Besides, what Eckel wrote is actually rather reasonable. The Eagles were 4-5 in games McNabb started and 6-1 in games Garcia started. You’d expect some players to think that Garcia might be a better choice to start next year — especially if McNabb is still rehabilitating his knee. All they have to do is look at Miami, which never recovered from a horrible start that can be laid directly to Daunte Culpepper trying to come back too soon from his knee injury, and say it’s better to be safe than sorry.

It’s also reasonable that McNabb was ticked off because the team didn’t let him travel to New Orleans for the playoff game. The Eagles’ position is that players on injured reserve don’t travel with the team, but this is McNabb, the franchise. Surely, an exception can be made.

Then there are the reports that McNabb is also annoyed because some commentators objected to his mother reporting on her blog that it was “bittersweet” watching the Eagles in the playoffs without her son running the team. If I were him, I’d be annoyed, too, so I’m hardly surprised to hear he might be.

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But, again, he can’t accomplish anything by complaining. People form opinions and there’s nothing to be done about it but prove them wrong by your behavior and performance. If they’re launching low blows at your mother, rise above it and don’t say anything, the same as you do if you think they’re out of line in what they’re saying about you.

To do anything else is to be seen as a malcontent and disruptive presence. McNabb’s one of the last people I ever thought would be accused of being either. But that’s where he’s headed, and for Philadelphia, that’s not a good place to be.