← The Stephen A. Smith Show
The Stephen A. Smith Show
Interview Only: QB Donovan McNabb states no Super Bowl victory blocks his Hall of Fame status.
00:20:37
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- [00:00]
A
What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [00:31]
B
What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.
- [00:36]
C
We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.
- [00:38]
B
The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.
- [00:42]
C
Each week, we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?
- [00:47]
B
Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.
- [00:51]
C
Julia's pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
- [00:55]
B
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My Next guest spent 13 seasons as an NFL quarterback, 11 of those years with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he took the team to Super Bowl 39. It's always good to get his perspective, at least in the eyes of some of y'all. To me, he's a damn nightmare. Nobody clowns me more than this dude. Nobody gets on my nerves more than this guy. He's always messing with me, but I miss him. The one and only Donovan McNabb. What's up, my brother? How you doing, man?
- [01:33]
C
That wasn't on there, all that extra stuff.
- [01:36]
B
Well, I'm extra. I can be extra. That's who I am. That's who I am. I could be extra. I'm Stephen A.
- [01:42]
C
You just gonna drop the mic like that on me right now?
- [01:46]
B
You know how you are?
- [01:46]
C
You rolled your cufflinks up to your biceps. Now you want to show off the pattern and look all stylish.
- [01:53]
B
Well, I am in better shape. I ain't as thick as your ass is. I'm in better shape, Donovan. So listen, man, we got super bowl, Super Bowl 59 here. We got the Kansas City Chiefs, your former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City, coached by your former coach, Andy Reid. Being down here for the super bowl, tell us what kind of memories it brings back for you personally as a.
- [02:14]
C
Player at that particular point. You know what? It's the excitement, I think, the anticipation of the actual game, know, when we went back in 39, it was, it was the excitement because we finally got over the hump. And so it was, it was more of the, the. Just the drive Monday, the Tuesday, the Wednesday, and you just like, let's get to the game. And so now I think for a lot of these young guys, and they do a great job, the NFL that is of the week before, where you can get the tickets and travel and hotels and all of that out of the way and focus just on football, on the game week. And so the excitement kind of really builds up. By Friday.
- [02:51]
B
Is it possible to get the damn ticket issue out the way? Because I'm imagining no matter how many requests come in, they don't stop.
- [02:59]
C
Well, you know how black families are. You know, it's always, you know, Uncle Tim and, and, and, and. And you can't forget about your cousin. You know, remember, your cousin grew up with you when you were six. You know, she lives out there. It's like, I ain't seen her since I was six. But, you know, I, I think for. It's. It's hard because of that, the demands. But then you have to block it out and focus in. And the excitement of the game is just. It's just basically like almost an extension of the NFC championship.
- [03:25]
B
When you think back to your experiences, how much did the week leading up to the game affect your performance during the game, if at all? Just a really.
- [03:37]
C
I don't think at all. At all. No, not at all. And the whole thing is, when you're in the game, you're focusing in at the time, like time matters and it's the play clock, it's the actual play. Getting the ball off on time, it's throwing it with timing, it's making the right checks, making the right reads, protecting the football, and at the end of it, trying to get a first down, trying to get a touchdown. And so it's the mistakes that mount up. And what does that do to the football team and what does that do for field position? And that's what this game is. This game is about. Field position. Who has the ball past the 50, who has the ball with what time left? Where in the third down or second down are you? Is it third and medium? Is it third and long? Is it third and short? That's what decides on whatever play is coming in. How are we going to execute it? Do you have a shot at the touchdown or is it just to get the first down? Do I have enough time to get the ball out and so those are things that you're thinking about come game time.
- [04:34]
B
In all the years I've known you, I've never asked you a question. I'm about to ask you. I know that Tio was hurt and then came and performed and performed well in the super bowl, but he wasn't there for the divisional playoff game and the NFC Championship game. If he had never gotten hurt at all, do you think y'all would've won the Super Bowl? Like, I know he played in the super bowl, but I'm just thinking about the camaraderie that you had, the timing, et cetera, et cetera. I know he played well, but I'm talking about the other players on the team that had to adjust that. You ever think about that at all?
- [05:04]
C
I haven't. I haven't, nor would I ever thought about that question. I can't believe you even asked that question. You are something else. You know what?
- [05:14]
B
You know, I can be. I can be.
