Reasons Why McNabb signed his contract? Anybody?

[Red_One43]

I want to re-look at the McNabb contract signing knowing what we know now.

I believe that most Redskin fans believe that pulling McNabb in the last 2 minutes of the Lion's game was AT LEAST QUESTIONABLE (I am sure that this debate was in another thread no need to rehash that here).
I believe that most Redskins fans would say McNabb had good reason to be angry then.

SO WHY DID HE AND HIS AGENT WORK OUT and SIGN a CONTRACT THAT GIVES THE REDKSINS CONTROL OF HIS FUTURE?

If McNabb felt so disrespected back then, why didn'the play out the season and go anywhere he wanted?

Looking at everything that has been going on since then until now, WHY did McNabb sign a contract which gives him no leverage?

OK, I am ready to read. Is there any logical reason why a disrespected player would sign such a contract that gives the team that disrespected him control of his future? OK, I am all eyes?

[34andcounting]

IT is very simple why he sign the contact, He knew that he wasn't going to be here next year so it was very smart of him to sign and get the 3.5 million to leave and get a new contact from another team.

[Red_One43]

IT is very simple why he sign the contact, He knew that he wasn't going to be here next year so it was very smart of him to sign and get the 3.5 million to leave and get a new contact from another team.

However, if I am correct, the Redskins can hold on to him until pre-season if they don't get what they want from another team. That would put McNabb in a tough situation to get the money he would want from another team and then THAT LEARNING a new offense thing comes back up (Remember Jason Campbell had to constently learn offenses thoughout his college and pro career, so it could be that learning a new offense is not something he cares to put the effort into doing). He could have picked up that paltry 3 million (By NFL standards) and more with a new team early in the FA signing period.

Wouldn't he have been better off free to negotiate with teams at the beginning of Free Agency?

Perhaps he knows that there is a limited market for him and only a select teams would even go for him?

I don't think that it is that simple.

[1niksder]

However, if I am correct,

Yes you are correct just mostly correct

the Redskins can hold on to him until pre-season if they don't get what they want from another team.

The $10 million option bonus can be paid as late as the day of the Redskins first regular season game (it might be the day after the first game, I'll have to check).

That would put McNabb in a tough situation to get the money he would want from another team and then THAT LEARNING a new offense thing comes back up (Remember Jason Campbell had to constently learn offenses thoughout his college and pro career, so it could be that learning a new offense is not something he cares to put the effort into doing). He could have picked up that paltry 3 million (By NFL standards) and more in a with a new team early in the FA signing period.

Wouldn't he have been better off free to negotiate with teams at the beginning of Free Agency?

Perhaps he knows that there is a limited market for him and only a select teams would even go for him?

I don't think that it is that simple.

His agent said the deal was worded like that because of the potential lockout in 2011. I say he got robbed (of his future freedom).

He was already making $13.75M this year and would have been a FA next year. Now he'll get $17.5M and gave the Redskins the option of keeping him or letting him go. If the pay him the $10M the will only be locked in for another $2.5M 2011

I checked and it is the day after the first regular season game

I bet he wish he could get out of there by the pre-season

[Red_One43]

However, if I am correct,

Yes you are correct just mostly correct

the Redskins can hold on to him until pre-season if they don't get what they want from another team.

The $10 million option bonus can be paid as late as the day of the Redskins first regular season game (it might be the day after the first game, I'll have to check).

That would put McNabb in a tough situation to get the money he would want from another team and then THAT LEARNING a new offense thing comes back up (Remember Jason Campbell had to constently learn offenses thoughout his college and pro career, so it could be that learning a new offense is not something he cares to put the effort into doing). He could have picked up that paltry 3 million (By NFL standards) and more in a with a new team early in the FA signing period.

Wouldn't he have been better off free to negotiate with teams at the beginning of Free Agency?

Perhaps he knows that there is a limited market for him and only a select teams would even go for him?

I don't think that it is that simple.

