The cruelty of the mandatory mid-week press conference

At a certain point, one just starts to feel pity* for Donovan McNabb.

League rules require that he sit for a weekly press conference with the local (and occasionally national) blathermonkeys. Most of these affairs are pretty boring (I watch all of them; so what of it?), save for the occasional Stasi interrogation moments where they try to bamboozle him into saying something headline-worthy (where headline-worthy equals (a) throwing his receivers under the bus, (b) absorbing anything less than complete responsibility for the disappointment of all Eagles fans, or (c) anything about a certain former wide receiver).

Having watched so many of these things, I have to say that I'm impressed with his patience up there every week. It's a testament to the guy's professionalism that he manages to get through these things without rolling his eyes at every other question and/ or chucking a stapler at the blathermonkeys.

All of which makes his performance up there yesterday all the more disheartening.

He looked as uncomfortable as he's looked since T.O. was here, and his enthusiasm just seemed extra phony this week. Of course, this is probably because they questions about his future as the Eagles' starter are actually legitimate for the first time in, well, forever. When people were asking about Kevin Kolb and Dunavin losing his job after the Dallas game, it was complete nonsense. This week, in the wake of A.J.'s performance against the Pats, the questions are absolutely legit. And I think Dunavin knows that the end in Philly might be closer than it's ever been.

At the very least, it'd be nice if he didn't have to deal with these weekly sessions.  Move Dawk up to Wednesday and have him do the talking (Dawk is usually on Thursdays). 

Again, I don't want to be 5 when he throws that first incompletion.

*Inasmuch as we can feel sorry for people who have $100+ million contracts. 

Link:
McNabb Press Conference from Nov 28th...though these links never work [PhiladelpiaEagles.com]