NFL: McNabb For MVP

As the Philadelphia Eagles' win total has grown, so has talk of Donovan McNabb's importance to the team. In fact, some have suggested that the second-year quarterback, despite ranking in the bottom half of the passer ratings, might deserve consideration as the league's MVP.

After McNabb established career highs in passing yards and touchdowns in the Birds' playoff-clinching 35-24 win over the Browns Sunday, Eagles coach Andy Reid said so himself.

McNabb completed 23-of-36 passes and led the Eagles to within one victory of reversing their 5-11 record of a year ago.

Torrance Small, the Eagles' other starting wide receiver, also joined in the fun. Small caught seven passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie Todd Pinkston, who last week had a 45-yard reception, had a 42-yard catch to set up Small's first score.

The three wide receivers combined to catch 14 balls for 241 yards, by far their best performance of the season.

The best part of McNabb's performance Sunday, said Small, was that he had a career day without changing the game plan.

When the Browns played a zone defense early, McNabb went to Lewis. When Cleveland switched to man-to-man coverage and began sending its safeties on blitzes, McNabb went to the wide receivers.

McNabb did not put the ball away and run when he was in trouble. Instead, he moved around to buy time before throwing. He ran only three times for 12 yards, his lowest total of the season.

It's that type of restraint that has the veteran players raving about McNabb's maturity. There is no doubt he is the Eagles' leader, and he demonstrated why that is the case Sunday, Johnson said, in a game in which the Eagles were heavy favorites with a playoff berth on the line.

Has he done enough to be considered as the league MVP in a season when many other players have much better numbers?

If I had a vote mine would go to this man because he has meant more to his team than any other player in the league.