McNabb Happy With His Place in History

Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles is the third African American quarterback to start a Super Bowl, following Doug Williams of the Washington Redskins and Steve McNair of the Tennessee Titans.

But McNabb said that doesn’t diminish in any way the importance of his role Sunday in Super Bowl XXXIX.

“It’s history,” McNabb said. “I feel great to be a part of that. I think it’s a special feeling, not only for myself, but for all of the other African American quarterbacks that are in the NFL, as well as those playing on the collegiate level.... I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing, sending the message that, if you continue to work at what you do, good things will happen.”

McNabb himself got that message watching Williams win a Super Bowl most-valuable-player award after leading his team to victory over the Denver Broncos in 1988 in Super Bowl XXII in San Diego. McNabb was 12 at the time.

“That was kind of an open door for kids like me,” he said, “to have dreams and aspirations of playing in the NFL.”

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Tom Brady, McNabb’s counterpart Sunday, finally seems to be getting the attention deserved by a quarterback shooting for his third Super Bowl victory in four years with the New England Patriots.

“Just because he doesn’t put up 4,000 yards passing or 40 TD passes, he is still a quarterback who has what all of us quarterbacks in the NFL are obviously trying to get, a Super Bowl ring,” McNabb said. “He has two of them and two [Super Bowl] MVP awards, so I’m happy that people are finally mentioning him with the likes of the greatest quarterbacks who have ever played.”

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Every day seems to bring added evidence that the Eagles’ leading receiver, Terrell Owens, will play Sunday.

Owens, who suffered a broken ankle 5 1/2 weeks ago, caught passes in practice and sprinted vigorously after the catches.

Owens has reported nothing more serious than stiffness in the injured ankle.