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McNabb Back As Starter

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 25, 2008

Updated: 11/25/2008 12:11 am

PHILADELPHIA - Donovan McNabb's benching lasted less than 24 hours.

One day after he got yanked at halftime of a close game, the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback got his job back - for now. McNabb will start when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night.

"Donovan is the quarterback. I don't want to leave here until you understand that," Coach Andy Reid emphasized at his news conference Monday. "Donovan is the quarterback for this football team."

McNabb was pulled from a game for the first time in his career after two dismal quarters in Sunday's 36-7 loss at Baltimore. The Eagles (5-5-1) only trailed 10-7 at the time, but Reid thought second-year pro Kevin Kolb gave the team a better chance to win a game it desperately needed to maintain its slim playoff hopes.

Kolb played poorly while McNabb watched from the sideline in a hooded jacket and minus the headset backups usually wear to assist coaches.

"Sometimes you have to step back to step forward in a positive way and Donovan will do that," Reid said. "This has nothing to do with Kolb's performance or Donovan's performance."

The Eagles are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third time in four years since losing the 2005 Super Bowl. No matter how they finish, this could be McNabb's last season in Philadelphia.

McNabb, who turns 32 today, is signed through 2013, but there's no chance the Eagles will pay him $9.2 million next year to be a backup. He's 22-21-1 as a starter since leading Philadelphia to four straight NFC championship games from 2001 to 2004.

"As I sit here right now, he's my starting quarterback," Reid said. "I need to coach better. Donovan needs to play better and the guys around Donovan need to play better."

McNabb was 8-for-18 for 59 yards with two interceptions and a fumble in the first half against Baltimore. Last week, McNabb threw three interceptions and lost a fumble in an overtime tie with Cincinnati. Overall, he's completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 2,770 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

COWBOYS: Suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones was back at work, going to meetings and a practice even though he can't suit up until Dec. 7 against Pittsburgh.

Jones is allowed to do everything but play in the next game - Thursday against Seattle - as he works his way back from his latest suspension, a six-game penalty for violating the league's player conduct policy. He previously was suspended for the entire 2007 season and Coach Wade Phillips said it's reasonable to believe another slip-up would get him permanently banned from the NFL.

VIKINGS: Defensive end Ray Edwards calls his $25,000 fine for hits against the Bucs two weeks ago "ridiculous" and "outrageous."

The NFL fined Edwards on Friday for a late hit on Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia and what the league called a leg whip on an offensive lineman.

When asked about it Monday, Edwards said, "No offense to women, but men don't wear panties. We chose to play this game. We don't cry when we get cracked unexpectedly. That fine is what it is. Just got to go out there and play ball and have fun."

Edwards is appealing the fine.

SCHEDULE CHANGE: The Washington-Baltimore game on Dec. 7 in Baltimore has been moved from 1 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. and will be televised by NBC as part of the NFL's flexible scheduling.

It will replace New England at Seattle, which now will be played at 4:05 p.m. It's the first switch of a game from afternoon to prime time this season.

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