| Authored by Andrew Perna - 28th August, 2009 - 8:59 am
 The first matchup of the Sweet Sixteen is a battle of NFC East rivals. Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware lines up against Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
How They Got Here
Ware advanced to the second round after defeating Eli Manning with 59% of the voting in their pairing.
McNabb took down Albert Haynesworth, the high-priced Redskins tackle, with 65% of votes.
Why Ware Is A Franchise Player
Ware only has four seasons under his belt, but has already recorded 53.5 sacks and been named to three Pro Bowls. He is the best pass-rushing linebacker in the NFL today, and has also improved his ability to limit opposing running backs as well.
In addition to a steady increase in sack production (8 in 2005, 11.5 in 2006, 14 in 2007 and then 20 last season), Ware has been incredibly reliable. He has yet to miss a game despite the fact that he flies all over the field. If it weren't for his presence, the Dallas defense would be rather porous. They don't have much depth behind him at linebacker.
Ware etched his name into the record books with his twenty sacks in 2008. Hes tied for sixth all-time with Derrick Thomas in terms of single-season totals. The names above him are rather impressive -- Michael Strahan, Mark Gastineau, Reggie White, Chris Doleman and Lawrence Taylor, all former franchise players in their own right.
Why McNabb Is A Franchise Player
McNabb is as established a quarterback as you'll find in the NFL, but is never mentioned in the same conversation as Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Obviously, that is because Manning and Brady have broken passing marks and lifted the Lombardi trophy in their more-heralded careers.
He has 194 touchdowns in his career, which means he'll likely enter the 200-TD club sometime in late September. Only 26 players in NFL history have reached the mark and a majority are Hall of Famers.
The former Syracuse standout has had issues staying healthy, playing in sixteen games just four times in his ten-year career. Even with his injury woes, McNabb ranks third among active quarterbacks in passing yards –- behind Manning and Kerry Collins. His career passer rating is 85.9, thirteenth on the active list.
Pro-Football-Reference.com lists Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, Jim Kelly, Joe Namath and Ken Stabler as comparable players at this point in McNabb's career.
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the opening article; where the Sweet 16 pairs have been announced.
Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com and co-host of RealGM's Radio Show. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
