There are no clean hands in Washington in the squabble between the Donovan McNabb camp and the Mike Shanahan camp. McNabb’s agent Fletcher Smith took some shots at the Shanahan and his son Kyle in a written statement.
“I believe there is tension between Donovan and Kyle that’s rooted in the fact that Donovan has suggested modifications to Kyle’s offense based on intricacies Donovan has learned in his NFL career,” Smith wrote. “For example, Donovan has asked all year that the team run more screen passes to help manage the pass rush more effectively. Ironically, Kyle decided to employ Donovan’s suggestions after he unceremoniously benched him on Sunday.”
“Donovan is coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2009 where he threw for 3,500 [plus] yards on 60 [percent] completions, with a TD-INT ratio of more than 2:1,” Smith wrote. “He also led his team to the playoffs with an 11-5 record, and that’s what he hoped to accomplish in Washington.
“This year, Donovan was on pace to set the Redskins all-time passing yards mark before being benched.”
Shanahan shot back at the quarterback and his agent.
“As I stated earlier, when I traded for Donovan McNabb I had hoped that he would lead us to the playoffs,” Shanahan said. “No one wanted him to be more successful than me. When the team was 5-8 and mathematically out of the playoffs, I made the decision to evaluate our other two quarterbacks. This was not personal, but strictly professional. The decision was made in the best interest of the Washington Redskins and I stand by my decision. I will attempt to talk to Fletcher Smith directly to clear up every one of his misconceptions.”
McNabb has had a good season as a passer, the team is out of the playoffs, so that leaves an opening for him being benched. Shanahan and his son Kyle have every right to bench McNabb but doing it and adding that you’re going to make him the third team quarterback makes me think this thing is personal.
Everybody should shut up down there, then when the season is over, they should part ways and move on.
There was little doubt in my mind that the Shannahan’s/McNabb Relationship was strained from the beginning of Camp.. As some of you may recall, I posted a few times on here back inthe Summer after getting some reports down from the DC Camp that the Shannahan’s were very disappointed in how McNabb was struggling in picking up their offense and his slowness in his ability to read defenses and deliver an accurate ball. I believe McNAbb in his priime was a very good “ad-lib” QB when he was able to buy time with his legs and then make a big play with his big arm after the inital play broke down.. Shannahan’s Offense is not set up that way, the Redskins WR’s are not those type of Receivers. Shanahan’s offense is predicated on being accuate,getting rid of the ball quickly and timely and go thru your progressions to find the mismatches and open man.. none of these attributes have been McNabb’s strength in the past and add this to a crappy O/Line, a lack of a running game, and this combination spelled doom for McNabb/Shannahan and the Redskin Offense..
I would think it’s in everyone’s best interest to release him now so that McNabb and the Redsksin team, which has been even more dysfunctionable under Shannahan than Zorn which is hard to believe so that everyone can move on.. I believe McNabb receives a $3.5 Million buyout of his contract if released but there will be very little trade value if he stays with the club thru next Spring and for the Redskins, It does them no good on keeping a player of McNabb’s Stature around for the next 6 months if you come to the decision that he is not your #1 QB and leader of the team moving forward.. McNabb will most likely sign with Arizona or the 49ers for next Season
Shanahan has made a very old,and bad Redskin club even worse with his handling of McNabb,Haynesworth,switching their good Defense to a new 3-4 Scheme and their lack of addressing their weak OL and Old RB position.. This team is a mess for the next 2-3 Seasons and better for McNabb to hook up with another team if he wants a realistic chance for a Playoff/Super Bowl and even to finish for a potentail HOF nomination,for none of this is happening in Washington…
I admit I’m not the biggest McNabb fan, but he has been treated poorly by Shanahan here. The way the head coach is doing all of this stuff publicly with players is not good for one’s long term future. Happy though, I might be the one Eagles fan who hates Washington more than the Cowboys or Giants.
