For now, McNabb belongs to Philly

Donovan McNabb had to laugh.

During a conference call with the Chicago media on Wednesday, the Eagles quarterback was informed that during a charity event in Philadelphia last summer, Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris claimed the Bears would have won the Super Bowl had McNabb been at the helm.

"I didn't hear that," McNabb said. "Did he say that at my event? I was working with the kids. I wasn't able to pay attention to that.

"I'll have to rewind the tape on that one.

"But I'm over here in Philadelphia wearing the green. I'm just focusing on being here right now."

That may be the case, but it hasn't slowed speculation that sooner rather than later the Mount Carmel alum might return to play for his hometown Bears.

"I can't say much on that," he demurred. "I have a lot of fans there, and I have a lot of fans here. I can only focus on being here right now.

"I'll be a Philadelphia Eagle for as long as the organization and the team wants me here. If (going to Chicago) happens, it happens. But if not, I'm here in Philadelphia trying to win a Super Bowl."

If he does lead the Eagles to the promised land this year, it will be on an aching knee, one that went under the knife after last year's season-ending knee injury.

McNabb's progress from the surgery has gone better than expected, though the reality of the situation hit hard.

"It's obviously reminded me that I'm not 22 or 23 years old anymore," he said. "When you go through any type of ACL injury, it's a road to recovery. Fortunately for me I've been able to get out a little earlier and been able to do some of the things I've been accustomed to doing.

"It's going to get better and better. It's definitely still a progression. My burst is coming back. Good things are happening."

McNabb thinks he might need all the burst he can muster when the Bears visit Sunday.

"When their defense is healthy, it's still the defense that everyone is accustomed to seeing," he said. "They're still a team that ranks up there as one of the top defenses."

McNabb, who earlier this season caused a stir by saying black quarterbacks often get treated more critically than their white counterparts, had some comforting words of advice for benched Bears QB Rex Grossman.

"Never lose your confidence," he said. "Continue to keep your head up. Once you have that confidence in your mind and in your heart that things are going to work out well, you'll begin to enhance your work ethic, prepare yourself better, and you're going to look for that next opportunity to get out there and showcase what you can do.

"I kind of felt for him a little bit. When a quarterback goes through some struggles, you expect people to understand that and give you a little time to kind of break through out of it.

"Not everything is going to be perfect. You're going to have some tough times. I think the most important thing at our position is how you overcome adversity. He's been able to do that most times.

"I'm from Chicago; I know it's a tough city, a tough town, and they love their Bears. I definitely understand what he went through."