His agent said the deal was worded like that because of the potential lockout in 2011. I say he got robbed (of his future freedom).

He was already making $13.75M this year and would have been a FA next year. Now he'll get $17.5M and gave the Redskins the option of keeping him or letting him go. If the pay him the $10M the will only be locked in for another $2.5M 2011

I checked and it is the day after the first regular season game

I bet he wish he could get out of there by the pre-season

Is there any advantage for McNabb to sign this contract? It seems like it gives the Redskins more time to wait for a QB on another team to get injured and thus get trade value for McNabb. In this scenario, McNabb wins too because a trade means a team buys his contract as well as the 3.5 mil, but if he gets released after the first game of 2011, it looks like a major blow to McNabb. It just seems the more sure bet would have been to not sign a new contract. WAS THERE AN INJURY CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT? May be this is the reason, but if McNabb gets hurt, he will not be want of a new career. He would make a good broadcaster, he is witty and would make good entertainment. He is also big in his philanthropy career. There is no doubt that he wants to stay in the Washington area - The philanthropy business is big in DC. Suppose no one trades for him because of his salary and no QBs get hurt in pre-season theorectically, the Redskins can say if they have no viable back up, let's keep the dude (Highly unlikely, but let's not put anything past Mike Shanahan. Maybe he wasn't joking about welcoming him back as a back up). Letting someone you don't like hold all the cards makes no sense unless you aren't telling the truth and the whole truth (McNabb).

As far as lockout, according to the Union, they will decertify to block the lockout so it "decertification" can block a lockout then the agent didn't do his homework and screwed McNabb. This whole thing is just one more bizarre scenario in the career with McNabb whose career has been so filled with controversy.

For those of you who don't think that Synder doesn't know what is going on. Check and see who final approval for dishing out the money on contracts.

[1niksder]

Is there any advantage for McNabb to sign this contract? It seems like it gives the Redskins more time to wait for a QB on another team to get injured and thus get trade value for McNabb.

It looks like the Redskins have ALL the leverage in this deal.

In this scenario, McNabb wins too because a trade means a team buys his contract as well as the 3.5 mil, but if he gets released after the first game of 2011, it looks like a major blow to McNabb.

He would still only be looking at $12.5M next year, so teams would not be afraid of it. The $3.5 will already have been paid. He's looking to get the $10M bonus and a $2.5 base, there is another $3M he can earn

It just seems the more sure bet would have been to not sign a new contract. WAS THERE AN INJURY CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT? May be this is the reason, but if McNabb gets hurt, he will not be want of a new career.

If McNabb suffered a injury this season and never played again, he would receive $25 million more.

He would make a good broadcaster, he is witty and would make good entertainment. He is also big in his philanthropy career. There is no doubt that he wants to stay in the Washington area - The philanthropy business is big in DC. Suppose no one trades for him because of his salary and no QBs get hurt in pre-season theorectically, the Redskins can say if they have no viable back up, let's keep the dude (Highly unlikely, but let's not put anything past Mike Shanahan. Maybe he wasn't joking about welcoming him back as a back up). Letting someone you don't like hold all the cards makes no sense unless you aren't telling the truth and the whole truth (McNabb).

It makes you wonder

As far as lockout, according to the Union, they will decertify to block the lockout so it "decertification" can block a lockout then the agent didn't do his homework and screwed McNabb. This whole thing is just one more bizarre scenario in the career with McNabb whose career has been so filled with controversy.

Maybe McNabb didn't read the contract until he heard about it in the press, if it were me I would have fired my agent for working out this deal

[Red_One43]

If McNabb suffered a injury this season and never played again, he would receive $25 million more.

