JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Donovan McNabb was the anti-Freddie.
The Eagles quarterback, unlike wide receiver Freddie Mitchell, knew all about the young New England cornerbacks who stepped in for injured starters Ty Law and Tyrone Poole this season.
"Asante Samuel, Randall Gay, even Troy Brown, who was among their leaders in interceptions - I know those guys," McNabb said. "I've watched them on film. They've done a tremendous job in that system.
"I think people should stop talking about [coach Bill] Belichick's system and start talking about the players who make that system work. Tedy Bruschi should have been in the Pro Bowl by now. Rodney Harrison should be in the Pro Bowl. They have great players, not just a great system."
Mitchell, of course, infuriated the Patriots in general and Harrison in particular last week when he was asked to name New England's cornerbacks during an interview on ESPN. Mitchell said he knew the numbers of their young corners, but one of the numbers he cited was 25.
The Eagles will not see No. 25 in Super Bowl XXXIX because New England does not have a player who wears that number.
McNabb tried to explain Mitchell to the many media members who crammed into a ballroom last night after the Eagles arrived at the Sawgrass Marriott on Jacksonville Beach.
"That's Freddie Mitchell," McNabb said. "The one thing you have to understand about Freddie is he doesn't mean anything by what he says. I know Rodney well. We kind of grew up together in Illinois."
McNabb and Harrison are from Chicago. Harrison is four years older than McNabb.
A long ride. The drive from Jacksonville International Airport to the Eagles' team hotel is not a short one, which was noted by some of the players, including McNabb. It's about a 45-minute drive that goes past downtown Jacksonville and Alltel Stadium.
"My first thought when I got here was, 'Are we ever going to get to the hotel?' " McNabb said.
By the numbers. Two of the big statistics you will hear ad nauseam over the next week are Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's 8-0 postseason record and Belichick's 9-1 mark in the playoffs, matching the postseason record of legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi.
A number in the Eagles' favor: Coach Andy Reid is 10-0 whenever he has had an extra week to prepare his team. The Eagles are 7-0 in the regular season after an off week and 3-0 after a bye week in the postseason.
Belichick is 9-7 after a week off, which includes a 4-0 record in the playoffs.
