McNabb's New Deal

It’s been nearly a week, and I still don’t know what to make of Donovan McNabb’s reworked contract – both in terms of the timing, the motivation, and the actual terms.

 

NFL teams, but especially the Eagles, are infamous for not rewarding past performance but basing contracts on future projections (see Dawkins, Brian). So why is McNabb getting a bump in salary (courtesy of the extra guaranteed money) now? Cause he took the team to the NFC championship game?

 

I can’t help but wonder if the balance of power between QB and team shifted in favor of #5 thanks to that playoff run. For all of the fan talk (fantasy?) and radio speculation in the run up to last year’s season of the team releasing McNabb after 2009 when the salary cap hit was at it nadir and the start of the Kolb era, the reality turned out to be that McNabb suddenly found himself in a position to practically dare the Eagles to release him – he’d find work very easily with any number of QB-deficient teams (notably the Vikings) ponying up for his services and the Eagles, who were several plays from the Super Bowl would begin the season with an untested backup whose biggest professional play up to this point has been an INT that was returned 109 yards for a touchdown.  And unfairly as it is, how much did Kolb’s poor play in the 2^nd half of the Ravens game influence management’s decision. One half is hardly an adequate evaluation of talent, particularly against one of the best defenses in the league – on the road, no less – but there’s no denying what happened. So the Eagles don’t have to deal with the rumors and whispers about McNabb’s fate as the franchise QB and McNabb gets some extra money, more public respect, and doesn’t force the issue and demand a trade or release in training camp.

 

And whither Kolb? He’s rookie deal might expire before the Eagles get a good game day look at the former 2^nd round pick.

 

And yet, I can’t help but look at McNabb’s deal and see that big $6.2 million roster bonus due on May 5 next year. For all of the misanalysis of his “guaranteed” money ($24.2 million according to the Inquirer), this $6.2 million is factored in. of course, it’s only guaranteed if he’s on the roster on that date. It looks to me like that is the point of no return. May 5 and the $6.2 million is the deadline for the Eagles to decide if McNabb will be the starter in 2010. So maybe the new contract is a one-year deal after all.