The injury clause might have been the biggest reason to sign to make sure he is protected by injury. I am guessing that security was the most important thing for him (IT COULD ALSO MEAN WHY THE REDSKINS WON"T PLAY HIM THE REST OF THE SEASON TO PREVENT PAYING HIM $25 Mil). Which to me, means that McNabb is contempating retirement. McNabb will only consider teams that play his style of offense (he doesn't want to go through this again and learn a new system. It's not that he can't. He doesn't want to put the extra work into it) and he is in luck, these will be the only teams that will be interested in him i.e. if Minnesota's OC is retained or Childress gets hired as an OC somewhere for next season. The Redskins will be in luck because we might have a trading partner. IMO, the only other scenario McNabb leaves the Redskins before the pre-season next year is over, is a QB injury forces a team's hand to trade for him. Otherwise, I predict McNabb will stay with the Skins until they see fit to get rid of him, most likely just before having to pay him the roster bonus at the end of pre-season (I don't think McNabb has a problem with that as long as he gets his 3.5 Playing for another team is not a priority). Thanks 1niksder for the details.
In summary, if I am correct, for McNabb's personal reasons, this contract does work for him even if he was dissed by the Skins. Signing the contract does not mean that he really wants to play for the Skins. It means security for him and that he wants to stay in this area to start his new career. I know that he is seriously disappointed that it turned out this way. I live in DC and he was already becoming the most popular athlete in DC even with the likes of Strasburg, Ovechkin and Wall. Personally, I am sorry that it didn't work out as well, but it is clear that he is not the right guy for this offense. We have to move on. If he does sit with us for awhile, I just hope that it doesn't get any more uglier than it has been.

[KCskin]

The reason for Donovan to take the deal was a chance to get 78 million dollars.
With the 10 million 2011 bonus still and option, Donovan doesn't have to accept it either. He's not without options just as Albert had them.
Donovan's options are to take a 10 million bonus plus salary to sit on the bench and practice (nearly free millions) hold out , leverage a trade to a team that he approves.

It's not a bad deal that he accepted. He has options and some influence.

At the time of the deal, this was the tone of the relationship McNabb was hearing from Shanahan.

78 million and a kiss on the cheek. What would you do?

Even so, Smith admitted he felt "a little bit of shock" when he was watching television and saw McNabb yanked for Grossman.

"The last two minutes of the game, that's really where you earn your money," Smith said. "It didn't make sense to me."

Smith said he was subsequently contacted by Allen, who let him know that the team still wanted to re-sign McNabb.

"They reached out and assured him it hadn't changed," Smith said. "They still loved him, and we had to move on from there."

http://m.si.com/news/sp/to_nfl_sports/detail/3071837;jsessionid=718FE01DE52BA5AE27D66F8C89DCF011.cnnsi2

The contract also encourages the Skins to do the work in moving him to another team via trade.
I believe that if he's traded, the other team has to pick up the liability of his contract.
Donovan secured a 10 million bonus if traded.
I don't think Smith could have gotten him a 10 million signing bonus as a Free Agent.

[Irn-Bru]

The reason for Donovan to take the deal was a chance to get 78 million dollars.
With the 10 million 2011 bonus still and option, Donovan doesn't have to accept it either. He's not without options just as Albert had them.
Donovan's options are to take a 10 million bonus plus salary to sit on the bench and practice (nearly free millions) hold out , leverage a trade to a team that he approves.

It's not a bad deal that he accepted. He has options and some influence.

At the time of the deal, this was the tone of the relationship McNabb was hearing from Shanahan.

78 million and a kiss on the cheek. What would you do?

Even so, Smith admitted he felt "a little bit of shock" when he was watching television and saw McNabb yanked for Grossman.

"The last two minutes of the game, that's really where you earn your money," Smith said. "It didn't make sense to me."

Smith said he was subsequently contacted by Allen, who let him know that the team still wanted to re-sign McNabb.

"They reached out and assured him it hadn't changed," Smith said. "They still loved him, and we had to move on from there."

http://m.si.com/news/sp/to_nfl_sports/detail/3071837;jsessionid=718FE01DE52BA5AE27D66F8C89DCF011.cnnsi2

The contract also encourages the Skins to do the work in moving him to another team via trade.
I believe that if he's traded, the other team has to pick up the liability of his contract.
Donovan secured a 10 million bonus if traded.
I don't think Smith could have gotten him a 10 million signing bonus as a Free Agent.

