If the Philadelphia Eagles moved to Chicago, they would feel more at home. Quarterback Donovan McNabb went to Mt. Carmel High School. Running back Darnell Autry and linebacker Barry Gardner went to Northwestern. Fullback Cecil Martin is from Evanston. Defensive tackle Hollis Thomas went to Northern Illinois. Defensive tackle Paul Grasmanis used to play for the Bears and is from Notre Dame, as are backup quarterback Ron Powlus and cornerback Bobby Taylor. Assistant coaches Ron Rivera and Leslie Frazier played for the great Bears teams of the 1980s, and pro scouting director Mike McCartney used to scout for the Bears.
Q–How did they all end up in Philadelphia?
A–Most by plane, some by car. At the moment they would rather be in Philadelphia because the Eagles are 4-3 and the Bears are 1-6.
Q–Don’t the Eagles have a second-year coach?
A–Andy Reid was hired 13 days ahead of Dick Jauron last year.
Q–Don’t the Eagles have a second-year quarterback?
A–McNabb was drafted 10 spots ahead of Cade McNown.
Q–But aren’t the Bears a younger team overall than the Eagles?
A–Not exactly. The Eagles’ 53-man roster reveals a slightly younger team (4.13 years of experience) than the Bears’ roster (4.2 years).
Q–Do the Eagles have a nicer practice and training facility?
A–The Eagles have the worst facilities in the league. They are building a new practice facility, but they currently work out of Veterans Stadium, which is a rounder version of Soldier Field–both insults to the military services they purport to honor.
Q–So how come the Eagles beat the Bears at Soldier Field last year and are three games ahead of them this year?
A–A football bounces in funny ways.
Q–Didn’t McNown start before McNabb?
A–McNown’s first start was against the Eagles last year. McNabb watched.
Q–So McNabb has caught up?
A–Their statistics this year are quite similar. McNabb has thrown 236 passes, McNown 231. McNabb has completed 141, McNown 134. McNabb has thrown for 1,407 yards, McNown 1,464. McNabb has nine touchdown passes, McNown seven. McNabb has six interceptions, McNown eight. McNabb has run for 252 yards, McNown 318. Both have scored three touchdowns. McNabb’s passer-efficiency rating is 78.8, McNown’s 72.5. The discrepancy is mainly from the touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Q–Didn’t Reid coach Brett Favre?
A–Reid was Green Bay’s quarterbacks coach in 1997-98. Before that he was Green Bay’s tight ends coach, so he worked with Favre a lot.
Q–How does he compare McNabb’s development with Favre’s?
A–He tries to avoid comparisons, but he does say McNabb “has moved along as fast as any quarterback I’ve been around.”
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Q–Who are McNabb’s receivers?
A–His leading receiver is a fellow named Chad Lewis, who plays a position unfamiliar to Chicagoans. It’s called tight end. The player lines up on the line of scrimmage next to the right or left tackle and either blocks for the running game or catches short- to medium-range passes, usually over the middle in order to keep safeties occupied. This opens up the running game and long passing game on the edges. Very effective.
Q–Why don’t the Bears do it?
A–They tried it once. Guy by the name of Mike Ditka.
Q–What happened to him?
A–They traded him to the Eagles.