"Donovan McNabb's news conferences are polished and measured on most days, perhaps a byproduct of answering to excoriating Eagles fans for 11 years.

He preaches team football, credits his teammates and makes innocuous jokes about wanting free food.

But the man clutching the podium Wednesday, fresh off arguably his worst performance as a starter in 12-plus NFL seasons, couldn't hide his pride.

Clearly frustrated by Sunday's 39-yard passing performance against San Diego, McNabb delivered the kind of confident, decisive answers the Vikings will need in the passing game Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

His response was pointed when asked about the perception Philadelphia and Washington were justified in trading him as his skills diminish at age 34.

"That's not the case now. This is a new season," McNabb said. "I passed for over 3,000 yards (in 2010); that's pretty decent. ... When this next game ends they will probably be saying, 'This is the guy we expected to see.' " "