A long time ago a great Offensive lineman for the Dallas (nate newton) said that a NFL head coach was just a PR man. Running the show. A good coach has to get the best out of his best players. Shanahan has now sat his best defensive player and his most accomplished offensive player. He obviously does not respect vetran players input. That is a mistake he is now paying for.
I am so thankful that shanahan is the head coach in washington and hope he remains for a long time. Like coach dufass(hey that’s what the dallas local radio called him), formerly of Dallas, we could use all the help we can get in winning the NFC East for the next few years.
I thought Andy made a big mistake trading McNabb to a divison foe.
Andy, you sly fox you. You had us all fooled.
Now lets trade Ernie Sims to Dallas for DE Ware.
For 11 yrs I have had many arguments (debates) with co-workers, friends, family, strangers, hell anyone who said anything negative about 5! Even been on talk radio defending this guy! When he was the EAGLES QB I wanted the city to rally around him. I honestly felt he was being treated unfairly.
What a fool I have been! WHY THE HELL MUST I DEFEND A GUY WHO WONT DEFEND HIS DAMN SELF? I AM SO PISSED I WANT TO CURSE SHANNAHAN OUT MYSELF. EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO DEFEND MCNABB NOW ARE BLOWING SMOKE UP MY @#$ NOW. “HE ALWAYS HANDLE THESE SITUATIONS WITH SUCH CLASS”! PLEASE! I WANT YOU TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF AND BE A LEADER! LEADERS STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES! YOU DON’T HAVE TO CLOWN LIKE I WOULD BUT BUDDY YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD KNOW NOT TO DISRESPECT ME IN ANYWAY! I FINALLY REALIZE THIS ATTITUDE IS WHY HE IS NOT BEEN A CHAMPION! FORGET THE RING FOR A MINUTE! HOW MANY FORMER TEAMATES WOULD SAY “THATS A GUY I WANT IN THE FOXHOLE DOING BATTLE WITH ME?” I AM SO GLAD HE IS NOT OUR QB ANYMORE! I WANT A TOUGH SON OF A GUN LEADING THE TEAM! NOT SOMEBODY WHO TURNS THE OTHER CHEEK WHEN SMACKED!
I JUST CANT BELIEVE THAT I DIDNT SEE THIS @#^%! HONESTLY WANTED THE BROTHER TO DO WELL, BUT REAL BROTHERS DONT ACT LIKE THAT SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!
Tech I hate Redskins/cowboys nearly equal. Funny though I don’t hate the giants at all, I never want them to win but I don’t hate them. Aslo funny the giants fans that i know personally don’t hate the Eagles, they dare I say, respect us.
I never get BS harrassment crap from giants fans in the sports bars. Just saying anybody else get this. now I am not talking good ol’ trash talk i mean down in the dirt nasty attitude is what i get from redskin and cowboy fans, but not Giants fans, just good old trash talk from those guys.
The Redskins is a coach legend grinder, great names go there and leave in shame, the greater the coach the greater the shame, just imagine how far they would fall if Cower went there. 🙂 🙂
Eagle Co, man you are to hard on yourself brother, McN was the fighter you thought he was, just not the Fight you wanted him to be. McN played with a cracked sternum, fractured ankle, fractured ribs, busted up time in and time out, never complained, just did his thing and won games.
I would go to war with dude, he is the guy that takes a bullet to the hip and keep shooting, what he won’t do is slap you if you stop shooting your weapon, and that was his flaw. Vick does the same things plus he will make you take that hill against the machine gun nest with him.
So EagleCo don’t beat yourself up brother, hell i respect the hell out of you for what its worth.
Oh and look at the picture above and tell me what kind of team they are, yeaks!
Mon, I’m not speaking of his physical toughness! I’m speaking of his mental toughness. I didn’t want to see it when he was an EAGLE! Now that he is no longer on my team. I truly see it! He is a great guy. Hell I’m sure he is a great person. For a QB he needs to stand up for himself! Stop trying to be the nice guy. No one cares about that, trust me.
