Lane Johnson is a protector of Carson Wentz on and off the field, so it was no surprise that the Eagles star right tackle was up for the challenge in responding to former Birds star Donovan McNabb. McNabb made front-page news recently when he implied that Carson Wentz would have to get the Eagles to the NFC title game over the next few years, or risk being replaced via a draft pick.
“I think in the next two years or so he has to find a way to get out of the second round of the playoffs. What Nick Foles was able to do taking them to the Super Bowl … proved that some people can get into that offense and be very successful. (Wentz) hasn’t been healthy, he hasn’t really proven to me besides the year before he got hurt and the first year of really (being) an MVP candidate.
He needs to get back to that mode. I think personally if he can’t get out of the second round in the next two, maybe three years. Really two years to be honest with you, if they can’t get out of the second round, they should look to possibly draft another quarterback because you just don’t know about his durability.”
Johnson wasn’t having any of it and fired this salvo at McNabb via Twitter.
Maybe a half an hour later, Johnson joined Paul Jolovitz on SportsRadio 94WIP to explain his tweet directed at McNabb.
“This is what I meant — every training camp we have all of these ex-players come and shake our hands, wish us good luck. Then, they just go out and just talk hate. I feel there is a lot of envy, jealously, and I see a lot of fakery. It isn’t just me — a lot of other teammates see it too. You would think the best quarterback in franchise history would try to build up a young man that looks up to him instead of always criticizing him, critiquing him and wishing he would fail so he could be the missing link and feel better himself. That is what I don’t like,” Johnson said. “I’m not a guy that thinks I have it all figured out, I have many problems as well, but I get tired of all the fakery to be honest with you.”
McNabb, of course, quarterbacked the Eagles to five NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl in his career, losing to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, but has fallen out of favor with Eagles fans and other alike for his critical statements since having his number retired.
