Donovan McNabb thinks he’s unfairly criticized.

He’s right.

So has every other person who’s ever played the position. He’s the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. The jersey shouldn’t have a number on it. It should have a bull’s eye. That’s the way it’s always been.

What is new, sort of, is McNabb’s reasoning. He thinks it’s because of the color of his skin.

He’s in the right church, wrong pew.

It’s about his skin all right. It’s entirely too thin. Always has been. That this is even coming up again is proof of that.

Look, are there people who will never accept Donovan McNabb as the quarterback of the Eagles because he’s black? Sure.

Are they anywhere near a majority? No. Not even close.

McNabb happens to be in the highest profile sports job in the city of Philadelphia.

Every thing he does is under the microscope.

Off the field Donovan McNabb has been an exemplary role model. On the field, he’s been a superstar, leading the Eagles to four appearances in the NFC title game and a Super Bowl.

But the Eagles did not win that Super Bowl.

I believe the fans do not care what color the quarterback is, so long as he wins.

McNabb has done that. That does not mean his performance every Sunday will not be checked and re-checked by fans desperate for someone to lead them to the promised land.

For all he has done and accomplished in this city, McNabb seems to dwell on the instances that have not gone well. He still seems bothered that he was booed by a group of fans on Draft Day when he was selected by the Eagles. They wanted the team to draft a running back, Ricky Williams. He’s also black, by the way.

Maybe Donovan should talk to Ron Jaworski. He also got the team to a Super Bowl that it lost. Threw three interceptions to Oakland Raider linebacker Rod Martin. Fans still remind him of it.

Donovan didn’t bring up the race angle in this latest brouhaha. But he certainly didn’t veer away from it either. Then at his Wednesday press conference he threw a little gas on the fire.

He needs to get over it.

Donovan McNabb will be judged by what he does on the field. Not the color of his skin.

Even if he doesn’t see it that way.

And his timing couldn’t be worse. He gave the interview at the end of August. But it aired this week, with the Eagles – and McNabb – struggling mightily. The team is now 0-2.

McNabb, still recovering from major knee surgery that ended his season last year, is part of the problem.

That doesn’t have anything to do with the color of his skin either.