Donovan McNabb: Future in Washington in Question Despite Big Contract Extension

Prior to being embarrassed by the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, the Washington Redskins finally gave Donovan McNabb the contract extension he had been waiting for since being traded over the offseason. Since then, reports have cropped up highlighting the possibility of escape for the team following his less-than-stellar play this season.

Not surprisingly, McNabb has never been tagged as being part of Washington's plans beyond this season.

The reported figures on McNabb's contract extension are five years, $78 million, with $40 million guaranteed and incentives up to $88 million. The max number is contingent on McNabb starting every game and leading the Redskins to the Super Bowl every year for the entirety of the contract. It is highly doubtful that Washington would want a 39-year old McNabb on the bench making that type of cash, which explains why they have a perfect escape plan built in.

If the Redskins cut McNabb after this season, they stand to save about $74 million.

Perhaps it is jumping to conclusions to think the incentive-laden contract is more of an escape plan than it is a show of good faith on the Redskins' part. There are still seven games left and a reasonable chance to run the table if everything, absolutely everything, goes the Redskins' way. Then again, out of their remaining opponents, only Dallas and Minnesota have losing records.

It is interesting to consider that the Redskins are biding their time with McNabb to gauge the upcoming class of quarterbacks in the draft.

Yes, the draft is a ways away, but it wouldn't be the first time fans or experts have looked so far into the future. The Redskins need a young quarterback to sit behind McNabb and take in the playbook before being thrown to the wolves. The trendy pick is the strong-armed Ryan Mallett from Arkansas, who at one point was projected as the top pick in the draft.

There are plenty of people who don't like the idea of drafting another quarterback on physical talents alone, lest we repeat Jason Campbell's history.

The response to McNabb's extension has been relatively tame considering the number of fans (all of them) who can't stand the way owner Dan Snyder has thrown money at players and problems in the past. The quick revelation that McNabb's extension is not guaranteed quelled the building unrest in Redskins nation. It won't last long because there is still a game next week and another opportunity for McNabb to create unreasonably high standards with a big game or just cement his status as a bust in Washington.

Maybe he'll be benched again and finally get the hint that completions to the other team aren't a good thing.

Reports refuting the likelihood of the Redskins using the outs in McNabb's contract only create mystery and doubt about his future, adding to the speculation about McNabb's future. He is playing well below the standards he set in Philadelphia and the entire team seems to be having trouble running Kyle Shanahan's offense. But since the quarterback is supposed to lead the team, it just has to be McNabb's fault, right?

It wouldn't be the first time anyone misplaced blame in this town, with this team, and it certainly won't be the last.

The Redskins had an opportunity to put the ugly loss to the Lions behind them with the Monday Night game. Instead, they created an even uglier image of the team and tainted what could have been a positive story in extending McNabb's contract. Now, they're adding fuel to the fire that is burning quickly around the initial thoughts that McNabb, with Mike Shanahan, would bring the Redskins out of the NFL basement and back into respectability.