What's next for Donovan McNabb?
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
What's next for Donovan McNabb?
Daily News staff
We haven't written about Donovan McNabb in a while. He is an available quarterback on the free agent market, should a team have interest.
“We’re just weighing our options right now,” agent Fletcher Smith told the Chicago Tribune. “No real set timetable to make a decision on what he is going to do this year. So he’s in a holding pattern at this point.”
Smith also tried to make the case that it is not a bad thing for McNabb to be out of the media spotlight for a while. McNabb's future was under intense scrutiny annually in his final years in Philadelphia before he was traded to Washington.
McNabb was the starter last season in Minnesota at the beginning of the year, but was released in late November and did not sign with another team.
Going back a couple of years, when Donovan was first traded (from the Eagles to the Redskins), there was quite a bit of interest in what was going to happen with him and there was excitement over the move to Washington," Smith said. "But some of that enthusiasm and excitement has sort of waned a little bit.
“It’s a good problem to have in his case, because it seemed like for many years every offseason, he was the lead story. So he can afford to lay out a little bit.”
Some other topics that Smith touched on:
* Would McNabb consider a backup role? “We really haven’t discussed that yet. Right now he’s weighing all of his options.”
* Would he consider retiring if he does not gete a reasonable offer? “Obviously, once his career is over, he has got a career in broadcasting. And that’s an option as well. I think right now we haven’t closed the door on anything. He’s keeping his options open. When he is ready to make a decision, everyone will know.”
Let him be boys, let him be (this from a confirmed doubter).— 2ndNlong
Bring him back here... He is better than Trent Edwards and he knows the offense... Why not... Yes, he thorows at peoples ankles but if Vick gets hurt and I hope that does not happen.... I would feel comfortable with Mc5 behind center... And the Eagles shouls sign Mike Tolbert... (HTML deleted)— DTripp34- STOP TALKING ABOUT MCNABB! PLEEEEEAAAASSSSEEEEEEEE— drumminge6
- about time he was sold to a rendering plant and turned into chunky soup !— the_chief
- Why would Tolbert come to play in an offense where he will touch the ball twice a game?— blaqjaq
- Thank you, he's gone, let him be!— phillynupe4
- The mcnabb of 2009 would be a good backup, but the 2012 version is fat as hell, and the word out of washington and minnesota was that he wasn't putting in his time with off-the-field prep, video work, etc.— CosmoK
- Must be a slow sports day for someone to write about McNabb. The guy has a future in broadcasting?? Are you kidding me? He stinks. And McNabb's weighing his options? what options? What chunky soup he'll have? Glad he's gone. Now we have to hope Tubby's gone too!— walt1
- I was glad he was here and I am glad he was gone. I wish him the very best whatever he does. I just don't think McNabb, Trent Edwards adds much to this team. Kafka might be a suitable backup, we haven't seen enough to close the door on him. There should be enough concern that the Eagles find a capable #3 QB. Jason Campbell should get a long look.— willbert31
- If some team even offers him an NFL paycheck as a third string QB he should jump on it. A million bucks looks good when the well has dried up.— escapedcamden4monterey
Comment removed.- Make it stop!— Luriesucks
Too late for Jason Campbell. He signed a 1 year deal with the Bears. Eagles should sign McNabb and let him retire as an Eagle. I still believe if McNabb had better receivers to work with during his time here he would have won a SB. He broke all of JAW's passing records so not all his passes were in the dirt or at guys ankles. I'll take those balls in the dirt before I take those balls up for grabs that Vick throws any day.- McNabb? Is he still around?— essell
- I heard Donovan talk on ESPN and although he well spoken, he isnt believable. It's just like he was after a loss and he would always say "we have to move on", he is full of himself and goofy. If he does move on to broadcasting , it will be short-lived.— sammydelphia
- Yeah, I was not impressed when I saw him on ESPN a few times... but with a little practice, who knows?— Mr. Magee
- Please no TV, maybe Westwood One Radio.— Romus
- His career as a music teacher (air guitar) will be starting soon. Thanks for the memories Don, close but not close enough.
- McPuke was a gutless wonder here,he stinks as a player and absolutly will not make it in the booth.STOP writing about this guy he is yesterdays garbage.— sewell guy
- Your only supposed to write about McNabb on slow days to get a reaction. Not during free agency signings and Eagle extensions and so forth. To much going on now to be wasting space on his whereabouts. But in reality, he lives in Arizona, and he didn't get an interview,but Peyton did. What a blow to the ego. And a "career in broadcasting". Yea broadcasting Syracuse football.— watsonmr
- Thank him for many years of loyal service and let's move on. He is not the great athlete he was when he was young and apparently hasn't adapted to his limitations as a runner. Funny, years ago he bridled when they called him a running quarterback. Watch out what you pray for; you just may just get it.— gotedge
Yep, choices galore: play QB and Guarantee the team he's playing for will be a Loser, or retire and add his to the lst of former chucklehead jocks who became know-nothing broadcasters. Just let me know which network so I be sure Never to watch...
Get past the hate. Jeez... it gets you nowhere. He'll end up where he'll end up. Heck, he may even do one of those $1.00 contracts and retire as an Eagle. You guys must have really loved Brad Goebel and the like.- Comment removed.
- weird how both him and "peyton" are both in the same position all the time. i bet he can give some valuable advice to "tom" since all 3 of these guys are just like- all on the same first name basis...— bloodymess
- Donovan who??— vegas_limodriver
- Why not sign him as a backup? He is still better than Vince (blames everything on others) Young. If Vick goes down the Eagles have nothing. I would rather have a proven QB as backup. Besides McNab must retire as an Eagle.— jpelle36
- theres no way he plays football this yr. he is totally done.— djack10
- why would any team want an almost 40yr old qb who still cant read a defense? he has been done since 2004. he wanted to be known as a pocket qb but have the brains— swgaston49
- he wanted to be known as a pocket qb but did not have the touch to throw the short ball,did not have the accuracy,and most important,did not have the BRAINS!— swgaston49
- The worm population at the Linc has finally rebounded, we can't bring him back.....PETA would protest— SkipinWV
- Does anyone really want to see this thin skinned guy in a broadcast booth?— anti-tax
- He can't be any worse on TV than Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, or Shannon Sharpe. Maybe he can split time between NFL Network and as a guest host for Rush Limbaugh.— Only in Philly...
- McNabb is better than any backup QB that the Eagles have on their roster now. I wouldn't be opposed to having him back in that role. I doubt if he'd do it though and I doubt if the Eagles would do it. There's just too much history there and there is some truth to the old saying "You can't go home again".— SteveS11