- [05:17]
C
No, I would say we were who we were. And the thing was, we were that before. And then it was an added dimension. Right? So remember what we did? We did that dude, of course, of 10, 11 weeks, like, with him, like the season, we really didn't play much in the later part of the year. Right? So, I mean, you know, hey, life would have been a little different, but I can't complain.
- [05:49]
B
How much different would your life be right now if you had won that super bowl and we was saying, Donovan McNabb, not just a great player, but Donovan McNabb, Super Bowl, I would have made.
- [06:01]
C
Made it to at least the eight or probably the final, final selection of the hall of Fame. I might be in the hall of Fame right now because then I would be looked upon as a true hall of Famer, which in a lot of people's eyes, I am.
- [06:18]
B
I think you are.
- [06:18]
C
Including myself.
- [06:19]
B
I think you are.
- [06:20]
C
But I think I would definitely have made it further in the voting of. For hall of Fame.
- [06:25]
B
Let's go back to the super bowl right now. When we think about Patrick Mahomes, we think about Lamar Jackson, we think about Josh Allen, we think about Joe Burrow, et cetera. In the words of a quarterback who played at a high level in the National Football League. What does Patrick Mahomes have that none of the other quarterbacks have?
- [06:46]
C
Super Bowls. Super Bowls.
- [06:50]
B
I'm talking about his abilities because the Super Bowls are obvious. He's a champion.
- [06:54]
C
I mean, he has great arm talent. He's a game breaker. He's a, a playmaker. He's a. He's a leader. He's everything that you see in a lot of these other guys. It's just that it's like Tom Brady. Tom Brady wasn't the best athlete. Tom Brady wasn't probably at some point, he wasn't the best quarterback, but he was a winner. And that's what he is. And ever since he had became a starter, and I'll take it all the way back to when he started in Denver in replace of Alex Smith that year. That was to get Alex some rest, get Patrick some reps. And I think he threw for about 250, 275 in that game to the point where that's when Andy knew what his future was and Alex knew what his future was.
- [07:38]
B
Right.
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C
And so now you're talking. What is this, eight years for him now?
- [07:42]
B
Seven years. He started. He started. But he's been a starter for seven years, been in the league for eight years, been a starter last seven, and.
- [07:48]
C
Has been in the super bowl five.
- [07:50]
B
Times and been in the AFC Championship game every single year.
- [07:53]
C
And to be honest with you, and I just had this conversation in an interview, Dee Ford was lined up offsides by an inch. And he looked over at the ref and the ref usually would tell him, slide back. But the tackle was lined up offsides for New England. You know what happened on that play?
- [08:12]
B
What?
- [08:12]
C
Interception. Tom threw an interception which he would have went to the super bowl that year.
- [08:18]
B
Wow.
- [08:19]
C
So now we're talking every year he almost going to the super bowl, because when he went to the AFC championship his first year, that was just one particular play by the referees that could have been, hey, slide back. Usually they tell you that, but there was no notice and he only. He lost in the game.
- [08:42]
B
Let's talk about your team, the Philadelphia Eagles. From this respect, you got Jalen Hurts. Saquan Barkley is spectacular. What would your. Like Brian Westbrook was that. Dude. I know.
- [08:51]
C
I was about to say, don't.
- [08:52]
B
Don't do that. He was a bad brother. But Saquon Barkley is Saquon Barkley now. Okay, what's it like? I mean, what would it have been like for you to have Saquon Barkley as a running back?
- [09:02]
C
I had Brian Westbrook.
- [09:04]
B
So you just gonna be like that, Right. And I know Ryan Westbrook is a bad br. He run for 2,000. Yeah.
- [09:09]
C
But he had over almost 3,000 total, all purpose.
- [09:13]
B
Yeah, that's true.
- [09:15]
C
It was only two. It was only two at that. In a particular time in the game, him and Ladanian that was doing it.
- [09:20]
B
Like that, do you think, what do you think, rather Saquon Barkley needs to do in order for the Philadelphia Eagles to win the Super Bowl?
- [09:28]
C
I think they need to run the football about 30 to 32 times, I'll say 35, including Jalen, to keep it balanced. Because what it does, it now sets up the play action game where Dallas Guider has to be so effective in the middle of the football field versus their safeties and linebackers. And when you're running a football now, that keeps the safeties and the linebackers aligned where now they have to stop run first instead of dropping back in zones. And so if Spags decides to blitz and they do decide to run now, if the tackles and guards can push out and open up a hole, that's a home run right there for Saquon. So what it does now and what everybody has seen the effectiveness of this offensive line and what they can do to establish the run game and open up holes, if they can establish that line of scrimmage now, that opens up opportunities on the outside with man to man coverage with AJ And Devonte.
