Nick Piccone
Earlier this week, it was made public that Donovan McNabb was arrested in June for his second DUI in Arizona in two years. While some of us laughed it off as it just being something McNabb would do, there’s a bigger underlying issue here, reportedly. He’s taking a break from his radio show to hopefully get some help, as he’s not doing well in his post-playing days. His friends and people around him are worried.
Mike Freeman of The Bleacher Report expanded on what McNabb is going through.
A spokesperson for Fox Sports, for whom McNabb is currently an analyst, did not return an email seeking comment. He is “stepping away from his NBC sports radio show—at least temporarily—to deal with ‘personal issues,'” according to TMZ.
Over the past few weeks, while working on another story, I have heard some of the same things TMZ reported. People close to McNabb that I’ve spoken to have been concerned about him for some time. They say he has refused advice to take car services in the past.
I’m told that after the first DUI arrest, McNabb’s friends tried to show the danger he was putting himself and others in. They said McNabb didn’t seem to digest the point. The fact he now has a second arrest seems to back that.
One person close to him said he hopes this arrest shakes McNabb into realizing something needs to change.
These people also say McNabb has had difficulty in retirement, something many players have faced. It’s not easy going from stardom to civilian life.
I’ll never agree that driving while impaired has any excuse at all, especially when there are driving services abundantly available. But if McNabb really is struggling with retirement, it’s about time someone gets him some help. He’s been the kicking post for so long for people in Philly, but it’s never good seeing someone go through this, whether it’s a stranger or a former Eagles legend.
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As an aside, I could really do without this weirdly placed graf in Freeman’s piece, which has nothing to do with anything.
If there is a legitimate criticism of McNabb, it’s that he choked in some of those title games, but he got there—something the Eagles haven’t done since. It’s no coincidence that since he left Philadelphia in 2009, the Eagles have had a hodgepodge of has-beens and wannabes at quarterback and haven’t won a playoff game.
Keep our name out your mouth.