Donovan McNabb is at the crossroads of his career—again - NFL on Astini News

To say Donovan McNabb needs to play better for the Minnesota Vikings would be an understatement. He needs to prove he can still be an effective NFL quarterback.

The Eagles have no regrets about trading McNabb. The Redskins don't either. Now after McNabb's putrid 7-for-15, 39-yard performance against the Chargers in Week 1, talk is growing that McNabb is washed up.

McNabb can only silence his critics by playing better — much better — against the Buccaneers on Sunday. It appears he has reached another crossroads in his career.

"I'm a pro — I've been at this stage for a long time," McNabb told reporters Wednesday. "It doesn't matter if I pass for 400 or 500 yards and we lose, it's still the same feeling. That is the way you have to approach it as a quarterback in this league. You have to have to have short-term memory."

McNabb wishes people would forget Sunday's performance. Right now, the Redskins look vindicated for dealing McNabb and letting Rex Grossman take over. But McNabb says writing him off after one game with the Vikings would be a mistake.

"Everything that happened last year, I mean they could look at different things. Last year I passed for over 3,000 yards, that's pretty decent," McNabb said. "It's a long season. When this next game ends, they will probably be saying, 'This is the guys we expected to see.' "

The Vikings hope so. Because if nothing changes, the Vikings will be next to decide that McNabb is no longer good enough to be their starter.