox!

I bet Fox is a better Dad though!!!!!!

(too soon?)

[pstall]

I think the benching of McNabb was as much as a motiovational ploy as anything.

Some guys/teams need to have a chip or antagonist to get them going. Be it real or manufactured.

[Squirrel]

Nice E9.

[MaineManPanther]

It would have no affect if we had becnhed him. Do you really think if that were to happen Jake would suddenly stop making or decrease his mistakes?. No he would still be Jake.

And I dont see how it would motivate our team by any significant measure. Atleast not this years team, we played hard and motivated every game this year.

[Squirrel]

It would have no affect if we had becnhed him. Do you really think if that were to happen Jake would suddenly stop making or decrease his mistakes?. No he would still be Jake.

And I dont see how it would motivate our team by any significant measure. Atleast not this years team, we played hard and motivated every game this year.

You missed some games then. He wasnt talking abotu Saturday night he was talking about where Jake had bad games earlier this year.

[the butch]

He should have been pulled in this game for a quarter. Unbelievable the coaches allowed 6 turnovers by our QB!!!!

[panthers1789]

The Cardinals also benched Warner for most of the season in 2006.

[Mr. Scot]

McNabb's benching was a mistake. His teammates after that came together and have played better. Mcnabb is largely the same as he's always been.

Regardless, you've got one case here of a temporary benching being followed by good results. There are over a dozen where it's been a miserable failure.

And for Jake, yeah it would have been a failure. Our team was already playing to the best of their abilities, so anyone stepping up like what happened with the Eagles is highly unlikely.

I knew after this that some folks would jump back on the 'temporary benching' idea. Sorry, it's still crap.

[Debil]

I don't know that benching Jake in the regular season would have made any difference at all. You're not going to bench a dead stare at the primary receiver out of a QB

[MaineManPanther]

You missed some games then. He wasnt talking abotu Saturday night he was talking about where Jake had bad games earlier this year.

What games did our players not play their heart out?

Im saying even If we benched him in a game in the regular season it would not make a difference. Jake would still be jake, he would still play the way he did before, good or bad.

[neverlosethefeeling]

McNabb's been angry about the benching ever since and has repeatedly said that it had no effect on his play. In fact, he's went as far as saying that he wants to sit down with management at the end of the season and ask why it happened in the first place. And I can't say that I blame him. Andy Reid is looking like a genius now in hindsight, but just remember that the Eagles put up all of 3 points against a deflated Redskins team in Week 16, and needed an Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans win in Week 17 (two teams that were not going to make the playoffs to knock off other potential playoff teams) to even have a shot at the playoffs by beating a Dallas team that clearly was inferior and had given up. I'm not saying this to take anything away from Philly, as I do think they are the 2007 NY Giants (getting hot at the right time) but let's be honest....if all of the chips don't fall the way they did in Week 17, Andy Reid is probably fired and McNabb may or may not have been a Chicago Bear/Minnesota Viking.

Finally someone who understands.

People want to say that McNabb's benching was the reason he played well. He will even say that it's not, like you pointed out. Just like the rookie coaches/quarterbacks success this year, now people want the quarterback benched when he has a bad game. It's dumb. These trends/fashions that influence GM/coach/ownership decisions are not smart and will ruin a franchise in the future.

McNabb never should have been benched. Jake should never have been benched. You simply don't do it. Not over a couple bad games. Who wanted to bench Peppers last year?