- [10:21]
B
Do you think the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line would be able to do that? They're number one according to Pro Football Focus. They average 6, 6, 328 pounds. You would think they should be able to maul any, any defensive line, even if it is that of the Kansas City Chiefs. What are your thoughts about that?
- [10:37]
C
Jones is a problem.
- [10:39]
B
Chris Jones, Yes.
- [10:40]
C
And so that's Maai Beckton and that's Dickerson. And if you're not healthy enough, he's gonna move you. He's gonna move you. So we seen what happened with San Francisco when they were running the football, had some effectiveness, but then on the plate it needed to be made. Can't stop 95.
- [11:01]
B
Have we talked about Kansas City's defense enough?
- [11:03]
C
No.
- [11:05]
B
What should we be saying about them.
- [11:08]
C
Timeless plays that they make in the course of the game that changes the game if it's from the D line or if it's from their safeties. Their safeties are ball hawks, but they also come down to stop the run. I think Reed is probably one of the unkept heroes like that. They don't talk about much, but he does a great job on their defense. And Spags is Spags. Spags is always going to put them in position. We know about McDuffie, we know about Reed, we know about, you know, Jones. But they have a lot of heroes on that, on that defensive line and linebacking Core that make big plays.
- [11:42]
B
What was your relationship like with Andy Reid when you were playing?
- [11:47]
C
I didn't like him.
- [11:48]
B
You got him joking. I know you joke. I know you love that man. I'm like, what? I know you love that man.
- [11:55]
C
Now that listen, that is my guy. Actually talked to him today. You know, I'm pulling one of my Stephen A's, dropping, dropping names. You know, I talked to him the other day. He helped me, had eggs for breakfast.
- [12:08]
B
As long as you ain't lying. That's all it meant. That's all I meant.
- [12:11]
C
I talked to him, talked to him this morning, right? And he's my. Like, he's my guy. Like, we talk outside of football and, you know, I worry about his health when he was going through some different things. Good to see his family's doing well. And it's more of the success that he's had because he allows his players to be themselves. And the problem with the world today is these coaches get so enamored with being the one in control, controlling the narrative. Their ego stands too strong where they're not allowing their players to control the locker room, control the outcome, control what's in front of him. And Andy was a no judgment kind of a coach and still is a no judgment kind of coach. And that's what makes him elite.
- [13:01]
B
You've heard the noise they've said about Nick Sirianni in Philadelphia. There was a time, believe it or not, even though he just guided the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super bowl appearance a couple of years ago, they were talking about he might not be the right man for the job. At one point, they did the same.
- [13:15]
C
Thing to Doug Peterson, then he won the Super Bowl.
- [13:17]
B
They did the same thing to Doug Peterson, then he won the Super Bowl. You're absolutely right. With Nick Foles as his quarterback. By the way, what did you think about the noise against Nick Sirianni when you first heard it this season?
- [13:25]
C
Thought it was garbage. And I talked to Nick and spoke up for him because I do a call in radio show every Monday and I told him, I said, you want somebody who's up front, you want somebody to be brash, you want somebody who's going to be, you know, there for his team and be vocal. You got him. Now you're mad because he, he fired back at you, you know, so that, that's the problem. Don't think, don't. Don't sit there and give it and then can't take it, Right? And so what happened? The team rallied behind him and all of a sudden he pull off a win streak or what? What? They went 12 in a row or basically or something like that.
- [14:02]
B
Nine in a row. That.
- [14:03]
C
Yeah. You know what I mean? And so that shows a lot about the respect that they have for him in that locker room, because Nick is just being Nick. And so, you know, when you fire at him. Yeah, he's gonna fire back. He's. He's a human being, too, you know, just like when people come at you, you know? You know, hold on, man.
- [14:19]
B
I'm gonna hit him back.
- [14:20]
C
Yeah, see, you know. You know, I thought your mustache would grow a little more.
- [14:23]
B
I've been cutting it off a little bit. I've been shaving myself. I didn't go to my barber, and then I did try to.
- [14:27]
C
Oh, so now. Now we go. Now we go blaming.
- [14:29]
B
I'm blaming myself.
- [14:30]
C
So basically you said you messed it up.
- [14:32]
B
I messed it up. But I can afford it. I have room for. I have room to grow. I have room to grow. Anyway. Anyway, listen, man, I'm looking at right now. Everybody's been talking about Jalen hurts.
