Donovan McNabb Contract: 10 Predictions About His Tenure As Redskins QB
Donovan McNabb goes from being benched and told he doesn't know the playbook, to signing a five-year contract extension earlier today.
When I first heard this news, I had to see it for myself. There was no way that the Redskins would be foolish enough to sign a guy like McNabb after already wasting money on Albert Haynesworth.
But here's the most interesting part of the whole thing—not only did owner Daniel Snyder get the extension done, but he gave McNabb $40 million guaranteed. That really got my eyebrows raised.
The guy that benched McNabb can't be happy that he's going to have to deal with him for another five years, if he's around for that long.
While most will tell you that this is a bad move for the Washington Redskins, I'm going to give you 10 predictions for how this five-year contract and how his tenure will go as the quarterback of this team.
10. Relationship Between McNabb and Shanahan Is Never Repaired
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There was absolutely no way that Washington Redskins' head coach Mike Shanahan was involved in the contract extension talks. If there was, you can almost guarantee that it never would have gotten done.
According to a story from Chris Chase of The Shutdown Corner, the Redskins' head coach had to apparently cut their playbook in half for McNabb to be able to understand it.
Needless to say, the relationship between the quarterback and head coach is strained. The way things are going, it doesn't look like it ever won't be.
9. Dan Snyder Chooses McNabb Over Shanahan
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Daniel Snyder has thrown money at two problems now and it's beginning to make the Redskins look like a joke.
After the seven-year $100 million contract Haynesworth signed with the team, a contract Snyder is regretting in more ways than one at this point, he again threw money at another problem.
Two weeks after his quarterback was benched, he gave Donovan McNabb a five-year contract that could be worth upwards of $88 million if he reaches all of his incentives.
Snyder will live to regret this one and may soon be chased out of the nation's capitol. But, before that happens, he will kick Shanahan out of town long before he'll allow his golden boy to be traded.
8. Donovan McNabb Re-Invents Himself
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After being benched it would help a player try to do everything they could to go prove they are better than most think they are.
For Donovan McNabb, his ego won't let him take this benching lying down. He's been classy to this point, but that may not last too long.
Before it wears off, McNabb will figure things out and get back to being the quarterback they hoped he would be.
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7. McNabb Will Spend The Off-Season Getting In Shape
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McNabb is listed at 240-pounds on his player profile on Yahoo Sports.
If there's one thing that McNabb wants it's to get back to the Super Bowl and prove that he can win the big one. He doesn't want fans' last memory of him in the "big game" as being the quarterback that quit. Or at least the quarterback that was accused of quitting.
He'll go through a strict off-season regiment and come into camp the next year in the best shape of his career.
One good season will lead to another.
6. McNabb Will Prove To Shanahan What He's Worth
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Showing up early to camp, going through voluntary workouts, and working with his wide receivers on crisp plays, Donovan McNabb will show his head coach why the Redskins not only brought him, but signed him to an extension.
5. Redskins Always Off To a Good Start
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When there's real concern that a quarterback is not anything like what they hoped he would be, it gives that quarterback more of a reason to prove that he's better than they think.
An ego bruise does that to just about everyone, does it not?
The Redskins need McNabb to be better than he has been so far this season. How he'll show that is getting the Redskins off to a good start in each of his next five seasons at the helm.
It may not be an unbeaten record, but they'll be well above .500.
4. Injuries Will Still Be a Problem For The Aging Quarterback
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With any aging quarterback, injuries start to take their toll on the body. Especially a guy that takes as many hard hits as McNabb has over his career.
It's something that a lot of quarterbacks go through. They miss a game here and a game there, but they're always able to come back.
For McNabb, those injuries may start to take a bigger toll on his career and, at his age, the recovery process won't be quite as fast as when he first came into the league.
3. McNabb Will Be a Few Touchdowns Short Of The Playoffs
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The Redskins will get close to the playoffs next season. McNabb will have a big season and get his team close to the playoffs.
They may get there one year and miss them the next, but he'll at least have this team close year in and year out.
2. McNabb Will See His Name In Trade Rumors
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Like just about any other big name player, Donovan McNabb will begin to see his name pop up in trade rumors.
Whether they're true or not is beside the point, but the Redskins may internally wonder if they don't need to draft a younger quarterback, if they don't already have one in waiting.
The 2012 season will open with him still in a Redskins' uniform. For now.
1. McNabb Will Come Close To His 2004 Numbers
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The 2004 season, with the Philadelphia Eagles, was Donovan McNabb's best of his career.
He finished the season with a career-high 31 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions. Though he hasn't come close to those numbers since his 2008 season when he had 23 touchdown passes, he'll come awfully close to doing just that.
He has the ability to not only get to that number but pass it. If he can get help from a stronger offensive line and a running back that is a threat out of the backfield, it will give him more opportunities to go down field.
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