Did Donovan "Earn" Raise?
Philadelphia Inquirer Sports Columnist Bob Ford writes about the Eagles, the Phillies, the Sixers and the Flyers.
Did Donovan "Earn" Raise?
Bob Ford, Inquirer Sports Columnist
That's what the Eagles said on Friday after giving Donovan McNabb approximately a $6 million bump in pay over the next two seasons, taking his potential earnings through 2010 from the nice neighborhood of $19 million to the incrementally nicer neighborhood of about $25 million.
Hey, it's their money and they can spend it as they please, even if the raise comes after a brief offseason spell during which the front office grumbled in the background and talked tough about holding the line on players with multiple seasons remaining on their contracts.
Quarterbacks are different, though, and Donovan is different even by quarterback standards. He's a little goofy, talks in circles, pouts on occasion, all of that, but he still represents the shortest distance at his position for the Eagles to reach a Super Bowl. Coming off a season in which he remained healthy and just missed the first 4,000-yard season of his career -- would have had it except for that 30 minutes of rest in Baltimore -- they had no intention of replacing him. And, in order to make things smoother, they had to give some money so it could appear he won the battle of wills. Who says he can't win the big one?
So, McNabb gets to save face, the Eagles get a happy quarterback and there's not much to see here. Some players have leverage, some don't, and you can ask Sheldon Brown about that if you like.
But, returning to the original question, did McNabb "earn" the raise. The organization said on Friday that over the course of his contract McNabb's earnings, compared to other QBs, has slipped from the top of the list to somewhere around 10th on the list. The raise put him back among the top three or four best-paid quarterbacks in the league.
Last season, McNabb's passer rating was tied for 14th in the NFL. His completion percentage was 18th. His TD percentage was 12th. The average gain on his passes ranked 19th. He threw 11 interceptions, and it has been seven seasons since he threw more than that.
He did operate without a reliable running game for much of the season, and with an offensive line that held together but just barely. Given the number of balls he threw -- a career-high 571 -- his interception percentage was still good. He got the team to the NFC championship game, won it once, but couldn't win it again after the defense gave the game away. Pretty good effort.
But was it the performance of one of the best three or four quarterbacks in the league? The Eagles either think so, or have to say they think so as a price of doing business. It's their money, but it would be nice if you could trust their explanation for why they spent it.
Comments (47)
Mr. Ford is the only job you have to try and fire up the McNabb haters? I don't come on here everyday but it sure seems that every article you right is mostly nonsense and nothing but either jealousy or hatred towards McNabb...... Is it something personal with you and him?— bobf123
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- OMG, lonleywife must have gone off his meds. No McSoftee? No Kolb? No Eli comments (what a joke)? I'm not a 5 hater but I was really disappointed to see him acting very un-leaderlike in the weeks leading up to getting paid. But if he uses the upgraded protection and weapons he has been given to win a Supe, all will be forgotten. Go Phils!— steelydad
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- I'll bet you #5 would take the SB Ring over the pay raise.— MJPD345
- I'll bet you #5 would take the SB Ring over the pay raise.— MJPD345
- He hasn't played like a top 5 QB, but the Eagles couldn't risk him disrupting the season again like he did in 2005.— jtj06
- He deserved the pay raise. One other thing: People in Philly need to understand there are some people who post on here who are not Eagles fans. For instance, lonewolf is not a fan of the Eagles. Sources tell me lonewolf is a Cowboys fan who comes on here simply to create bad vibes. Bob Ford, meanwhile, is merely trying to earn a paycheck. Bad news places more eyeballs on the ads. The more controversial the news, the more eyeballs on the ads. He's just digging up controversy so advertisers continue to pay money for ads.— jimqk
- Bob, what will make you happy? Brady or Manning or Big Ban? Last I checked they were signed on other teams. Ditto for: Brees, Rivers, and now Cutler(no Superbowls for these guys). So now what is so wrong with paying the face of the franchise. He's had to deal with idiotic Philly media(and National media Rush Limbaugh) from draft day to present day. That right there deserves a pay raise. Mr. Ford, do you even remember the years AFTER Dick Vermeil, and BEFORE Andy Reid?? They were horrible!!— rickah88
- Bob Ford epitomizes the seemingly unbiased journalist who tries to shroud his negativity with back handed praise. Even the sarcasm of quote-unquote EARN in the title belies his clearly disdainful opinion of the play of McNabb. Bob, did you question whether Kurt Warner "earned" his 2 year $24 million contract because the Cards made an appearance in the SB? If no, I would say that he set the market value for the top 4 QBs in the league of which McNabb would have to be included as an NFC Championship rival. If yes, I would say McNabb has outplayed him on both occasions and over the last few years while playing with lesser WR talent. Unbiased journalism Bob. Do that and "earn" your paycheck at least for as long as the newspaper industry lasts.— kcruel
The price of QB's has gone up since he signed his deal. Simple as that imo.— Elbarad- Comment removed.
