McNabb contract details
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
McNabb contract details
Bob Brookover
Fletcher Smith, the agent for Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, confirmed this morning an ESPN.com report that said McNabb will receive $5.3 million in new money from the two-year restructuring the Eagles worked with his client Thursday night. That means the final two years of McNabb's contract is now worth $24.5 million with a good portion of that guaranteed.
Smith said the deal makes McNabb one of the three or four highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL. He also said he believed the sides would have worked out an extension a few years ago if it had not been for a series of injuries that prematurely ended McNabb's 2005 and 2006 seasons.
Eagles president Joe Banner said the two sides almost immediately started talking about a two-year restucture rather than an extension when conversations started with a meeting in late February.
"It was appropriate to make some adjustments so that he was rewarded commensurate with the way he plays," Banner said. "At the risk of saying something very counterintuitive, it was the fair thing to do. We do try to be fair with the guys. In this situation, we felt if we didn't make an adjustment in light of where he was at in the timing of the contract, it wouldn't be fair. That motivated us. He obviously had similar motivations and it worked out."
Banner said that the Eagles probably wouldn't consider an extension for McNabb at least until late in the 2010 season, which gives the team time to evaluate his play as well as the progress of backup Kevin Kolb, the team's first choice in the 2007 draft.
"We had a discussion: should we do a long-term deal or should we just address the two years?" Banner said. "Frankly, we both wanted to do something that was really simple, so that he could stay focused on football and the team was focused on having the best year it could. Very early, it was clear that with the complications of the unknowns it was going to be much easier to do two years. We were both fine with that so we just focused on that."
Banner was asked about how cornerback Sheldon Brown might react to McNabb's restructured deal given that the team has refused to address his contract situation.
"I don't see any comparisons between the two situations," Banner said. "We've said that there are a very limited number of what we'd say are extraordinary situations where the value of a contract and where the market warrant addressing a contract. Those are very rare. They're very much the exceptions. Obviously in this case we thought it met the criteria."
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Brown is a very replaceable type of player and 30 yeras old. The Eagles have addressed that with the trade for Hobbs and drafting of Macho. I don't think either Brown will be on the final roster. Baskett, Justice, Klecko, and Eckel will also be gone.— The Marco Islander- Comment removed.
LJL - Yes, I said that poor team, the Vikings. They remind me of the '92 -'93 Eagles. Only thing missing was a QB. Understand now?— CJinPA- As an eighteen year old, McNabb is the only Eagle QB I've ever known. Not only would it be hard to imagine a team without him, I really really don't want to have to.— pynchon
- I heard they are working on giving Asante Samuel more money next.— scars73
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- Just because Sheldon Brown wants a new contract does not mean doing somebody else's who only has 2 years left and is a top 5-8 player at the most important position in the league that history shows you can play into your late 30's at a high level vs. a solid 2nd or 3rd CB who is a legend in his own mind shouldn't stop the Eagles from getting this McNabb thing under control. The Jean-Gilles hiring Rosencrap is even funnier considering Nick Cole played 100% better than he did last year anyway.— bsaw
HUUAAAHH HUUUAAAHHH MCTOSS! Chunky Soup Chunks! ahaa— ZOSO
Commenters like DIERTE have it right because this isn't about egos and feelings. It's a business move that makes perfect sense for so many reasons. And, no matter what you might think, QBs are unique and treated as such. Also, don't comment on bounced balls, etc. That's such a ludicrous comment - it's more of a commenter's failure to focus on the great things McNabb can do. As for Sheldon, he's a good CB that fits extremely well in this scheme. You can't get too carried away with stats like "No TDs allowed in..." - that type of stat is a little overrated with regard to how the defense is schemed. Think about it - when a CB or some type of elaborate blitz is called, I'd say 80% of the time it is Brown who comes in. Not trying to be too negative, but understand the game (not the player in this case).- Comment removed.
- LJL - Well Ace, read again....I believe I said it was a 'perfectly good move', nothing mentioned about being any sort of 'great' move; in fact nowhere in my post did I even call McNabb 'great' I suggest you not infer so much and actually read what is posted. Now go back and read my original post one more time...... now UNDERSTAND?— CJinPA
- Good move for the Birds and McNabb...and I trust the Iggles are in a better position to decide if Brown is worth more or not - I bet they watch more tape, keep more stats and understand their scheme and their needs better than anyone posting, watching Sundays (then ESPN) and reading newspapers and internet sites. The team isn't perfect - but they make more good decisions than bad decisions. Can't wait until September - we start our march to the SB!— ziggy
