Schwartz: Eagles Rework End of McNabb's Deal


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Donovan McNabb and the Eagles have agreed to rework the final two years of his contract. (Getty)
Thursday, June 11, 2009

By Andy Schwartz
CSNPhilly.com

The suspense and speculation is over.

Finally.

As first reported by CSN’s Derrick Gunn, the Eagles and Donovan McNabb have restructured the final two years of his contract. McNabb’s deal still expires in 2010 but, a source has told Gunn, is worth $5.3 million more than the previous one.

Under the old deal, McNabb, who turns 33 in November, was scheduled to earn $19.2 million in the final two years ($9.2 million this year and $10 million next year). Now the total value of the final two years is $24.5 million.

How much of that is guaranteed wasn't immediately available.

“We are thrilled that this all worked out,” Eagles president Joe Banner said in a statement. “He is a great football player, a great person, and someone who gives back to the community. We are lucky to have him in Philadelphia.”

This deal, while earning him more money, doesn't necessarily buy McNabb more time as an Eagle. The contract still expires at the same time as that of backup Kevin Kolb. Kolb, a second-round pick in 2007, has two years left on the four-year deal he signed as a rookie.

Gunn reported last week that McNabb and the Eagles had been working on an extension before agreeing to focus on redoing the final two years of the 12-year, $113 million extension he signed in 2002. That contract initially expired in 2013, but McNabb voided the final three years by reaching certain incentive clauses.

Earlier this offseason, McNabb purportedly indicated he wouldn’t negotiate a new deal until he evaluated the moves the team made in the offseason. Apparently, he's satisfied, although he has yet to hold a press conference this offseason to discuss the matter. That will change Friday, as the five-time Pro Bowler is scheduled to meet the media at 10 a.m.

"The Philadelphia Eagles organization and the entire city of Philadelphia are fortunate to have a quarterback the caliber of Donovan McNabb," head coach Andy Reid said. "He has proven himself to be a talented player on the field, a caring member of the Philadelphia community and a winner."

Among active quarterbacks with at least 100 starts, McNabb trails only Tom Brady and Peyton Manning with a 64.5 winning percentage. Last season, his 10th in the league, McNabb overcame a slump and subsequent benching to complete 345 of 571 pass attempts for 3,916 yards – all team records. The Eagles set a new franchise record by scoring 416 points.

“Some quarterbacks can go on, and it seems like forever,” offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said last week. “I think he’s right in the middle of his prime.”

McNabb's 2.16 career touchdown/interception ratio trails only Brady and Steve Young. McNabb has thrown an interception in 2.09 percent of his attempts, the lowest mark in league history among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 attempts.

With 3,109 yards rushing, the five-time Pro Bowler is also one of six players in league history to throw for over 25,000 yards and run for over 3,000. (Randall Cunningham leads the six in rushing yards with 4,928).

In the NFC Championship loss to Arizona, McNabb threw for 375 yards, a playoff career high, to surpass Steve Young and move into 10th place in league history with 3,522 career passing yards in the postseason.

“[He’s] right in the middle of an outstanding career,” Mornhinweg said. “I think one day he will most likely be elected to the Hall of Fame. He’s got some more work to do to do that. I think he has been and will play at a high level for quite some time.”

On the other hand, McNabb has completed only 58.9 percent of his career pass attempts, lower than such non-Hall of Fame caliber QBs as Damon Huard, David Carr, Jason Campbell and J.P. Losman.

Nevertheless, McNabb has recorded more regular season victories (82) and playoff wins (seven) than any other quarterback in team history.

“Donovan has played a large part of this team’s success over the last 10 years,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said. “He has been a professional in every sense of the word.”

E-mail Andy Schwartz at aschwartz@comcastsportsnet.com.