Philadelphia boxer Bernard Hopkins ripped Eagles’ quarterback Donovan McNabb on a recent program for Comcast SportsNet’s Monday Night Live.
“Some people are athletes, still good, but don’t have that extra ‘I’m willing to sacrifice my life. I’m willing to sacrifice what I have to sacrifice to win.’ … People never forgot when things happen, they see a guy crumble under pressure. Whether they throw up on the highway, whether they throw up on the court, whether they throw up on the football field, when people see that, that sticks in the back of their mind.”
Hopkins was obviously referring to the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. Some of you made the same reference in our live chat Sunday night when John Madden said McNabb looked winded as the Birds’ offense failed to get a play off before the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter.
Hopkins continued: “Every athlete should have that killer instinct in him, especially if you the quarterback… If he’s not right here and here [pointing to heart and head], and don’t want it, the team feel the vibes…”
Up to this point in the interview, Hopkins had not mentioned McNabb by name. Host Ron Burke asked Hopkins specifically if he questioned McNabb’s ability to take the Eagles to the promised land, and Hopkins responded, “Years ago, years ago.”
Hopkins went on to say that he thinks McNabb would be better off playing in Chicago, where he’s from.
“The reason things are the way they are is because of the money wrapped in him. They can’t get rid of him,” Hopkins said.
I love how people continue to think that winning a Super Bowl is like making a sandwich. McNabb continues to be under appreciated and I’m afraid he always will be. I’d love to see Hopkins take one snap against the Giants’ pass rush and smell the stench from his pants when Justin Tuck blindsides him. This is more about the fact that Hopkins is from Philly and McNabb is from Chicago and therefore, McNabb is not as tough as Hopkins is.