- Bob, you must be deaf and blind. The best QB in Eagles history and he doesn't deserve a raise? Look what he did with what he had last year. Wake up and write something worthwhile.— Kumaryu
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- In the fantasy world of pro sports......you always get what you can and NEVER stop asking for more......The owners have so much that a few million here or there means nothing to them.....and it quiets their respective super stars......."earning" something has no meaning today.....if so, only SB Champs or World Series Champs would get paid.......but it does not matter today.......I want, I want, I want and the owners just keep on giving to QB's, Point scorers, long ball hitters....and the premiere players.......— nuggett
- When you consider McNabb's stats, you probably ought to consider his career win loss record, which is very good. That's the most important stat, isn't it? He was also 5th in total completions, 8th in TDs thrown, and 7th in total yards last year. It looks like you cherry picked the stats that make him look bad -- that's pretty biased reporting.— FKD215
- His numbers didn't earn him the raise, but wins against Minnesota and the NY Giants and a very good game against the Cardinals were more than enough. Playoffs are what matters, not the regular season. (And the defense sputtered against the Cardinals) As a non-Eagles fan living in Philadelphia (the greatest city in the world) McNabb has done more for this town and team then anybody...if Kolb or anybody else were their QB, they'd be in full re-building mode. Even Cutler who was available this year would have been a downgrade at the position— etown445
- what did he do to earn a raise. the eagles didn't even earn a playoff spot. they needed the bucs to choke against the god awful raiders. the defense carried the team through the second half of the year up until the last two quarters of the season. And does 6 million really make a difference when you are about to get paid 19?— franknbeans
- Did I miss the parade? If so, did I miss the hitting receivers in stride, not throwing over and/or behind them? If i missed all of that then perhaps I also missed McChoke leading the Eagles down the field in the final minutes to win the game...What about executing a two minute drill? What about not getting fat through every season? I must have imagined the last 11 years, because you would think that puke baby had won something. Let's be serious for a moment, he is a good to very good QB with serious flaws in his game that have never been corrected, and his ability to play when the chips are down is well documented (chunks anyone?).
- Haters are back in full force. Eagles will win the title this year. NOBODY is messing with our speed on offense. Nobody. If Five didnt deserve a raise then who did? From being benched to carrying this team ALMOST to the Superbow. The D choked plain and simple. They had to stop Arizona just one more time and couldnt get the job done. That 7 minute drive took the eagles heart out of that game, no way around that. But Our D was already number one in the NFC and will only go up. Superbowl or bust!!— The Blueprint
- I'm not a "hater" but the "salaries" pro athletes get are outrageous and for the most part, they are a bunch of obnoxious, malcontent overpaid boorish crybabies.— catharine_christian_carpenter
- Bob, Please find something more interesting to write about. Let's discuss whether you've earned a raise...— Grazman
- We have come so far but have so far to go! Mcnabb just knocked down another barrier. A true leader indeed..— mongoS
- Hey, what do the Eagles care about an extra $6 million in payroll they still leaves them $2 million of the $8 million dollars they stole from the city.— phillyfan329
woof, how disgusting can you get? You are as pathetic an individual as can be imagined.— tpizza- woof, how disgusting can you get? You are as pathetic an individual as can be imagined.— tpizza
- Lonepuppy, when the success of the likes of Mcnabb brings out how bitter you truely are the more satisfaction I get!!! I enjoy it even more because I know the cause of your disgust is something positive for a true leader and the face of this team. Irritating isn't it???LOL— mongoS
- Lonepuppy taking that day off is a positive step in the right direction..— mongoS
- Mongo, hopefully woof will take the Lexus for a test drive in the garage for about 5 hours. Of course that's if he has either. Too bad public stoning is illegal but you are right, the thought of him stomping around throwing a tantrum like a child brings a smile to the face. Gotta be "only child" syndrone, or psychosis. What a sick pup.— tpizza
- Man, I'll be glad when Mc5 wins the Super Bowl so all these haters can choke on that humble pie!— daero215
