McNabb gets 5-year extension
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
McNabb gets 5-year extension
UPDATED:
Donovan McNabb and the Redskins have agreed to a 5-year, $78 million deal with $40 million guaranteed, ESPN's Michael Smith is reporting, citing a source. (Smith, you might recall was a confidante in the media of the McNabb camp during his the end of tenure with the Eagles.)
The deal includes the possibility of another $10 million in incentives, according to the report.
The Redskins have issued a press release confirming the signing, although the team did not disclose terms of the deal.
Of course, this all comes two weeks after he was benched in favor of Rex Grossman in the final 2 minutes of a loss to Detroit and then had his intelligence and cardiovascular conditioning clumsily questioned by his head coach.
McNabb's agent, Fletcher Smith, told the Associated Press that McNabb's benching had no impact on the negotiations and that McNabb is "happy to be a Redskin."
“Te Redskins made it clear to us [after the benching] that they were definitely behind Donovan and want him to be in Washington,” agent Fletcher Smith told Jason Reid of the Washington Post. “Obviously, there were a lot of things going on the last couple of weeks, but the team’s belief in Donovan did not change. That was made clear.”
McNabb turns 34 at the end of the month.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported yesterday that McNabb's agent, Fletcher Smith, was scheduled to be in Washington for tonight's game and planned to meet with the Redskins. According to that report, the sides had met three times previously, twice in Chicago and once in Philadelphia before the Eagles played the Redskins in early October. However, Schefter reported tonight that there were no talks and the parameters of the contract were in place since October. The guaranteed money was apparently the final hurdle.
Be interesting to hear what the parties have to say about all this after tonight's game, but this certainly shows the organization has a long-term commitment to McNabb despite the events of the last few weeks. The news release confirming the signing by the Redskins did not include quotes from anyone.
The timing also is strange, especially given that McNabb has not had a great year thus far. In eight games with the Redskins, McNabb has completed 159-of-277 passing attempts (57.4%) for 1,971 yards, seven touchdowns, and eight interceptions for a 76.0 passer rating.
You might recall that McNabb's agent was talking about contract extension on Easter Sunday when the quarterback was traded to the Redskins. Then, there was more talk about it in training camp. So, now the decision gets made on the day of a Monday night game in the midst of all the hoopla of the last few weeks? Wonder where Daniel Snyder fit into all this ...
EARLIER:
Guess who the spotlight might be on tonight when the Eagles visit the Redskins on Monday Night Football.
If you guessed Donovan McNabb, you would be right.
ESPN began a bit of that push last night with McNabb’s appearance on the “Sunday Conversation,” during which he interview by MNF play-by-play host Mike Tirico.
ESPN posted an excerpt of the interview, starting with a worthy question: Donovan, why do all these controversies seems to follow you?
“It’s a question that I always ask,” McNabb said. “I try not to let it hold me down to the point where I lose focus on what the task at hand is.”
C’mon, really?
“We’re human and a lot of stuff it may affect you to the point where you start to question a lot of things going on. I never let it hold me down to the point where I just lose all type of focus on my job. You laugh at it. You know, you ask yourself why, but you gotta move on.”
**
You won’t have to wait long for a video clip of McNabb in Eagles green. After the traditional Hank Williams opening, ESPN will continue looking back at the top moments in Monday Night Football’s 40-year history involving the team that are playing that night.
This highlight is from Sept. 16, 2002, when McNabb accounted for more than 300 yards in a 37-7 win by the Eagles over Washington.
Former MNF announcer Frank Gifford does the voiceover, with the video and audio of Gifford shot over the summer, ESPN said.
**
According to the early inactives, Clinton Portis will not play for the Redskins, the NFL Network is reporting, with Ryan Torrain expected to start at running back.
Return specialist/wide receiver Brandon Banks is not listed among the inactives.
Buy: Eagles Tickets
You mean Clinton Portis the Phillies fan?— smel4727
Comment removed.- Frank Gifford ??? Is this MNF or Tales from the Crypt !— Everyone But You Is An Idiot
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- Frank Stifford is on every week at the open. As for McNabb it must be a black on black crime baby!!
- I (not Donovn) am the victim of the media's obsession with this non story.....I am also the victim of Jeffery's lack of commitment to "winning it all" ......11 years and counting on the failed regime of one Andy Reid......Remember Jeffery....It is your legacy also....— nuggett
- McNabb won a lot of games - no one can argue with that. But he just comes across as a scam artist. Trying to say the right things, always smiling, etc. I think he is trying to cover up an inside that is really weak. Really weak. He has made alot of money doing it though but doesn't have squat to show for it. He has been exposed in Washington which should validate much of what his critics in Philly have been saying for years.— manly
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- Look no further than the DATELINE AMERICA mentality of sports reporting. I mean seriously, I know the culture hungers for celebrity gossip, but real journalists should be able to decipher good stories versus gossip glop.— retzlaff
- a long night for McNoheart and another possible benching by the Shanahan family..the McNoheart apologists CYO-ppizza-zero77-birdhs**-49cent-bleedgreen-cris carter-brian mitchell-mike wilbon/smith/irvin-shannon sharpe etc etc are running out of excuses...BIRDS 31 Deadskins 13....wolf.— wolf 4
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- McNabb is always at the center of controversy because he's a sensitive ladyboy whiner playing a man's sport. Can't boo him, because then you're racist, or mean...or both. WAAAAAAAAAAAAA. And by the way McNabb - your Momma's fat.— dragoon6
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- McNabb knows there is no answer to that question that would satisfy people so he intentionally said something that would annoy the haters. Haven't you fools learned yet. Thats fine that you don't like McNabb. He hates you too. At the end of the day he is a millionaire and had a better career then 95% of the qbs that ever laced it up in the NFL.— brannigan73