- [14:44]
C
Yes. Including you.
- [14:45]
B
Oh, yes, I have.
- [14:46]
C
Yes. Including you.
- [14:47]
B
I believe in a brother, but he's got to show it. Donovan. Ain't nothing wrong with that.
- [14:50]
C
What do you mean? Besides the win.
- [14:52]
B
No, What I'm saying to you is this. I'm measuring. I did the same thing with you. Don't let him off the hook. I didn't.
- [14:57]
C
I'm not letting him off the hook. Because I said the same thing that you did. Because I said the same thing.
- [15:02]
B
Yes, you did. But I was right, though. But I was right. I was right. I was right. What I said was, I'm measuring what it's going to take for you to win the chip.
- [15:10]
C
And what.
- [15:11]
B
I'm not saying that you can't ball. I'm saying Jaylen hurts. The Philadelphia Eagles, since Week 5, has run the football more than anybody in the league. They've thrown the football less than anybody in the league. So you're basically saying this, we're run first kind of team, etc. I don't know if that's going to get it done against Patrick Mahomes. What's wrong with saying that?
- [15:30]
C
Because you're now sliding. What?
- [15:33]
B
He's.
- [15:33]
C
What he's been doing.
- [15:34]
B
That's that sensitivity stuff, man. Come on, man.
- [15:38]
C
So I'm Ralph Transvan now.
- [15:40]
B
I don't know. Maybe you don't need a man with sensitivity, but you are a man with sensitivity. But that's okay. But go ahead. Go ahead, man.
- [15:48]
C
This is the thing that I think people don't realize, the concussion was something that he had to battle through. So his first game back after the concussion was the first round of the playoffs. His second game back was the second round.
- [16:03]
B
I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about what they were saying about him during the season before.
- [16:06]
C
They were. They were saying it because they were trying to figure out, you know, why AJ and devontae weren't getting the ball. But you're winning. They're not getting the ball because Kellen Moore is not calling what your quarterback is comfortable with.
- [16:18]
B
You see, you're very frustrated. You're very frustrated. Let me tell you why. Because I could imagine you, when you were playing, saying those exact same things to everybody around you. But you know players. I mean, you. Your stats speak for you. And when you go to the negotiating table, you gonna have to live on that stuff. So they want the ball.
- [16:34]
C
They want the ball.
- [16:35]
B
Everybody ain't gonna be that patient.
- [16:37]
C
So if we're going to the NFC Championship and we're going to the super bowl and we're winning and I'm throwing the ball effectively and efficient, and I'm efficient.
- [16:45]
B
Minimally.
- [16:46]
C
I'm efficient. I'm efficient.
- [16:49]
B
If you're throwing the ball 10 times instead of 30 times, that's 20 times. It ain't throwing the damn football.
- [16:53]
C
I bet you Joe Burrow would love to switch and be in Jalen Hurst.
- [16:56]
B
I'm not sure about that.
- [16:57]
C
I bet you Josh Allen would love to be in his shoes. I bet you Lamar would.
- [17:02]
B
Well, they didn't have to go against Mahomes. They had to go against Mahomes.
- [17:05]
C
Hurts.
- [17:05]
B
Doesn't have to until Sunday.
- [17:06]
C
It don't matter who you got going against you. Win. Win is a win. We all.
- [17:10]
B
So you good with Jalen? Hurts.
- [17:11]
C
I'm good with what he's doing right now.
- [17:13]
B
So you think, well, what he's doing right now that's going to deliver you a Super bowl championship.
- [17:16]
C
Against Patrick Mahomes, it would have brought him one last time they played.
- [17:19]
B
Last time they played, he passed for 300 yards. He rushed for 70. He scored four touchdowns.
- [17:24]
C
But he didn't have.
- [17:25]
B
What are you talking about?
- [17:25]
C
He didn't have 26 behind him.
- [17:28]
B
You mean Saquon Buckley, not Brian Westbrook? Is that what you mean? I'm just asking. I'm just asking. I'm just asking.
- [17:34]
C
I said 26. I didn't say 36. If he had 36 back there, yes, he probably would have won a Super Bowl. But you know, he didn't have them. He had, you know, Sanders was back there. Sanders was also a thousand yard rusher, you know, but the thing about it is he played well enough in that offense with what they had then. This is a whole different offense. The man had been through what, three, four coordinators.