- bob presented facts and figures and then proposed a question. why do you blind loyalists take it as negative? Mcnabb is a good QB, and far from great. he has never achieved his stated goal, to win a SB. that is a fact. dont hate it.— jb99
- They couldn't go in to training camp with both McNabb & Sheldon Brown crying in the locker room. This was money well spent to keep peace, just like Westbrook's money was last year. Besides, Comrade BO's new Compensation Czar may cap what people are allowed to earn, so management may never have to actually pay it and they can blame Obama.— Lockyer
- I believe it was a payoff, to keep his mouth shut, although they won't admit to that. Of course, he didn't deserve a raise. He's been on the downhill for some time now, but most people don't want to acknowledge that. Everyone is so sure that Kolb is not the answer, but he really hasn't had the chance yet. I would like to see Kolb play three or four straight regular season games before I decide he is a bust. But to see that, McNabb would have to be hurt. McNabb is gone in two years, no matter what! Well, unless he wins a SB, but he won't!— Mohave_Sun
- It amazes me that a writer as good as Bob Ford constantly gets bashed by morons who wouldn't know jounrnalism if it bit them in the a@@. It is a realistic question backed up by the numbers. I personally agree with the birds on this and like #5 as our QB and the article did not bother me one bit.— mikeyboy
- Even as a big McNabb fan, you have to admire what the Eagles' administration has done; he wanted more weapons--he got them plus a nice on the fly reboot of his offensive line. He wanted recognition for his past efforts; he got that in a raise without the Eagles committing anything past two seasons. With Dawk gone, he basically has to be THE voice of the team now--with great money goes great responsibility, so to speak. After two years, if the job doesn't get done, just like we get rid of coaches or managers when a team's players doesn't get it done, McNabb can be let go by the Eagles without nearly as much public complaining as in the Dawkins case. Again, McNabb doesn't get enough credit in the city for what he's done, but this squarely is make or break--and it's even more on Donovan's head than Reid/Banner's.— Icemannj
- He earned it, no question and Brown didn't.
- I guess all you Mcnabb haters don't remember or forgot about Bobby Hoying, Rodney Peete, Ty Detmer and all the other would-be QB's the eagles have tryed to convince us that were serviceable. #5 gives us the best possible chance to win now! And not just regular season games but a SB! give Mcnabb the two years, he's at least earned that, unless you haters are ready for the alternative! (Kolb).— Lone-eagle
- If your boss says you've earned it, you've earned it. If your boss says you haven't earned it, you haven't. It is really that simple.— PhillyPhantastico
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- mr Ford, you end this with such a suckup to McNabb. "He got the team to the NFC championship game, won it once, but couldn't win it again after the defense gave the game away." McNabb did NOT win it. he gave them a lead after not showing up for the first half. He also had plenty of time to tie the game at the end, but once again fell short. McNabb's salary was right before the raise based on everything else. He was not the reason the time made it to the NFC champaignship game, the defense was. And the truth is the defense managed to hang on in the first half while the Diva looked dazed and confused. Look at how much time they spent on the field. McNabb did not earn the raise, but I think he has been told to put up for 2009. This is his last season as an Eagle if he does another diva routine.— dutchman
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- Chunky soup is too expensive. buy the store brand!— WC-Jonesy
- At least he didn't torture, beat, strap to a rape device and fight dogs.— svthedogs
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About this blog
Bob Ford has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 1981, and is still trying to figure it all out. A former beat writer covering the Phillies and the 76ers, Ford became a general sports columnist for the Inquirer in 2003, following in and occasionally falling in the deep footsteps of Bill Lyon, Frank Dolson and many distinguished others. He comes to the Philly.com blogosphere after award-winning success as designer/editor of the fabulous Pen & Pencil Club softball blog. Likes: Palestra, inside-the-park home runs, sunny days. Dislikes: phony people, cloudy days, rewrites.
Reach Bob at bford@phillynews.com.
Bob Ford
Inquirer Sports Columnist
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