We’re certainly getting a lot of mileage out of Dhani Jones‘ recent appearance on NFL Network, in which he provided his list of top 10 NFL linebackers. It seemed an innocuous television exercise when the Bengal listed himself at No. 7 and excluded Bears star Brian Urlacher.

Really, Urlacher didn’t seem too bothered by the snub, but he nonetheless managed to fire back at Jones.

The story is still making the rounds, and Redskins QB Donovan McNabb was asked to share his perspective during an interview Friday on the “Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN 1000 in Chicago.

“Brian is a very effective linebacker and a great leader,” McNabb said. “A guy who gets to the ball. He’s in the right places at the right time. When you’re a veteran linebacker, those are your qualities.

“It’s not about your speed anymore. It’s not about guys running sideline to sideline. It’s about being in the right gap at the right time, it’s about getting the guys in the right position to be successful. That’s what Brian is. Brian is your guy that you have confidence that he’s going to make the big play on third down when you need it.”

That’s all great, and we never tire of players talking about other players. But, really, where would McNabb rank Urlacher, who landed at No. 49 on NFL Network’s “Top 100 Players of 2011“?

“Brian, to me, is one of the top three linebackers in the game,” McNabb said. “I believe once he’s done — he has five or six years left in him, maybe more — I believe he’ll end up being a Hall of Famer.”

– Frank Tadych

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