Lurie: DMac's Face of Franchise
Why did the Eagles need to restructure the final two years of Donovan McNabb's deal? Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie said Friday it came down to "a sense of fairness."
Lurie: DMac's Face of Franchise
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
It's pretty clear that to Donovan McNabb, the reworking of the final two years of his contract, netting him about $5.3 million in extra cash, according to a source close to the situation, and a guarantee for 2010, is about security. If healthy, McNabb now will be the Birds' starting quarterback the next two seasons.
But what is the benefit to the Eagles? Well, it's pretty simple -- the key piece in what they hope will be the Super Bowl-winning puzzle is no longer going to be sending out any signals of disaffection or aloofness. They have made their franchise quarterback feel much more secure than he felt a little less than seven months ago, when McNabb was benched for the second half of a terrible loss in Baltimore.
Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie took a break yesterday from his NFL softball tournament on a NovaCare practice field -- Lurie had just doubled down the leftfield line against the Steelers, eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly -- to explain the team's motivation. He alluded to "a sense of fairness" in addressing a contract signed back in 2002.
"The franchise quarterback is really the face of the franchise, the head coach and the franchise quarterback," Lurie said, sweatily. "When you run a sports team, there's times when you have to understand what you have, and (display) a sense of fairness with a guy who's been the face of your franchise for so long. He never complained once in the seven years of his contract. It's just a win-win, I thought."
Earlier, in a news conference featuring Eagles coach Andy Reid and McNabb, the unstated premise arose over and over again: McNabb gets two years of security, esconced back among the top 5 paid NFL quarterbacks, according to agent Fletcher Smith. If he wins the Super Bowl during those two years, he's probably the quarterback here until he retires someday. If not, the sides will probably head their separate ways after 2010.
Of course, if McNabb somehow makes the next two Pro Bowls, breaks a bunch of his own passing records, and somehow the Eagles avoid winning the Super Bowl, through no fault of McNabb's, yeah, he could still be here after 2010. Lurie even mentioned Friday that there are all sorts of mechanisms, such as the franchise tag, to make sure teams don't lose franchise quarterbacks they want to retain.
But McNabb's focus, as he said over and over again in his first substantive remarks to reporters since Super Bowl week, is on these next two years.
"These two years are very important. With the type of team we have, I think it's important that we focus in on what we have to do to win that common goal, and that's obviously win the Super Bowl," McNabb said. "Anything past that, it'll take care of itself. At this particular point, these two years, we feel like we can get the job done."
essell - LOL.. Probably!— ChrisM- Definitely a Win-Win. And the 2 year window is smart. We should get to the Supe once or twice during the 2 year span. Maybe even win it.— Chuckle Berry
- "If he wins the Super Bowl during those two years, he's probably the quarterback here until he retires someday. If not, the sides will probably head their separate ways after 2010." Wow, that's a reach, Les. That's sort of like the local media predictions which have proclaimed a few times that McNabb was done in Philly. I suspect that the uncertainty with the CBA has as much to do with why they went with a restructuring instead of an extension.— JimG
- I said it 10 yrs ago...the Eagles will not win with McNabb. To all those who critisized me for my prediction, well, what can I say. I'm an Eagle Fan!— dailyphil
- Oh dear lord...'lonewolf 4' is off his meds again....nurse...NURSE... But seriously folks now that Mc5 has the financial ability to bench Reid if the occasion warrents....do you think he WILL?? All this stuff is obscuring the fact that there is great feeling about this particular roster right now (it's not a TEAM yet).Here's hoping that training camp shows everybody that we aren't wrong about this, and the team that emerges CAN win a Supe. By the way, remembering back to say, one o'clock on the last r3egular season game last year.....who out there REALLY thought we were going to play in the Conference Championship Game??? Be truthful now!!— TBear
- McNabb is the #1 Eagle but 2 year contract, big $$$, new offensive weapons ! In Central Pa we say ... it's time to sh** or git !— Gringo4
- It's two years to win the Super Bowl or they are "out'a here"!!! Both Andy's and D Mac's contracts will both be up at the end of 2010. The pressure squarely falls on each man to accomplish this goal. Now or never.....— M60tanker
- Lonepuppy, you seem a bit disgruntled..LOL— mongoS
- Hey lonewolf, your an idiot! McNabb is easily the best QB in Eagles history. Just because he hasn't won a superbowl doesn't mean he isn't a good player. Trent Dilfer won a superbowl so, I guess that makes him a franchise QB?— phillies09
- 5isaKing - Nobody Cares— ChrisM
- Lonewolf u have some serious issues. All u do is name call and point fingers like a 6 year old. 1st off I know you're not from Philly because you don't have the mentality. 2nd if you're from a different city or state and root for another team why don't you just MAN UP and state your business instead of all of this nonsense that you put out daily. 3rd you disrespected the name as you are truly no warrior just a sad lonely guy trying to hype up others on a message board.— Nothing but the truth
- Only Eagles fans can make a happy day into a bad one....some u guys make me ashamed to be an Eagles fan....D Mac u deserve this deal!— reggleston38
Comment removed.- lonepuppy, being bitter all the time is not healthy..i know you resent Mcnabb so I would suggest you watch hockey for the next 2 years..It is going to get much worse for you before it gets any better. LOL— mongoS
- Lonewolf...true or false...McNabb SHOULD have won 2 MVP's early in his career when he was 85% of the entire offense, running and throwing, taking the team to the playoffs when he had NO ONE!! Did McNabb do something to you? And Earl J...you say Lurie is not sincere...well, let me ask you this...what are the Eagles to him? They are his BUSINESS! He is loyal to making money like a good businessman should. If you owned the Eagles what would you rather do? Lose and make money or win and lose money? In business it's always about the dollar my friend.— Eilex826
