Donovan McNabb hasn’t talked to the Washington Redskins since the season ended, but he’s trying to make sure he’s ready to play next season. You and I know that he can’t expect to play for the Skins any more when he takes into account some of the things head coach Mike Shanahan has said.
McNabb signed a five year deal for $78 million dollars, but the Skins can get out of the deal if they want to be paying McNabb a bonus of about $3.5 million dollars. The Washington Post reported that McNabb talked to ESPN’s Mike Tirico and sounded as if he thinks he’s going to play with the Redskins this year.
“As of right now, I’m definitely a Washington Redskin,” McNabb said. “I signed a contract to be with them the next couple of years, and that’s the way I’m treating it as such. And I think the way of approaching it myself is to make sure that this offseason I focus on being a better quarterback and being ready for the 2011 season.”
Donovan isn’t kidding himself or showing his cards publicly. He’s obviously working behind the scenes with his agent Fletcher Smith to get out of Washington and go to a team where he is wanted.
“At this particular time, I think it’s important for all parties to keep everything low right now,” McNabb said. “What’s less said is better.”
Shanahan said the only way he wants McNabb back is as a backup quarterback. There’ no way in the world that they would be willing to pay McNabb over $10 million dollars a year to sit on the bench.
“I haven’t talked to them,” McNabb said. “On business aspects, that’s when Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen and Fletcher Smith — my agent — get a chance to sit down and talk that aspect. But for the physical standpoint, I’ll just make sure that I’m ready when the time comes if we are playing this year to be ready to step in and have fun.”
He will get released but maybe some desperate team in need of a QB (Dolphins/Cardinals/Vikings) would be willing to trade a 3rd or 4th Rd pick to the Redskins for him, but McNabb would have to restructure his entire contract for a 2-3 Deal at $4-5 Million per year at most since no team is going to take on his present contract that he signed last season..
Since most clubs now the Redskins won’t keep him, they probably will just wait until the Redskins release him, in which the Redskins will have to pay him that $3.5 buyout..
How and why that deal they signed together ever came about is mind-boggling for both parties.
Mcnabb would have been better off not signing anything and could at least be a free-agent and free to choose his best opportunity.. Now he will have to wait but he will get that $3.5 million for losing out on his freedom to decide on where to go..
Actually, McNabb would be the perfect backup here, ONLY if Kolb has been traded, and he’s willing. Just don’t think DMac is interested in backing up Vick, but he is instant insurance should anything happen to Vick because he already knows the offense and the receivers. Donovan wouldn’t face flack from fans or media and could also be a player-coach for Kafka and be those “eyes” on the sideline to help Vick. Yup… livin’ in la-la land.