Bye to the best

FIRST TIME Donovan McNabb comes to town in that burgundy and cream Redskins jersey, he can expect to be booed lustily. It's a Philadelphia tradition. But excuse us if we fail to observe that local custom this time.

What many fans will remember most about the McNabb years is an empty space in the trophy case where the Lombardi trophy, symbol of a Super Bowl win, should reside. But that failure should not overshadow an era when the Eagles were a perennial winner, thanks largely to McNabb's big arm and bigger heart.

Kevin Kolb and a supporting cast of young talents may be able to build on McNabb's years of success and bring us the one thing this city's football fans crave most. This is their time and they deserve our support.

But we can never forget what No. 5 has meant to this town. A winner on and off the field, McNabb has given his resources and energy to a number of important causes here. His quiet philanthropy and unwavering loyalty to his adopted town served us well.

Mostly, we'll remember what all the records confirm.

By any reasonable measure, Donovan McNabb is the best who ever did it here. *