Donovan McNabb’s thoughts on his return to Philadelphia for the first time in a Redskins uniform (on ESPN 980):
Recommended Stories
On if this game is different: I’ve always said I look at it like a normal game. In this situation this is a game in which the Washington Redskins need to win. It wouldn’t matter if we were playing the Cowboys or Giants, it doesn’t matter. After our 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’ll approach it all week.
On if he’s wondered what the reception will be like: You know what, I truly haven’t. I think everyone else I’ve talked to has, and rightfully so. I’ve been on the other side of the tide when guys have come in, the Brian Dawkins, the Troy Vincents. The list goes on.
On if it’s different because of who he is: In this situation I have to be open minded to see what kind of happens. Everyone wants to know how I’ll feel this week and how my emotions will be. I can’t answer that. Right now I’m just focused on facing the Eagles defense and making sure we have an answer for their blitzes. I’m all in here.
On his gut feeling about the reaction Sunday: Honestly I think I would be more cheered than booed. No matter what the situation is now that I’m with a different team and it’s kind of a rival, it wasn’t by my choice. It was a successful 11 years. We had a lot of great times, a lot of great moments, a lot of exciting plays and obviously some down times. But there were more exciting things that happened in 11 years.
On if he thought he’d face Michael Vick: I didn’t, I really didn’t. Everyone tried to say I’m the Nostradamus for saying watch out for Michael Vick. I never said he would start, I just said watch out for him knowing he had a great offseason. It’s not McNabb vs. Kevin Kolb or McNabb vs. Michael Vick, it’s the Eagles vs. the Redskins. It’s just that I’m no longer in an Eagles uniform.
On if he’ll talk to anyone from Philly this week: I’m not calling anyone… No, I’m kidding. I will. I’ve talked to Kevin, I’ve talked to Mike, I’ve talked to Andy. I’m trying to get [defensive coordinator] Sean McDermott so I can get some hints of what he’ll do in this game. Maybe Asante Samuel… or Trent Cole. I’m trying to get some insights on Sunday.
On what he’ll say to them: I’ve talked to the two quarterbacks leading up to the games. This week it will be the same as far as us communicating and wishing each other good luck and nothing out of the ordinary and seeing how everything is going, congratulating them on the last couple weeks and finding out what [Andy Reid] had for lunch and dinner….
On if he thinks the Eagles knew Vick would have a bigger impact this year: When you make a trade like he did, you put all your eggs in one basket with Kevin ….[But] from what I heard in the offseason there was a quote or comment from Marty Morningwheg saying he expected Mike to have a Steve Young type of year. I don’t know too many backups who have a Steve Young type of year.
