ASHBURN – Mike Shanahan played it coy, trying to give Dallas a little more to think about. And, perhaps, just having fun with the topic.
Is Donovan McNabb starting Sunday? At least two national reports suggested, perhaps because of health reasons, he might not. So given the chance to end the debate, Shanahan opted to keep it alive.
There was this answer:
“I don’t go through the starting lineup. I’ve told you guys that before.”
And this:
“I like people getting prepared for a lot of different people. Even though they say it’s a meaningless game, it’s not meaningless to us.”
And this:
“They’ve got to get ready for a couple players. That’s good for us.”
| Up next |
| Redskins at Cowboys |
| When » Sunday, 1 p.m. |
| Where » Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas |
| TV » Fox |
| Radio » 730 & 980 AM/92.7 & 94.3 FM/Sirius 152 |
But McNabb said he’s healthy, and there’s no other indication that any change would be made to backup Rex Grossman. McNabb said coaches hadn’t told him anything. He also said he doesn’t pay attention to any reports suggesting the coaches have a lack of confidence in him or are considering a move.
“I can’t afford to,” he said. “If I don’t get that from the guy who makes the decisions, then I don’t focus on it. There’s been reports and sources say all throughout the last part of my career.”
McNabb is in the midst of his worst season statistically, with 14 touchdowns to 15 interceptions and a passer rating of 77.1. The interceptions are a career high, and the rating would be his lowest since his rookie season of 1999.
Before the season, Shanahan said it could take two or three years to learn this offense. McNabb isn’t the only one adjusting. Only left guard Kory Lichtensteiger and Ryan Torain among current starters had played in this offense before this season.
“We’ve made strides,” Shanahan said. “We’re not where we want to be.”
Naturally, fair or not, the heat falls on the quarterback. McNabb hasn’t let it bother him.
“Not at all,” cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. “I feel I’ve been through a lot in my career and matured a lot, but a lot of the stuff he’s been dealt the last few weeks, I would have went back to my old self by now. He’s the consummate professional; he definitely has a career in politics when he’s done.”
Shanahan said, “Donovan is one of the easiest guys I’ve been around. He’s as classy a guy as you’ll ever meet in your whole life. He’s just first class the way he handles himself.”
Shanahan said his relationship with McNabb hasn’t changed as much as it has evolved since his benching in the Oct. 31 game at Detroit. But McNabb said it has improved.
“The communication got a lot better,” he said. “We were the talk of the bye week, so everyone wanted to know if it was going to get better and it did.”
