McNabb Responds to Remarks of Former Birds

This time, Donovan McNabb is answering the criticisms of those with whom he used to share the Eagles' locker room.

Former teammates Jeremiah Trotter, Ike Reese and Hugh Douglas have criticized McNabb on a several fronts in recent weeks. Still, McNabb brushes them to the side just like any other controversy.

"It's unfortunate you know that they would say that, but you know everybody has their own judgment, I guess," McNabb told CSN's Kevin Walsh during Saturday's Villanova-Syracuse game. "The only people I truly care about at this particular point are the people that are putting on the uniform, who's been in the locker room, who's been through the ups and downs. That's all that matters to me. Anyone else I don't care about.

Trotter, speaking on 610 WIP, particularly took issue with McNabb's recent comments regarding the defense.

McNabb, also on WIP, said the Cardinals' final scoring drive in the NFC Championship reminded him of the Eagles-Rams title game in 2002, when both teams were able to run the ball with success down the stretch. McNabb said the Rams were "terrified" that the Eagles would get the ball back.

It's not the first time McNabb addressed the topic. In his postgame press conference after the loss to Arizona, McNabb expressed the frustration he felt while watching the Cardinals' offense eat up the clock.

"We've been a part of that five, six times, whatever times I've been here, seeing it so many times where they try to keep our offense off the field and just be successful running the ball," McNabb said at the time.

For the record, on Arizona's scoring drive in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals ran the ball nine times for only 16 yards ? but six of those yards came on fourth-and-one.

Trotter responded by saying that McNabb threw the Eagles' defense "under the bus."

To which McNabb retorted Saturday: "As long as the guys in the locker room understand what I was saying, and they do, that's all that matters. They know I don't throw people under the bus. I never have, never will, so they understand exactly what I'm saying."

Trotter also questioned McNabb's desire to remain an Eagle. The former linebacker said McNabb is a "great" quarterback who would be happier and more productive on another team.

"I don't think Donovan wants to be here," Trotter said. "Donovan is not going to come out and say it, which I think people would respect him more if he came out and just told the truth. But I think he tells everybody else one thing when he does his press conference and postgame interviews, and he throws little comments out there. Donovan really doesn't want to be an Eagle. I don't think he's ever been happy there."