Curse of Billy Penn - McNabb Looking to Re-Work Contract?

Donovan McNabb has been looking for a contract extension, but Comcast SportsNet's Derrick Gunn has reported that talks have changed, and the goal now is to re-work the remaining two years he has remaining. 

 McNabb is scheduled to make $9,353,912 next season - followed by another $10-Million in 2010.  According to the NFL Players Association, McNabb is the 10th highest paid quarterback going into the 2009 season (Brett Favre is one that is ahead of him - so really - he is the 9th). 

Does McNabb deserve extra money?  I have tried to be open-minded, and see his side of the story, but the answer is...no!  McNabb is an interesting player.  He carries this aura, that somehow makes him seem like a superstar.  Five NFC Championship games, a Super Bowl, Chunky Soup commercials, etc.  The reality is, he lacks good Quarterback skills.

How often does he throw behind a receiver, at his feet, or doesn't even pick up on the fact that he is open at all?  Have you ever seen him drive down the field in the final minutes of the game and steal a win?  Say what you will - he is not a big game quarterback!

I can appreciate all the Championship games, but remember, he is 1-4 in those games.  Don't forget the teams that beat us - Carolina, Tampa Bay, the Cardinals - that's simply not getting it done!  At least Peyton Manning can say the Patriots (a dynasty) got in their way, but he still managed to win the big one.  Unfortunately, when the Eagles did reach the Super Bowl, it was T.O. that showed up ready to play, not Donovan McNabb.

• McNabb is 32 years old.  He will be 34 following the last year of his contract.  Though there are no longer talks of an extension, how far into his upper 30's did he expect to get locked up for?
• He is injury prone.  He has had season ending injuries in three of his last seven seasons.
• Despite playing in the NFC Championship game, he did not play all that well last season.  He did play much better following his benching against Baltimore, but finished 14th in Passer Rating at 86.4%, and 18th in completion percentage at 60.4%.
• Don't be fooled by their NFC Championship appearance last year - it was not because of McNabb.  In fact, they would have never made the playoffs if not for their Defense.  It's a crime that Donovan threw them under the bus in the one game they failed to be...exceptional!

I'm not here to bash McNabb.  I just can't justify giving him any more money.  He is a good athlete, and has done a good job for the Eagles, but he's not a top quarterback.  He is replaceable!

• When he went down with a broken ankle in 2002, Koy Detmer and A.J. Feeley went a combined 5-1.
• When he went down in 2006, Jeff Garcia took the 5-5 Eagles to a 10-6 playoff team.  He went 5-1, losing only to the Indianapolis Colts.

The Bottom Line:  McNabb is under contract - honor it!  I can't see one reason to pay him when there is really no reason/obligation.  They say it is to keep him happy.  That's nice!  I wish my employer felt that way about me!  I don't know about you, but I would be pretty damn happy making $10-million next year.

Room for Thought: 

• Does he feel he's worth extra money?  How about earning it through incentives.  If he plays good, he will receive better compensation.  Who knows, he may play lousy, and his current salary may seem too high under that philosophy. 
• They re-worked Westbrook's contract, and he really didn't have a good season.
• If he gets more money, and has a bad season, is he willing to give it back?

Original Story: http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/billy...