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I still get an occasional e-mail from someone asking, "So how is Cade McNown doing?" I guess that's the one I'll never live down.
In the days leading up to the 1999 NFL draft, when the Eagles held the second overall pick and the organization was zeroing in on Donovan McNabb, I let it be known that I thought McNown was the better quarterback. I saw them both and I thought McNown was better, straight up.
I saw McNown bring UCLA back from 17 points down to beat Southern Cal in overtime, 48-41. I saw him win 20 games in a row over two seasons. He broke the Pac-10 record for total offense and in his junior year, the Bruins averaged almost 40 points per game.
He was the MVP in the Senior Bowl, throwing two touchdown passes to led his team to victory. McNabb was more mobile -- although McNown could run as well -- and McNabb had the stronger arm, but McNown had a knack for rallying his team and winning games. I remember saying McNown had the "it" factor.
Well, I was wrong. Chicago selected McNown with the number 12 pick and he became another in a long line of failed Bears quarterbacks. Injuries were part of it -- he had two shoulder surgeries -- but he also seemed more interested in having fun (he dated not one but two Playboy Playmates) than playing football. His NFL career was over by 2003.
Last I heard, McNown was married with a family and doing quite well selling real estate in Los Angeles. Good for him. It doesn't change the fact that I blew that call big time.