It’s time for Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder to spend more money.
A contract extension should be placed in quarterback Donovan McNabb’s locker immediately. Maybe not Tom Brady money ($18 million a season with $48.5 million guaranteed) but certainly the most ever for a Washington quarterback.
The Redskins and McNabb both waited to see how the new marriage would go, and now it’s too late for a prenup. Washington must pay up and pay big. Otherwise, a popular passer who’s their best in two decades will walk as a free agent in January.
And if that happens, the Burgundy Revolution will return.
McNabb may be waiting for Indianapolis to re-sign Peyton Manning, but it’s likely to be closer to Brady’s deal.
McNabb wants to be paid like Brady and Manning even though they have four rings combined and the Washington quarterback has none after 11 years in Philadelphia. Not that Super Bowl titles are the true difference — many great quarterbacks never won one, and several mediocre ones did. Let’s face it: Trent Dilfer wasn’t better than Sonny Jurgensen.
But Brady has three rings and deserved every one. Same goes for Manning, who just missed winning his second Super Bowl in February. McNabb at least reached one Super Bowl. Those championships do make a difference on payday.
The Redskins figured they would have to pay McNabb when they traded for him in March. But like McNabb, the team has shown no urgency. Maybe they were wary Philadelphia was right in letting McNabb go and didn’t want to offer a big three-year deal without seeing proof he deserved it. Otherwise, the deal would be another Snyder bust.
McNabb proved his worth in the 30-27 loss to Houston on Sunday, though. He threw for 426 yards, including a pair of 62-yard strikes, and one touchdown against the Texans despite having no running game and losing his left tackle. McNabb won’t do that regularly, but he’s the only hope this team has of a .500 season considering its shaky offensive line and lack of ground production.
At this point, Philadelphia looks pretty dumb letting McNabb go. Whether the Eagles didn’t want to pay him big money or thought his best years were behind him, Philadelphia meets Washington on Oct. 3 with McNabb’s heir, Kevin Kolb, already benched. The Eagles are a mess behind center.
“That’s Philadelphia. Things like that happen,” McNabb said. “I’ve been a part of that for 11 years, and obviously as you see, it just doesn’t stop. … Everything going on over there really is none of my concern. Anything I may say at this point doesn’t matter. They made a decision, and that’s what they’re going with.”
Now the Redskins also have a decision on whom to go with, and it’s a no-brainer.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