Very nice explanation. Thanks.

[Red_One43]

The reason for Donovan to take the deal was a chance to get 78 million dollars.
With the 10 million 2011 bonus still and option, Donovan doesn't have to accept it either. He's not without options just as Albert had them.
Donovan's options are to take a 10 million bonus plus salary to sit on the bench and practice (nearly free millions) hold out , leverage a trade to a team that he approves.

It's not a bad deal that he accepted. He has options and some influence.

At the time of the deal, this was the tone of the relationship McNabb was hearing from Shanahan.

78 million and a kiss on the cheek. What would you do?

Even so, Smith admitted he felt "a little bit of shock" when he was watching television and saw McNabb yanked for Grossman.

"The last two minutes of the game, that's really where you earn your money," Smith said. "It didn't make sense to me."

Smith said he was subsequently contacted by Allen, who let him know that the team still wanted to re-sign McNabb.

"They reached out and assured him it hadn't changed," Smith said. "They still loved him, and we had to move on from there."

http://m.si.com/news/sp/to_nfl_sports/detail/3071837;jsessionid=718FE01DE52BA5AE27D66F8C89DCF011.cnnsi2

The contract also encourages the Skins to do the work in moving him to another team via trade.
I believe that if he's traded, the other team has to pick up the liability of his contract.
Donovan secured a 10 million bonus if traded.
I don't think Smith could have gotten him a 10 million signing bonus as a Free Agent.

You are right the contract does provide him with job security (which seems most important to him vs freedom) and you are probably right that no team would give him a 10 million. If Donovan has no problem sitting as a back up and Shanahan hsa no problem paying him then it made sense for Donovan to sign the contract. He wants to stay in the Washington area and the back up QB is always popular. If he is traded, it will most likely be a team that runs a version of O similar to Reid (i.e. Childress gets hired by a new HC as OC) then McNAbb wins because he secured a 3.5 mil bonus and like you said the terms of the Redskin 10 mil bonus remains. McNabb wins. The Redskins win because they have leverage on who to and when they want to get rid of McNabb. Where I see it falling apart for McNabb is the current situation where the Redskins sit on his contract and dump him as late as the end of pre-season. Like you said, nobody is pobably going to give him a 10 mil bonus. McNabb loses because he is without a team as the season begins ( he will get picked up but not for big money), he will not have a chance to be a starter unless somebody gets injured (he'll have to learn a new offense) and he will have limited choice to pick his markets (He likes areas like Washington D.C. to continue his post career interest. The Redskins lose in this scenario because, they lose two draft choices and get nothing in return. So, given the conditions under which the contract was signed, the McNabb camp could not foresee the possibility of the Skins dumping him and getting nothing. At the time, even with the turmoil, it seemed like a good deal at the time. Seems like a Poker deal to me. Let's hope Childress gets hired as an OC somewhere. Good work. KC Skin. I think your scenario is better than mine. Thanks.

[Red_One43]

From the "Transcript Of Donovan McNabb's 12-28-2010 Q&A" posted by TCIYM

On his contract and if the Redskins could wait up until the start of the season to release him without owing him more than $3.5 million: “I haven’t heard that. Teams can do what they want. That wouldn’t be in a professional manner, I wouldn’t think. We’ll see what happens. There will be communication from different parties and we’ll find out what we can do.”

Donovan says, "I haven't heard that...," when it was told to him that the Redskins could wait untill the start of the season to release him and not owe him anything more than the $3.5 million. This is what I have been getting at when I raised the question, why would he sign such a contract that puts his freedom in the hands of the Redskins. It appears that he did not know all the details of signing this contract and it appears that he is not comfortable finding out that the Redskins own the all the cards right up until the season starts. I found it hard to believe that any QB that still wants to play would knowingly sign such a contract. It made no sense. This also raises questions about the competancy of McNabb's agent.[/quote]