The Redskins benched him two weeks ago, igniting a storm of speculation surrounding the future of quarterback Donovan McNabb. Today, the Redskins put an end to the speculation the only way they know how: with a lot of money.
Washington signed McNabb to a five-year extension worth $78 million. He’s guaranteed $40 million. It’s comparable to a deal signed by New England’s Tom Brady earlier this season.
“As we’ve said for months now,” Redskins general manager Bruce Allen said on ESPN 980, “we had ongoing talks and once the regular-season started, we really were aiming toward the bye week and it came together.”
Thus ends any questions regarding his future, which became a major topic after coach Mike Shanahan benched McNabb for the final one minute, 45 seconds in a loss to Detroit. The coaches decided that McNabb, injured entering the game, could not fully operate the two-minute drill in his condition. It led to a round of whispers and rumors about a possible split after the season. The Redskins had traded two draft picks to Philadelphia in April for McNabb.
But the coaches insisted they were pleased with McNabb. And negotiations had been ongoing for so long that the benching was merely a speedbump.
Talks already had progressed before the benching and McNabb told his agent, Fletcher Smith that he still wanted to be in Washington. In fact, talks heated up two days after the loss to Detroit.
“He said he loved it here,” Smith said. “As long as he was happy here, it made it easy to get it done. He always said he wanted to retire here and he still feels that way.
“This was the target week, so I think it would have happened if he’d been benched or not.”
The Redskins traded a second-round pick in April and a conditional third- or fourth-round pick in 2011 for McNabb.
“When we made the trade, we understood what we were getting,” Allen said. “We’re pleased with the leadership that he brings.”
There’s no doubt McNabb has struggled. His passer rating of 76.6 would be the lowest of his career. And he’s thrown eight interceptions, five shy of his career worst. He has not thrown more than 11 interceptions since 2001.
But it’s also not just McNabb who is learning a new offense. Of the 11 starters Monday night, nine are in their first year with Shanahan.
“They have some issues,” ESPN analyst, and former NFL quarterback, Ron Jaworski said. “The line has really struggled; there’s too much quick pressure on the quarterback.”
McNabb also passed up a chance to test free agency. With Minnesota and Arizona – where he lives in the offseason – in need of quarterbacks, he could have found another home.
“You never know what you’ll get in Minnesota or Arizona from an organizational standpoint,” Smith said. “But based on what Donovan says, this is a close-knit group of guys. He really liked the locker room and the fans have been great. When you weigh things, it seemed like the perfect fit. Why start over if you don’t have to.”