- [17:56]
B
I agree with that.
- [17:56]
C
And he only been in the league five years.
- [17:58]
B
It's true.
- [17:59]
C
And so now he's in a new offense, learning new offense, and then after this game, he gonna be in another offense when Kellen Moore takes the job here in New Orleans. So now then, what we gonna say? He's continuing to win.
- [18:10]
B
Okay.
- [18:11]
C
As a quarterback, we're measured by wins, correct? Okay, hold on, hold on. We're measured by wins, correct?
- [18:18]
B
Yes. Not just wins, but wins is a part of it.
- [18:20]
C
Okay.
- [18:21]
B
Wins is a part of it. Absolutely. Can't be losing.
- [18:23]
C
He didn't turn, he didn't turn the ball over.
- [18:24]
B
He didn't turn the ball over. 10, 10. The Eagles force. They haven't committed a turnover. You think that's going to happen in this super bowl as well? They're going to be able to be turnover free.
- [18:32]
C
I think the game, both sides will turn the football over, but it's when you turn the football and where you turn the football over, I think that's what matters.
- [18:42]
B
So who you got.
- [18:43]
C
Stop talking about that.
- [18:44]
B
So who you got winning the game?
- [18:46]
C
Philadelphia Eagles by three.
- [18:47]
B
By three.
- [18:49]
C
It's going to be a close game.
- [18:50]
B
Is it going to be high scoring?
- [18:53]
C
Yeah. 30, 27.
- [18:54]
B
30, 27. You got the Philadelphia Eagles winning. Why they score 30 points, bro. How, how they score 30 points? I'm just asking.
- [19:01]
C
Three touchdowns from, from Jalen passing, one rushing.
- [19:04]
B
Three touchdowns from Jalen Hurts passing, one touchdown, running. That's not an emotional call, you know, quarterback loving the quarterback. Philadelphia, you understand that's just one of.
- [19:13]
C
The great analysts just giving you his analytics.
- [19:14]
B
This is this analytical opinion, no biasness whatsoever.
- [19:17]
C
Not at all.
- [19:18]
B
Philadelphia Eagles defense gonna hold. Patrick Mahomes 27 points.
- [19:25]
C
Correct. I love Patrick. Patrick's a great guy. Love Travis, love Big Red, you know, it's great for them in this journey and what it does for the game of football and the game of sports to have this opportunity that this possibly can happen.
- [19:47]
B
The three people, last question. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs win the super bowl against your prognostications, I might add, they will have three peated. That would be four super bowl titles total. Back to back to back super bowl championships. Does that make Patrick Mahomes the Greatest.
- [20:09]
C
Quarterback to have ever lived at the moment. You just gonna give him that title just right now? I'm asking a question. No.
- [20:17]
B
Okay. Why not?
- [20:19]
C
He's only seven years in the league. Seven, eight years in the league.
- [20:22]
B
Okay.
- [20:24]
C
Let him play about 15 years. Matter of fact, with that resume, let him play 13 to 15 more years. And if he decides to retire, yes, he will go down this. And depending on what happens after that.
- [20:37]
B
But Patrick Mahomes record would be 183 in the postseason. He'd have four Super bowl titles. He'd have five Super bowl appearances in seven years. In all, seven years as a starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. He would have been in the AFC championship game every single year. He would have won the division title every single year. And you still wouldn't give it to him with a three peat.
- [20:59]
C
He hasn't been in the league 10 years. Let him be in the league 10 years and then we can kind of talk about that.
- [21:04]
B
Philadelphia Eagles 30. Kansas City Chiefs 27. I'm giving you one last chance to change your prediction. I'll give you one last chance. Change of prediction, but one last chance.
- [21:12]
C
I mean, you. You feel like you about to put some money on it. So I'm trying to help you win some more money, you know, because you look like you're struggling right now. This pattern, this pattern on the suit, I don't think I've ever seen it before.
- [21:21]
B
I could use a little more money.
- [21:22]
C
Is it from overseas?
- [21:23]
B
I could use a little more. It's not from overseas. It's from the states. It's from the states. Donovan McNair, ladies and gentlemen. Donovan McNair, foreign.
- [21:40]
A
What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101 free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday. Keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [22:11]
B
What's up, everyone? Julie Swearbanks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.
- [22:15]
C
We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.
- [22:18]
B
The Name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.
- [22:21]
C
Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?
- [22:27]
B
Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.
- [22:30]
C
Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
- [22:35]
B
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.