He still calls it ‘pop’ instead of ‘soda.’ He would also rather have deep-dish pizza than a cheese steak. Indeed, Donovan McNabb may be the most popular athlete in the city of Philadelphia these days, but he still hasn’t forg
He still calls it ‘pop’ instead of ‘soda.’ He would also rather have deep-dish pizza than a cheese steak.
Indeed, Donovan McNabb may be the most popular athlete in the city of Philadelphia these days, but he still hasn’t forgotten his Chicago roots.
Sunday night, McNabb returns once again to his hometown to lead his Philadelphia Eagles against the Bears at Soldier Field.
Kickoff for the nationally televised game is 7:30 p.m.
"I love the city of Philadelphia and its very loyal fans,” McNabb says. “However, Chicago is my home and always will be.”
This will be McNabb’s fourth visit to Chicago to play against the Bears. In his rookie season of 1999, he played briefly at the end of a game.
Then, in 2001, he scored the clinching touchdown in a divisional playoff win over the Bears. In 2004, he returned to guide Philly to another win.
The most accomplished quarterback in the 75-year history of the Eagles franchise, McNabb, a five time Pro Bowler, is considered one of the top five quarterbacks in the league.
In his 10 years with the Eagles, McNabb has had an ongoing love/hate relationship with the sometimes fickle fans in the City of Brotherly Love.
Fans booed when the team selected him out of Syracuse with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft. They cheered when he guided the team to four straight appearances in the NFC title games and the Super Bowl in 2005, but have booed and blamed him because he hasn’t won a championship.
During the off-season, rumors were running rampant that McNabb might be coming home. There was a reported trade in the works that would bring the former Defender Player of the Year and Mt. Carmel star to the Bears in exchange for a then-unhappy Lance Briggs.
However, the Bears agreed to a new contract with Briggs, and all the trade talk ended.
McNabb has gotten the Eagles off to a 2-1 start on the season. He’s thrown for five touchdown passes and just one interception on the season. In the Eagles 15-6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was 24 of 35 for 196 yards and a touchdown.
Meanwhile, McNabb will face a reeling Bears team.
For the second straight week, the Bears blew a big fourth quarter lead. Leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-14 late in the game, they dropped a 27-24 decision in overtime. “It’s the second straight time we’ve had control of a game and couldn’t close the deal,” said Bears safety Mike Brown. “It’s very disappointing.”
The Eagles could be without one of their key players for the game.
Running back Brian Westbrook, the team’s leading rusher, suffered an ankle injury and missed the final three quarters of the win over the Steelers.
The Bears, meanwhile, are hoping to have kick and punt return specialist Devin Hester back for the game.
Hester, suffering from a rib injury, was listed as inactive for the game against the Bucs.
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