McNabb: 'I Want to Retire an Eagle'
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
McNabb: 'I Want to Retire an Eagle'
Daily News staff
Donovan McNabb made it clear Friday, in a session with Philadelphia-area reporters, that he does want to discuss his contract when he sits down with management in the offseason, and he suggested this would not be news to the team, contrary to recent statements by team president Joe Banner stating that the Eagles are unaware of any issues involving McNabb's contract.
But more important might be the fact that McNabb stated emphatically: "I want to retire as an Eagle." Asked about NFL Network commentator Deion Sanders, who keeps insisting that McNabb and his family want out of Philadelphia, McNabb said: "Deion's not speaking for me."
Asked about Banner's repeated assertions that the Eagles haven't heard anything about McNabb's contract from McNabb or his agent, Fletcher Smith, McNabb said the contract indeed will be discussed.
"Everybody knows that," McNabb said. "You guys know that, and you talk about it. We'll just leave it behind closed doors, communication will go well, we'll hopefully get things solved. We'll be (in the Super Bowl) hopefully next year, and I won't have to go through media row. I'll be sitting at the little tent with the chair (on an interview podium) talking about the game on Sunday."
His deal has two more years to run, but a new contract would lower his salary cap number - $9.2 million next season and presumably give him a signing bonus that would make it very hard under the salary cap for the team to part with him within the next few years.
McNabb suggested that he, Andy Reid and Banner were going swimming in Tampa today, with Reid "wearing a Speedo," Banner carrying "a little float" and team chairman Jeffrey Lurie barbecuing. This seemed perhaps to be a joke.
The Eagles have said that McNabb will remain their quarterback.
Earlier, in a tour of radio row at the Super Bowl media center in Tampa, McNabb said: “I have talked to the fans, especially early on in my career, about helping to bring a Super Bowl back to Philadelphia,” he said. “We got so close and we got close this year. I want to bring that back to Philadelphia because they deserve it. The Phillies won it and that was a great thing. I’ve been there 10 years and we’ve been so close and I want to be able to have that parade down Broad Street. I want to tell the fans that, ‘Hey, we’ve been working extremely hard to bring the Super Bowl back to Philadelphia and I want to do that for the fans.’ ”
As for where the Eagles stand and how he feels about the offseason, McNabb said: “I feel great. To finish the season out healthy, that is the most important thing. The way that we finished things out from no one really counting us in to the situation of the playoffs all the way to the NFC championship and that close to the Super Bowl. I’m very excited about what we can do next year. I’m very excited about the guys we have. I’m very excited about the draft picks and the free agents we can bring in to help out. We’ll communicate about other things as well as things continue on. I’m anticipating this opportunity of hopefully being in Miami at the Super Bowl.”
*
Earlier, the Eagles announced an increase in ticket prices and changes to the coaching staff.
LONEFART- F--- IKE REESE -he doesn't know what he is talking about and neither do you- He was a special teams player DUDE- You think he should really be critiquing QB play or comment on management decisions?? You loser— jttemp2000- RELOCATOR- 1st of all this is real life not madden or fantasy football- those 3 things will Never happen, but besides that Garcia is going on 39-40 and washed up, he doesn't have half the arm strength as Mcnabb and he is 32, would love to have C. Johnson but to TEAM up w/ Mcnabb- his comp% was 64 and QB rating above 100 w/ TO, everyone wants to talk about prospects like Sanchez or even Kolb, fact is chances are they won't even have half the success that Mcnabb has had or be just as good— jttemp2000
Comment removed.- We are lucky to have 5. Considering he has no one to throw to and no one to break through the line to gain some decent yards. Just once I wish he would say "Back in '82 I used to be able to throw a pigskin a quarter mile." ...— unclerico
- I'm finally agreeing with Dmacfools as I also agree McNabb has wasted enough time hear, we no longer deserve him and he should leave.— Voytas
- relocator: why dont we let jeff garcia continue help the birds... he put the Birds in the playoffs when he choked and through two interceptions on back to back possible winning drives.. against the raiders... come on dude you cant be that stupid.. ARE YOU?— bleed green forever
- Sonny Jurgensen? Seriously dude, you need to stop.— G
- DMACRULES - He didn't mean bring "another superbowl back"; he meant come back from the superbowl with the championship in hand. "Bring a superbowl back to Philadelphia" is a perfect acceptable way to say it; although it opens the door for interpretation.— nate
- lets say the eagles get rid of mcnabb (which may be a good thing because then lonewolf would have nothing to talk about) then what do they do... someone give me the plan for getting rid of mcnabb... and if your response is Kolb then please dont waste my time... i am a season ticket holder and i have been to lehigh the last 2 years... the guy is a complete joke... look at his college numners, there not impressive at all and he has been god awful in the preseason.. he did look good in the baltimore game!!! he found ed reed wide open a lot.. so i challenge all you "know it all's" to tell me what the birds plan is if they get rid of mcnabb.. How will they compete?— bleed green forever
- lonewolf and dave123 are the worst!!!! them and todd pinkston and reggie brown and voytas and lonewolf and dave123 dummies!!!!!— coachbarnes10
- If he wants to retire an Eagle then he should retire this year! Eagles will never win a Super Bowl with him, he's not a big game player.— tysephie
- Dave123: Quit listening to WIP in hte Morning! I think you're looking too hard for something that's not there. My problem is with the blogger that wrote the article. Donovan told a joke, and he had to be snide about it. Enjoy a laugh and move on. #5 will be back, and hopefully lead us to Miami next February. I enjoyed the playoff run much more that the other 3 losers in the NFC East. Go Birds!— eagle8
- lonewolf we missed you.... go away awhile longer so we miss you some more.— stevo8drum
- If he wants to retire as an Eagle ... then go, go now, so we CAN go to the Super Bowl!— njdlmkr
- Do you lonewolf take voyes to be your wife?? Do you Voyes take lonewolf to be your wife? you may now leave the forum. lol— stevo8drum