I live in DC, and it’s a mess… G you tell them to shut up about it, but you write about it. The writers are the ones giving this thing legs. If I’m McNabb I defend myself as well. This is nepotism at its best. Dad is not going to let you take shots at his son. BTW who the heck are the Shanahans anyway, what have they done without Elway and Terrell Davis. Nothing… And now back to our Eagles… E A G L E S… Eagles…Please no Snow Sunday night…
EagleCo, got ya. Good points, just you came out like the old Mike Tyson on yourself, just thought i would throw the towel in for you. Haaaa I feel you though. Happy Holidays to you be safe.
LMAO I was in the brother corner so tough. I’m disappointed and really wish it was me in those shoes! That story wouldn’t end like that! LOL Happy Holidays to you also thanks.
BTW you calmed me down. I’m falling out laughing and my lady said thanks
Sure seems like every move the Shanahans are making end up blowing up in their faces. Very likely McNabb will walk after this year shaking his head along with everyone else just grateful to get the hell out DC. He’ll go onto some team where the coach will better utilize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses like the coaching staff did in Philly. No matter what, all those people that were vilifying Reid for making the move to trade McNabb have to be truly eating their words now. Even if Vick had not stepped up the Eagles would have still come out looking like geniuses on that move just based on how messed up the Shanahans have made things. Have you ever had someone in your life that seems so stubbornly hell bent on self destruction that they appear delusional? From the outside that appears what the coaching situation is in DC right now.
Hey Gcobb, if you are out there buddy, let me just say I like those little you tude thingees you have here, I love that dang Punt return. sorry fellas can’t get over it until the Eagles give us an update with new thrilling highlights from the Vikings game. The punt return Wow!
Anyway just wanted to shout out to you Gcobb, good work, thanks for the sight, and have a happy holiday season, and be safe. Got to go for now.
Fellas I had the whole day of today, no 10 hr work day to day so i am thankful, i did nothing much today and i am tired. Uh? well Merry Christmas.
Same to you Mono…
May the Karma from Santa,his Reindeer and Elves spur the Eagles in Victory Sunday evening
I don’t particularly care for Mike Shanahan at all but I think it’s hilarious when someone asks, “What did he do without John Elway and Terrell Davis?”. Those were his two best players, right? Do you think Jimmy Johnson was a decent coach? Well, what did he do without Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith? What has Bill Belichick done without Tom Brady? What did Tony Dungy do without Peyton Manning? What is the point of that particular argument?
Look at Broncos last 3-4 seasons under Shanahan, (After both Elway & Davis retired)
They missed the playoffs every Season,(usually after fast starts to their Seasons too)
They had very poor draft picks, and signed some questionable Free-agents and basically had a lot of
Characters on thier team.. They under-performed as a team and he as a Coach his last few seasons
and was flat out horrible as the GM (controlling the Draft,Free-Agency,handling contracts) which was the downfall to his career I believe as it is for most Coaches who try to handle GM duties as well.. Now it appears he is only back in Coaching for 2-3 Seasons and then turn it over to his son, He seems to be coaching and making decisions for his Son instead of trying to win games now and coach the players that he has….
This Redskin team won’t be playoff competitve for at least 3-4 Seasons
Well I guess Shanahan is not a good judge of talent
McNabb has been in the league 11 years and if Shanahan didn’t see his strengths and weaknesses something was wrong
I wonder if he talked to Reid about his evaluation before he okayed the trade or is what you see is what you get when trading in the NFL
Like Shanahan said he didn’t trade to get a losing season so something is definitely wrong between them
After all this BS maybe the both have to go
EAGLECO32
McNabb is what he is
Physically tough but not a mentally tough leader
You can’t be what you are not
As far as acting like a Brother
At least he comes from an intact family and is a family type with a stable marriage and no off field BS like spousal abuse– getting drunk –getting caught speeding –texting sex messages and cheating scandals –a Great Role model
A strong leader no but that is in the genes
RCP, well said partner. Does not change the score on the football field, but it makes a difference on the live/world field. For your perspective I am giving you two thumbs up and a bag of chips, heeeey!!